War is Peace. Freedom is Slavery. Ignorance is Strength. These are the slogans of the world of 1984. The characters are trapped in a world where everything that ever existed is false, and everything that never existed is real. Living in a world like this would get confusing and overwhelming.
However the only thing that was keeping Winston sane was believing that he wasn’t the only one against the party and that there were others like him. The only thing that was keeping Julia sane was rebelling in her own way and believing that the party couldn’t get inside you and change your emotions. Little did they know that the things keeping them sane weren’t real; Winston believed that O’Brien was on his side but he was wrong and Julia believed that her thoughts and emotions were safe, but she to was wrong. Both Winston and Julia were living meaningless lives until they met each other and once they were separated their lives became meaningless once again, though I’m sure The Party would disagree. The party had converted their minds into having love for nothing but the party. The party was happy with what it had accomplished but all happiness and love had been removed from Winston and Julia’s hearts and minds.
In the end all their rebellion and torture that they had been through became insignificant. The party had tortured them into obedience and in the end they did everything that the party wanted; including betraying their love for each other. All the sanity they ever had disappeared and it was as if their love and past lives never existed.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Monday, March 24, 2008
1984: 297- 311
The party had accomplished mostly everything it had wanted during the interrogation process Winston had to go through. Intellectually they had perfected his mind; he had learned, understood and accepted the party. However emotionally he was the same. Now he has been sent to room 101 to complete the final stage of his interrogation. Before he had told O’Brien that “I have not betrayed Julia” and O’Brien had agreed. Now the time had come for him to finally betray her.
They made him face his worst fear, Rats. To Winston there could be nothing worse in the world and they knew that he would sincerely do anything to get away from it. Finally he realizes that there is only one sure way to escape this dreadful fate; he had to put somebody between himself and the rats as a shield. This person had to be Julia, “Do it to Julia! Do it to Julia! Not me! Julia! I don’t care what you do to her!” at this moment the party had fulfilled its final goal for Winston.
The party had finally made Winston stop loving Julia. They had mad Winston do the one thing that he had promised to never do, betray Julia. She had also betrayed him. Julia had once said to him that the one thing the party couldn’t do was make them stop loving each other, but in the end that’s exactly what the party had done.
They made him face his worst fear, Rats. To Winston there could be nothing worse in the world and they knew that he would sincerely do anything to get away from it. Finally he realizes that there is only one sure way to escape this dreadful fate; he had to put somebody between himself and the rats as a shield. This person had to be Julia, “Do it to Julia! Do it to Julia! Not me! Julia! I don’t care what you do to her!” at this moment the party had fulfilled its final goal for Winston.
The party had finally made Winston stop loving Julia. They had mad Winston do the one thing that he had promised to never do, betray Julia. She had also betrayed him. Julia had once said to him that the one thing the party couldn’t do was make them stop loving each other, but in the end that’s exactly what the party had done.
1984: 277- 297
Winston is in the Ministry of love and he has no idea how long he has been there. In all this time he has not even looked into a mirror once until O’Brien shows him one. For the first time Winston sees that he is no match for the party and that eventually they will defeat him. He thought that he was superior to the party until O’Brien proved to him that no one is above the party.
In the mirror he saw that although he was only 39 he had the body of a sixty year old man. He was weak and defenseless. O’Brien showed him that he had been defeated, “We have beaten you, Winston. We have broken you up.” Even though Winston could not deny that he had been defeated he took comfort in knowing that he still had not betrayed Julia. And although O’Brien had tortured him and put him through so much pain he still admired him for understanding what he was told.
When Winston starts getting healthier he finally realizes that the party is right. The party is always right and could never be wrong, “how could the immortal, collective brain be mistaken?” He finally accepted everything he had been told about the party. He was no longer superior to the party; the party was superior and had defeated him.
In the mirror he saw that although he was only 39 he had the body of a sixty year old man. He was weak and defenseless. O’Brien showed him that he had been defeated, “We have beaten you, Winston. We have broken you up.” Even though Winston could not deny that he had been defeated he took comfort in knowing that he still had not betrayed Julia. And although O’Brien had tortured him and put him through so much pain he still admired him for understanding what he was told.
When Winston starts getting healthier he finally realizes that the party is right. The party is always right and could never be wrong, “how could the immortal, collective brain be mistaken?” He finally accepted everything he had been told about the party. He was no longer superior to the party; the party was superior and had defeated him.
1984: 257-277
Two plus two equals four. That’s a fact that no one can change because no matter which way you look at it two plus two equals four and it cannot equal anything else. But if everyone single person believes that two plus two equals five than it has to. Winston however has trouble believing this because logic tells him that it equals four. O’ Brien is trying to make Winston think the way the party wants him to.
