Everybody feels safe belonging not to the excluded minority but to the excluding majority. You think, Oh, I'm glad that's not me. It's basically the same in all periods in all societies. If you belong to the majority, you can avoid thinking about lots of troubling things.
In "1Q84," Haruki Murakami explores the psychological dynamics of belonging and exclusion within society. The quote highlights how individuals often find comfort in associating with the majority, which allows them to bypass deeper, unsettling concerns. By aligning with the dominant group, people can feel a temporary sense of security, as they distance themselves from the fears faced by marginalized individuals.
This phenomenon is a recurring theme across different cultures and time periods, indicating that the urge to conform and feel safe in numbers is a fundamental part of human nature. It suggests that membership in the majority creates a protective shield, enabling one to ignore the complexities and hardships that others endure, thus perpetuating a cycle of exclusion and complacency.
