Many of the characters in Freedom would describe Patty as a strong, even indomitable person. She possesses these attributes in abundance on the basketball court, but she knows that she is neither as strong nor as secure as people think. How does this tension exacerbate her sense of hopelessness?

The characters in the story go to great lengths to make themselves unhappy, even though they are often aware that their decisions are unwise. What drives Patty, Joey, and Richard to continue making the mistakes that complicate their lives and strain their relationships?

Franzen makes an authorial choice to deny Jessica her own chapter. What purpose does it serve for the reader to observe Jessica primarily through the perspective of other people?