Asymmetry of Freedom: Dave Eggers’ Critique of Neoliberalism’s Abuse of the Discourse of Liberty

The article focuses on the discursive use of freedom in the context of neoliberal capitalism in Dave Eggers’ The Circle, A Hologram for the King and The Every. Taking into account the importance of this concept in the context of the American history and national identity, it argues that despite claims that this form of capitalism promotes freedom, it actually privileges economic freedom over personal and political liberties, leading to the rise of inequalities already prophesized by Alexis de Tocqueville. In this context A Hologram for the King emphasizes the discord between the promise of neoliberalism and its practical implementation, which reveals that rather than promote freedom, this form of capitalism establishes structural barriers that obstruct social mobility. With regard to The Circle and The Every, the article analyzes how the eponymous company draws on ideals of freedom in order not only to increase their revenue and monopolize the market, but also establish a digital panopticon that infringes on personal freedoms and privacy, even though the companies themselves operate in secrecy.