"The first thing that you must realize is that power is collective. The individual only has power in so far as he ceases to be an individual. You know the Party slogan 'Freedom is Slavery.' Has it ever occurred to you that it is reversible? Slavery is freedom. Alone - free - the human being is always defeated. It must be so, because every human being is doomed to die, which is the greatest of all failures. But if he can make complete, utter submission, if he can escape from his identity, if he can merge himself in the Party so that he is the Party, then he is all-powerful and immortal."
1984, George Orwell
Revisiting the snob, here is an auxiliary lesson to be learned. For the sake of belonging and oneness, one may surrender their identity to the group or power that they wish to succeed in. In retrospect, it is becoming apparent that all individuals must surrender themselves at some point, and in doing so, naturally run the risk of doing wrong by others, and betraying their own morals in the process. When such realities are so overbearing though, it is natural for these individuals to give into the reality, and create a life within it. Whether you reality is via social contracts, including wealth or ethnicity, or through legal contracts, including working contracts, debt, etc., at some point we must surrender to something and face our own realities in it.
In the Western World, we do most often have the freedom and the right to stray from this and choose another path. For some their integrity holds them to it, as they consciously entered into an agreement with another party, for which they remain responsible to (i.e. leadership positions, parenthood, etc.). Others were born into realities, and in choosing to leave, run the risk of losing the life they have now (i.e. marrying outside of a religion or race). Then there are others that are bound to commitments or realities, and in breaking it, run a serious risk to life and freedom (i.e. loans, military, etc.). So in making these decisions, it is vital that we ask ourselves what is most important to us, what is our current reality, and if we are willing to risk treasure in the hopes of gaining more.
