Question

C. wright mills argued that not only do "people often feel that their private lives are a series of traps," but also that "they are often quite correct" in this feeling. however, he does not feel that we are ultimately helpless. why not?

Answer 1

C. Wright Mills was demonstrating the common theory that "whether you think you will or won't fail, you're correct." The full idea here for Mills was that if we see our private lives as a series of traps we are correct. We are not helpless because we can change our personal perspectives at any time in order to elevate our situation.