I’m rereading Game of Thrones right now and one thing that sticks out is the subservience of individuals to the family.
All throughout the stories, characters put the interests of their families about their own interests as individuals. Whether it is going to war, getting married, or giving away children so many individuals suffer for the good of the family.
It is common to hear people malign the breakdown of the extended family and communities, but a lot of the lost security and comfort comes with the benefit of individual freedom. We may not have the security of a large extended family to protect us, but we do have the freedom to pursue life for our own ends and we no longer have the obligation to sacrifice ourselves and our happiness for the future of the family.
This certainly comes with tradeoffs, but they are tradeoffs I am happy to accept.
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