The theme of honesty is widely developed in “The Loneliness of the Long
Distant Runner,” in which Smith tells us what honesty means according to him,
and according to the governor. To be honest is interpreted by the governor as
the easiest and most common way to win the race, to get out of the jail, and to
have a family. Smith’s sense of honesty therefore must be seen as
individuality; to be in charge of ones self and free of “the system” creates
an honest man, a human individual. The governor’s interpretation shows honesty
as conformity. Conforming to societies’ mandate horribly clashes with
Smith’s powerful sense of freedom and inner strength. “The Loneliness of the
Long Distance Runner” carefully and cunningly depicts English rule as a weak,
fraudulent, imposing system that cripples individuality. Smith’s acts of
recklessness cannot be seen as crude behavior, but rather as acts of freedom and
non-conformity. Throughout the story Smith tries to find himself and grasp a
better understanding of life and it’s many questions by laughing at the law
and running from it’s reaching arms. Smith is forced to run by the governor at
Borstal as part of his punishment for his crimes as a juvenile. He does not
enjoy running except for the sanctity that it provides. The nature and beauty
surrounding him while he runs is what appeals to him. Nature is not governed by
man’s laws and in this sense is honest, true, and free. This appeals to Smith
because he wants to find his own niche in society and depend upon his own
system, instead of following someone else’s ineffective laws that hold down
individuality. Running in effect than is actually an escape for Smith. Smiths’
comment on being able to run forever is symbolic, and it drives the point home
embodying the notion that running is keeping distance from the law, out running
the system so to speak. When Smith runs he is untouchable. He is in his own
world away from the suffocating laws of England’s juvenile detention policies
and the world of imposed law. Smith isn’t running from his problems or from
his past, but instead he is running towards the answers to the questions that
doctrine men’s lives, answers on how to become free and independent. While he
is training he also finds the time to think about life and society like a kind
of running philosopher. Running in this sense, provides the time to come to
realizations, such as the gap he finds between the lower and middle-upper class
persons. Another topic that is thought about intensively by Smith is the idea of
being alive and being dead. To him it seems as if all the others around him at
Borstal and in general are dead and he's the only man truly living, due to his
active nature and thoughts about life. This thinking extends his
self-consciousness and the awareness for what is happening around him. This
story is rich in symbolism. Smith running acts as his freedom to explore the
ideas of life. The story relies on these ideas to depict the nature of man.
Running than also is his means of escapism from the forced civilization around
him, his way to avoid the law and realize his true nature.