1) Who is Julia and how can she be related to Winston?
A: Julia is a woman who works at the Anti-Sex League and is Winston's "commrade". They've had many meetings where they make love and talk of a changed world where they live the way they want. She is similar to Winston in that they both despise the government and think for temselves (both thought criminals). They both talk of Big Brother's flaws and how the government is a joke. ---------- 2) Why is Goldstein's face shown on the "Two Minutes Hate" and why does everyone despise him?
A: Goldstein's face is shown because he is an individual that goes against everything that Big Brother stands for. He represents free thinking and open-mindedness. His "book" encourages party members to think for themselves and not be turned into a zombie. ---------- 3) What is ironic about Julia's job and how she acts when she's around Winston?
A: Julia works at the Anti-Sex League, trying to eliminate "badsex" and encourage "goodsex". She also is part of the division designed to make "pornosec" for the paroles. Yet, when she's with Winston, she disobeys her own rules and makes passionate love to him. She is a part of the thing she is trying to eliminate at work. ---------- 4) Who are the Parson's and what do they represent?
A: The Parson's are Winston's neighbors and are the most brainwashed family he knows. Winstion believes if he's not careful their children could turn him in for thought crimes. The Parson's children even threaten and harass Winston, calling him a thought criminal and accusing him of crimes with no true evidence (other than his journal). ---------- 5) Why was Syme vaporized and why doesn't O'Brien mention his name?
A: Syme was vaporized because he knew too much and was too smart for Big Brother. He was dumbing down society and cutting ideas by cutting words and his job working at Newspeak. O'Brien doesn't mention his name because he knows that if he's to say his name after he's been vaporized, he too will become vaporized. ---------- 6) How does the slogan, "War is Peace, Freedom is Slavery, Ignorance is Strength" relate to the U.S.?
A: The Big Brother slogan is the exact opposite of what the U.S. stands for. America strives for peace without war if possible, while Big Brother encourages fighting and war. America abolished slavery long ago to ensure everyone's freedom, but Big Brother needs slavery to keep power. Finally, Big Brother runs on arrogance and ignorance to ensure his power, while America doesn't. ---------- 7) Why does Big Brother not allow anyone to show any emotion?
A: Big Brother doesn't allow anyone to show any emotion because it represents individuality. In order to run a successful military dictatorship, Big Brother can't have anyone thinking for themself. That would only cause fallbacks toward his master plan. Big Brother can be related to Hitler in that in a way, 1984 is creating a sort of Final Solution, because he wants everyone to be the same and not have any diversity whatsoever. Just as Hitler wanted blonde hair and blue eyes, Big Bother wants blue overalls and no feelings or emotions. He wants to make them feel inhumane and want to worship him to get out of their "Hell-Hole". ---------- 8) Why does Winston keep a diary? How does it function as a literary device?
A: Winston keeps a diary because it's his own way of rebelling toward society and Big Brother. He's fighting back mentally and emotionally by making journal entries. He's also becomming a thought criminal by writing his own thoughts down on paper and not throwing them away in the memory hole. He's remembering how his life used to be before Big Brother and comparing it to his present situation. The diary is Winston's own way of escaping from his nightmare life and one of the only reasons keeping him alive. The journal itself is a symbol. It represents Winston's personal way of avoiding "zombification". The diary also is representing an allegory, because it keeps the plot moving throughout the beginning of the novel. It initiates the conflicts both internally and exernally. It's a burden because he could get vaporized for it, yet it also serves as Winstion's true emotions thoughout his life. ---------- 9) If Big Brother brainwashes everyone to think waht he believes, how are some party members able to think for themselves? Give examples of different characters and what they do to keep from being brainwashed.
A: There are certain rebels within the party that are able to think for themselves simply because they practice it daily. They've found loop-holes in Big Brother's empire and are taking advantage of those mistakes to still be somewhat humane, while still acting like a zombie. Julia for example, pretents to hate Goldstein and "The book" with all her might, but when she's not around an officer, telescreen, or a microphone, she transforms into a passionate, love-struck whore. She strives to feel true love of many different men within the party. She purchases items from the blackmarket and constantly insults the government. O'Brien is another party member who is able to think for himself. He's acknowledged as a thought criminal when he is caught winking at Winston at the Ministry of Truth. He understands how Winstion suffers and believes he's now part of it and understands now what bad things Big Brother is bringing down on them. The most obvious thought ciminal out of the whole party is Winston. He is constantly thinking for himself everywhere within his mind, and so long as they stay in his head and never come out of his mouth or out on paper he will be fine. Although, that's Winston's problem. He cannot keep all his thoughts and ideas inside bundled up. He needs to get them out somehow, so he keeps a journal. Highly illegal and very dangerous, Winston knows this, but keeps on doing it because it's his only way of keeping himself alive. In a way Winston is reliving the past by his recalled memories and how it used to be in Oceania, before Big Brother took over. He aslo openly resents Big Brother by speaking about it to Julia whenever they meet-up. After they make passionate love, they talk of how the world should be and what to do to stop dystopia from worsening. ---------- 10) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYectV3ubP8 -Describe who/what the woman stands for and also cover the overall message of the commercial.
