While looking at the picture, thinking of other worlds, I'd lost my freedom in this one.”
-- Johannes (6 )

Importance: Johannes was captivated by the painting on display at the plaza to the point that a man put a rope around his neck as a leash.

Yes, my captivity with Twisty had shown me what it meant to be kept, and had woken me to the glory of liberation.”
-- Johannes (chapter 10)

Importance: Johannes has always valued his freedom, but the short time he was held captive by Twisty made him realize the importance of his freedom. This experience prompts Johannes to see the world differently. This is why he comes to believe the Bison should be freed.

It was complex, yes, and had never been done before, but my freedom from Twisty and his cohorts had been achieved with heroic inter-species cooperation, and that had been relatively improvisational. If we had time, we could pull off a...
-- Johannes (11 )