Since Winston doesn’t think the way the party does O’Brien tries to convince him that he is crazy. It is quite ironic when O’Brien tells Winston that he is “unable to remember real events” when he really means that Winston is unable to grasp the reality of the unreal events the party puts out. They are trying to make him understand that nothing in the past exists. The party is trying to rid Winston’s mind of his craziness and make him think the right way.
In his interrogation there were three steps; first he had to learn about the party, then he had to understand the party. Only after these two steps were completed could Winston accept and love big brother and the party. And once he has accepted the party could he think the way they want him to. The party’s goal was to make Winston see that two plus two equals five.
Since Winston doesn’t think the way the party does O’Brien tries to convince him that he is crazy. It is quite ironic when O’Brien tells Winston that he is “unable to remember real events” when he really means that Winston is unable to grasp the reality of the unreal events the party puts out. They are trying to make him understand that nothing in the past exists. The party is trying to rid Winston’s mind of his craziness and make him think the right way.
In his interrogation there were three steps; first he had to learn about the party, then he had to understand the party. Only after these two steps were completed could Winston accept and love big brother and the party. And once he has accepted the party could he think the way they want him to. The party’s goal was to make Winston see that two plus two equals five.
1984: pg 237-257
Imagine being trapped in a moment knowing that it could lead to nothing good. How would you feel? What would you do? Each individual would react differently when faced with a fatal moment. As Winston sits in a cell alone in the Ministry of Love, many people come and get taken away and each person takes in the situation with different thoughts and emotions.
Some people that Winston comes across in the cell, he wasn’t surprised to see and some he would never have expected to see in the Ministry of Love. The first person that comes in is Ampleforth, a poet and thinking man. He accepts his fate and knows that no man can avoid it. He realizes that it doesn’t matter what crime you’ve committed because “there is only one offence…” if you’ve committed one you’ve committed them all. Winston wasn’t surprised to see Ampleforth because being a man who could think for himself it would be natural for the party to be concerned. The next person that Winston sees in the cell is someone that Winston was sure would never be captured, Tom Parsons. Parsons believed that he had committed a crime even though he hadn’t really. Even though the party had imprisoned him he could not see any way that the party could be wrong. Unlike Ampleforth, Parsons believed that the party was right in imprisoning him. Ampleforth accepted that the party believed he had committed a crime but it didn’t really make sense to him.
Although this is a society where everyone is encouraged to be and think the same, each person still reacts to different situations differently. Both Winston and Ampleforth know that they will be tortured and maybe even die, but they both react differently and have different thoughts towards the party and to the situation they have been put in.
Some people that Winston comes across in the cell, he wasn’t surprised to see and some he would never have expected to see in the Ministry of Love. The first person that comes in is Ampleforth, a poet and thinking man. He accepts his fate and knows that no man can avoid it. He realizes that it doesn’t matter what crime you’ve committed because “there is only one offence…” if you’ve committed one you’ve committed them all. Winston wasn’t surprised to see Ampleforth because being a man who could think for himself it would be natural for the party to be concerned. The next person that Winston sees in the cell is someone that Winston was sure would never be captured, Tom Parsons. Parsons believed that he had committed a crime even though he hadn’t really. Even though the party had imprisoned him he could not see any way that the party could be wrong. Unlike Ampleforth, Parsons believed that the party was right in imprisoning him. Ampleforth accepted that the party believed he had committed a crime but it didn’t really make sense to him.
Although this is a society where everyone is encouraged to be and think the same, each person still reacts to different situations differently. Both Winston and Ampleforth know that they will be tortured and maybe even die, but they both react differently and have different thoughts towards the party and to the situation they have been put in.
Monday, March 10, 2008
1984: 191-234
Winston sits in Mr. Charrington’s apartment reading Goldstein’s book. He is looking for answers and is quite fascinated by the book even though it tells him what he has always been thinking. Julia however is not as interested. She wants to rebel but is not interested in the details. Winston peacefully reads the book, appreciating the forbidden moment, but doesn’t realize that it is almost over.
He tries to get Julia to read the book, but she tells him to read it aloud. This however only serves as a lullaby to put her to sleep. Both are in a state of peace which feels like foreshadowing; the calm before the storm. Here is where the reader realizes that no one in Orwell’s world can be trusted. It turns out that the sweet little owner of the antique shop is a member of the thought police and betrays Winston and Julia. Just when they had found a place where they could peacefully be happy and in love, their world crashed around them like the beautiful glass paperweight; magnificent in it’s beauty, but destined to fall.
