Chapter 3319 Structural Oppression The Nature of Power
But usually no upper-ranking family member actually does this.
A member of a superior family is not the same as a natural superior. An illegitimate son like Orin also has the opportunity to become a member of a superior family, as long as he is recognized by Osmantus.
But even if he is approved, it is almost impossible for Orin to become the heir of the family, and it is even impossible to give him a good training. It would be a big deal to barely train him into an elite mage.
Under such circumstances, as long as Orin is not stupid, it is impossible for him to think that he is a real member of the upper-class family and then dictate to the common people.
As for the real high-ranking family members, they have been systematically trained and cannot do anything to expel civilians. If they really do so, they may become members of the high-ranking family circles in Taivimansa and even the entire Yeerlan the next day.
jokes.
The authority of upper-class families does not rely on direct oppression of civilians. In fact, most upper-class families in elf society have a friendly attitude towards civilians.
Even Cormanthor, who recognized the supremacy of the golden elves, would not let the most ordinary wood elf suffer unbearable humiliation.
The oppression of the lower class by upper-class families or upper-class elves exists in the process of the entire society, such as restricting the spread of magic.
They would not say that wood elves are not allowed to learn magic, but they would say——
Wood elves are not talented enough, so no mage is willing to accept wood elves as apprentices, and the academy is not willing to accept them either. However, if wood elves are willing, they can come to the academy to take the assessment.
If you pass, congratulations on becoming a glorious magic technician. You will work in the workshop until death. If you fail, then go back and forth. The next best result is to become a glorious druid.
Work in the fields until you die.
If nothing works, it doesn't matter. Even if they don't do anything, the upper elves will not let them starve to death, but they will not be very comfortable. If they want to be more comfortable, they can only work harder.
As for the real magic academy that systematically teaches magic, I'm sorry, it is a private society or society. It does not accept applications from outsiders and the state has no control over it. If you are good enough, the academy will send you an invitation letter.
In addition to this, there are also rising prices, so that the wood elves' income from labor is barely enough to support themselves. It is almost impossible to improve themselves by saving money.
In reality, there are few channels for improvement.
In the eyes of the upper-level elves, the middle- and lower-level elves are just tools with different uses. For example, the middle-level elves can help them save money, and when they save to a certain level, they can be harvested.
The bottom class is dedicated to doing groceries, and the best bottom class is the one who doesn't think about anything and contributes wholeheartedly to the prosperity of the elf world.
For that kind of elves, the upper-level elves do not hesitate to give certain honors. Such honors are very respected and popular at the bottom level, and can also serve as certain qualifications for the middle-level ones.
But from the perspective of the higher-ups, it is just a little bit of leftovers they give away casually, and it is just a means of controlling their subordinates.
If any Highborne takes it seriously, he will only be considered unworthy of being a Highborne and will fall to the bottom sooner or later.
Therefore, as for the tools, as long as they do not offend themselves, how can the upper elf torture the tools when they are full and have nothing to do? Instead, they must protect them and maintain them regularly!
Although this understanding does not exist in the minds of every upper-level family member, in actual actions and decision-making processes, they will still unconsciously make the choice that is most beneficial to them, that is, using the middle and lower classes as tools.
As consumables.
Even if there are a very small number of people who don't do this, they will be quickly excluded from the upper echelons, and even suffer continuous suppression until there is no voice left.
This is the most disgusting thing about the solidification of classes. Individual will can no longer be the decisive factor. The will of the group or class dominates and suppresses and suppresses voices and behaviors that are not in line with the interests of the class.
In this case, the bottom class seems to have no problem with food and clothing, but in fact the future has been cut off and they have just become pigs for the top class.
In a country with short-lived pigs, this method of raising pigs may be feasible. After all, wisdom takes time to grow. By the time short-lived pigs grow up enough to recognize the current situation, they will already be stuck in it and unable to change it.
However, as an immortal species, elves have not read any books for hundreds of years and only learned from life experience. They can also gradually realize the coldness and cruelty of the current society, and then have the idea of changing.
And magic is the only way to change your destiny.
Xia Duo has long seen the desire of the elves for magic, which is enough to overcome the elven world's long-standing contempt and disdain for Nese magic, just to seize this most likely the only opportunity to change their destiny.
Shado cannot completely change this situation for the time being, but he believes that intelligent life should not be treated like this, so he has a plan to actively spread magic.
The mechanic route is probably the best choice for the lower-level elves to change their destiny (obtaining magical knowledge). This route will not harm the interests of the upper-level elves, at least not in the foreseeable time. Instead, it will greatly improve the interests of the upper-level elves.
.
The reason for this can be explained by the theory of Xia Duo's hometown - cultivating low-level elves into magic technicians is actually equivalent to increasing productivity.
But while productivity increases, the treatment of the lower-level elves will not improve much. According to Xia Duo's speculation, it will probably remain the same as before - that is, they can have enough food and clothing, and can occasionally have fun.
Almost all the benefits brought by the increase in productivity have been taken away by the upper elves. This proportion will be much higher than in the past, and may even reach 99%!
This is a huge increase in the benefits that the Highborne can foresee.
The only hidden danger, and also the only opportunity for the bottom level, is to come into contact with magic. As long as the bottom level is exposed to enough magic, it will be enough to produce a qualitative change.
For example, on Earth, if we really want to talk about how much power is controlled, the bottom layer actually controls more power. Even violent machines, in the absence of fully automatic robots, still need to be directly controlled by the bottom layer.
The upper levels rely on institutions, beliefs, honors, money, etc. to control the lower levels and then control the most powerful violence machine.
If all the minds at the bottom are connected in an instant and all have the idea of changing, then those upper levels that do not actually directly control power or resources need not exist at all!
The biggest difference between the magical world and the earth is that the upper-level elves directly control the most powerful power. In this case, the lower-level elves may face the most brutal suppression if they want to change their destiny.
Of course, the magical world is not without its advantages, that is, as elves are immortal species, the wisdom accumulated over hundreds of years allows most of their lower classes to have a consciousness that exceeds that of the lower classes of humans.
Of course, it can also be said that the longer one lives, the harder it is to still suffer long and endless oppression.