In 1984, who do the proles remain loyal to?

In book 2, chapter 7, Winston awakens from a dream and begins to contemplate the nature and state of the proles. Winston recalls his mother's reaction when he ate the last piece of chocolate as a child and understands that his mother's hug was a gesture of love. Winston realizes that the people living two generations before him were governed by private loyalties and were not exclusively loyal to the Party. Winston suddenly realizes that the proles have remained in that state and acknowledges that they are only loyal to one another. Orwell writes,

They [the proles] were not loyal to a party or a country or an idea, they were loyal to one another (208).

Winston understands that the proles have the unique ability to remain human despite being ruled by an authoritative, oppressive regime. Unlike the majority of Party members, the proles retain their emotions and have not become callous, brainwashed individuals. In a society where the Party only accepts complete, exclusive loyalty, the proles break the mold by remaining loyal to each other.