As Winston stands watching the agony in Julia’s face, he realizes that the moment that they knew was fast approaching was finally here. The end to their rebellion had come when they had least expected it.
He tries to get Julia to read the book, but she tells him to read it aloud. This however only serves as a lullaby to put her to sleep. Both are in a state of peace which feels like foreshadowing; the calm before the storm. Here is where the reader realizes that no one in Orwell’s world can be trusted. It turns out that the sweet little owner of the antique shop is a member of the thought police and betrays Winston and Julia. Just when they had found a place where they could peacefully be happy and in love, their world crashed around them like the beautiful glass paperweight; magnificent in it’s beauty, but destined to fall.
As Winston stands watching the agony in Julia’s face, he realizes that the moment that they knew was fast approaching was finally here. The end to their rebellion had come when they had least expected it.
1984: 161-190
Julia and Winston are so compatible and yet they differ in many ways. As Orwell has conveyed, Julia is strong minded and an enemy of the party. Winston is also an enemy of the party but they have different goals. Winston is also less experienced in his rebellion. Where Winston is concerned with the past and future, Julia is concerned with the present and so their attitudes towards the party are also different,
Julia, as Winston has said is “only a rebel form the waist down.” She is not concerned with the party and its policies as long as she can get around them and they don’t directly affect her life. This makes her a rebel with personal goals. She realizes that the party alters the past and restricts people’s emotions and actions, but since they don’t directly affect her, she is indifferent.
Winston on the other hand struggles to understand why the party does what it does. He knows that the party has changed the past but he wants to know why. Why do they claim to have invented airplanes? How did the world come to this? And what was it like before? Unlike Julia, he wants answers and he thinks that Goldstein’s book, given to him by O’Brien will give him these answers.
Although Winston and Julia differ in there ideas and feelings towards the party, they love each other and they combine there ideas to have a common goal. That goal is to, by any means possible, destroy the party or at least try. They know that at the end they will be caught, but that is a risk they are willing to take.
Julia, as Winston has said is “only a rebel form the waist down.” She is not concerned with the party and its policies as long as she can get around them and they don’t directly affect her life. This makes her a rebel with personal goals. She realizes that the party alters the past and restricts people’s emotions and actions, but since they don’t directly affect her, she is indifferent.
Winston on the other hand struggles to understand why the party does what it does. He knows that the party has changed the past but he wants to know why. Why do they claim to have invented airplanes? How did the world come to this? And what was it like before? Unlike Julia, he wants answers and he thinks that Goldstein’s book, given to him by O’Brien will give him these answers.
Although Winston and Julia differ in there ideas and feelings towards the party, they love each other and they combine there ideas to have a common goal. That goal is to, by any means possible, destroy the party or at least try. They know that at the end they will be caught, but that is a risk they are willing to take.
Friday, March 7, 2008
1984-Through Winston's Eyes.
I walk through the days of my life, with eyes watching my every move,
The tiny hairs throughout my body slowly rise.
Should I not be used to this by now?
Maybe, but I’m not.
In some vague memory,
I remeber things being different.
My mind is full of shadows,
But I know that where there is a shadow, there has to be light.
In that little bright corner of my mind,
There exists a world with love, lust and passion.
A world where happiness is more than just a distant dream
And love can be expressed freely.
In that little corner lives a love that I could never have imagined
But now it seems so clear.
I don’t think I could go back to living my life with no reason to live,
And I don’t want to.
The tiny hairs throughout my body slowly rise.
Should I not be used to this by now?
Maybe, but I’m not.
In some vague memory,
I remeber things being different.
My mind is full of shadows,
But I know that where there is a shadow, there has to be light.
In that little bright corner of my mind,
There exists a world with love, lust and passion.
A world where happiness is more than just a distant dream
And love can be expressed freely.
In that little corner lives a love that I could never have imagined
But now it seems so clear.
I don’t think I could go back to living my life with no reason to live,
And I don’t want to.
Thursday, March 6, 2008
1984: 132-160, Paradise.
Paradise; what is paradise? Well each person you ask will tell you something different. Is it palm trees and blue oceans? Is it eating chocolate on a warm summer day? Is it walking hand in hand with someone you love? The word is open to interpretation, but most people would probably agree that it is not a dingy, bug infested apartment over a little shop in London. Winston and Julia however, would completely disagree because that is where they found paradise, in “the little shabby room above Mr. Charrington’s shop.”(Pg.143).
