Historically, societies have had a great deal of influence over the individuals making up their respective civilization. Every society, regardless of how autonomous their society allows their populous to be, directly and indirectly extends a level of control. Self-governing persons often think of themselves as immune to society’s invisible sway; and to varying degrees they are however, their core identity is ultimately shaped and molded by interacting with other members of humanity. When I hear a proverb such as “pull yourself up by the bootstraps” or “I’m the captain of my ship” it stirs feelings of sovereignty and freedom and the ability to whatever I want, whenever I want. In some cases these statements are true, if for example one wanted to go the movies, that person could simply get in their car and go to the movies. Perfect example of being “the captain of your own ship” Seems to be a sound statement, but what if the person didn’t have money to see the movie, or couldn’t walk to the movies because they didn’t have legs due to an injury during the Gulf War.
Now it appears that his “ship has been commandeered” The above case in point is an example of how society will have a “hand on the rudder of everyone’s ship” Even if that individual decided he was going to the movies, circumstances beyond his control have dictated what he can and cannot do in certain situations. Because of the war this individual had no legs, because he had no legs he didn’t have a job, because he had no job, he had no money consequently; he wasn’t going to the movies. Proverbs like “being the captain of your own ship” are merely motivational anecdotes that help alleviate the sometimes harsh certainty that is one’s potential. Everything an individual does is governed in some fashion by the constraints put upon him or her by society and their relevant place in society. Elements such as power, wealth, status and race will allow one to shed some of the limitations set upon by society but not all. In a democratic, self-governing society like that in the United States the notion of personal identity free of societal command has allowed for concepts such as the “sovereign self” in which an individual believes he or she possesses an untainted “core identity”.