To one person this apartment may be dingy and small, but on the other hand it is a quite sanctuary for lovers to bask in each others beauty; a heaven in hell. At least this is what Winston and Julia think it is. It’s quite a wonder how they are able to find peace and a paradise and love in a chaotic world where these things have little value. They are able to experience love while preparing for “hate week”, paradise in a world where food is scarce and peace in a world where death is inevitable. For them the simple pleasure that love brings means everything.
Winston and Julia defined their own paradise, and so it became what they wanted. Paradise isn’t meant to be perfect and beautiful, but merely an escape from everything that isn’t perfect or beautiful.
To one person this apartment may be dingy and small, but on the other hand it is a quite sanctuary for lovers to bask in each others beauty; a heaven in hell. At least this is what Winston and Julia think it is. It’s quite a wonder how they are able to find peace and a paradise and love in a chaotic world where these things have little value. They are able to experience love while preparing for “hate week”, paradise in a world where food is scarce and peace in a world where death is inevitable. For them the simple pleasure that love brings means everything.
Winston and Julia defined their own paradise, and so it became what they wanted. Paradise isn’t meant to be perfect and beautiful, but merely an escape from everything that isn’t perfect or beautiful.
1984: 111-132, Taking Risks In Love.
Even in a world where people’s thoughts and emotions need to be suppressed and hidden, some people find the courage to live their lives like they want. For this courage and bravery one needs to admire the dark haired girl and anyone else who is willing to take that risk when many people can not, even in the safer world we live in.
Although we live in a world where we have the freedom to love and be loved, sometimes people are too afraid to let that happen to them. How many people can say that they are brave enough to walk up to an acquaintance and say I love you? Not many, even though the worst that could happen is a bruised ego. However, the dark haired girl had the courage to go and start an affair with a man that could possibly lead her to her death, but she wanted it bad enough to take that risk.
It seems likely that Winston and Julia appreciate this risk. When they came together in the clearing in the forest, they both entered a world where they could be happy and almost free. She had taken Winston into a world that he had never experienced before. And for the first time he experienced love and lust and passion; things that had not existed in his life before.
Julia took a risk; some may call her a foolish romantic, but she’s not. She is only trying to live her life in the natural way and trying to break away from the life the Party has defined.
Although we live in a world where we have the freedom to love and be loved, sometimes people are too afraid to let that happen to them. How many people can say that they are brave enough to walk up to an acquaintance and say I love you? Not many, even though the worst that could happen is a bruised ego. However, the dark haired girl had the courage to go and start an affair with a man that could possibly lead her to her death, but she wanted it bad enough to take that risk.
It seems likely that Winston and Julia appreciate this risk. When they came together in the clearing in the forest, they both entered a world where they could be happy and almost free. She had taken Winston into a world that he had never experienced before. And for the first time he experienced love and lust and passion; things that had not existed in his life before.
Julia took a risk; some may call her a foolish romantic, but she’s not. She is only trying to live her life in the natural way and trying to break away from the life the Party has defined.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
1984-Part 1
Imagine a world where your every move was watched, a world where everyone was under suspicion and could be “vaporized” at any moment. This is the world that the characters in 1984 live in. 1984 is a world with complete totalitarianism; the Party controls every aspect of everyone’s lives. The people don’t remember how the world was before the revolution because the party changes everything in its favor.
Reading this novel can really make you appreciate the world we live in. We have all the food we could possibly want, and all the chocolate we want without worrying about shortages and the freedom to be free and do what we want. However, I think most people don’t realize that the totalitarian world in 1984 is not much different then our own. We may not be in danger of disappearing or dying because of our thoughts, but we are still being watched and judged by people around us. In 1984 people don’t really interact with others and in our world we seem to be interacting in person with fewer people every day. Many people find it easier to communicate to people through Face book and MSN than in person.
If we are not careful, our world will come to resemble that of 1984 more and more and we won’t even realize it is happening. Once it happens we won't remeber a time when things were differernt.
Reading this novel can really make you appreciate the world we live in. We have all the food we could possibly want, and all the chocolate we want without worrying about shortages and the freedom to be free and do what we want. However, I think most people don’t realize that the totalitarian world in 1984 is not much different then our own. We may not be in danger of disappearing or dying because of our thoughts, but we are still being watched and judged by people around us. In 1984 people don’t really interact with others and in our world we seem to be interacting in person with fewer people every day. Many people find it easier to communicate to people through Face book and MSN than in person.
If we are not careful, our world will come to resemble that of 1984 more and more and we won’t even realize it is happening. Once it happens we won't remeber a time when things were differernt.
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