A: The woman in the commercial represents Goldstein and freethinking and individualily. Knowice how her clothes are different from everyone elses. She's showing resentment towards Big Brother and she's obviously doing something about it. The overall message of the commercial is to get people to realize what not to be like and how to prevent dystopia from happening.
Impressive, Erik. Thank you for your astute work. Also impressive that you do the exact opposite of procrastination, getting tasks like this one done far in advance of the due date/time. Keep reading 1984 as closely as you are; a close, careful, critical reading will pay off, I promise.
1. Why does Winston write in his diary and could he be punished for it? Winston writes in his diary as a way of rebelling against Big Brother and the Party and what they stand for. He could be punished for this because he is committing a thought crime. He could be sent to either a forced labor camp or he could be vaporized.
2. As Winston is stretching in the morning he starts to day dream. What different subjects does he think of? As Winston is stretching he thinks of his childhood, which he remembers little about. He thinks he doesn’t know much about it because there is no documentation. He also thinks about Oceania’s relationship with the other major countries in the world.
3. Where does Winston work and what does he do there? Winston works at the Ministry of Truth. He works with a “speakwrite”, a machine that writes as you talk into it. He takes old documents that contradict what Big Brother and the Party say and changes them into true statements or create new people to say them.
4. Who is the only group of people that could overcome the Party according to Winston? Winston believes that the only group that could overcome the Party is the Proles. He believes that they could overcome the Party because they could come up with the strength and the man power to take over the Party. The Proles make up eighty-five percent of the population.
5. Describe the woman who slips Winston the note? The woman who slips Winston the “I Love You” note is a dark haired girl and she also has her arm in a sling. Prior to being given the note Winston thought that she was a political spy, spying on Winston and his actions.
6. Why does Winston rent the room above Mr. Charrington’s shop? Winston rents the room above Mr. Charrington’s shop to have a safe place to have an affair with Julia, the dark haired girl in a sling, at. He also likes the room because it reminds him of what a room would have been like before Big Brother.
7. Describe the members of the Parsons family. Mr. Parsons works with Winston at the Ministry of Truth. Mrs. Parsons needed help with her plumbing one night while her husband was away. Their children are members of the Junior Spies which is an organization of children who monitor adults for disloyalty to the Party. The two children accuse Winston of thoughtcrime while he is there working on the plumbing. The children are also angry at their mother, who is afraid of being turned into the Thought Police by her children, for not letting them go and see the public hanging of Eastasian prisoners in the park that evening.
8. Compare and Contrast Winston’s and Julia’s hate for the Party. Winston and Julia both hate the Party and what it stands for. They both do not like being controlled and on constant surveillance by the Party. Winston and Julia are different however in the degree of which they want to rebel against the party. Winston want to find out the truth about the secret underground society called the Brotherhood. He also wants to know the truth about Emmanuel Goldstein’s existence. Winston also wants to get his hands on the copy of the book that Emmanuel Goldstein wrote outlining the Brotherhoods oppositions to the Party. Julia however rebels by want minute things. She wants to feel like a sexy woman and likes the feeling of outsmarting the Party.
9. Analyze the different themes in this novel. The first theme in this book is the theme of the dangers of a totalitarianism government. This book was written to warn the people of the Americas and Western Europe of what has and was happening in Russia. Orwell had witnessed first hand of the communism occurring there and how technology was used to oppress the citizens of the Soviet Union. In the book Orwell created the perfect totalitarianism government that controls every aspect of life and if you oppose the Party by even having a disloyal thought you will be vaporized. The Party uses technology to catch you being disloyal. Some forms of technology used are the telescreens and hidden microphones all of which are around the city and monitor your every thought and movement. The book uses its main character, Winston Smith, to be the main stand against totalitarianism. He commits thoughtcrimes and even has an affair with a younger woman. The second theme is the manipulation of psychological thought. In the book the telescreens blast out constant propaganda telling you how great the Party is, and what to believe. The telescreens also shoot out constant lies to cover up any contradicting evidence against what the Party has said in the past. Winston works at the Ministry of Truth where he takes old articles, pamphlets, photos, and videos and changes them into lies that do not contradict what Big Brother has said. The citizen’s of Oceania also must remain on good behavior. They are reminded constantly that “Big Brother Is Watching You.” Even if they look like they are thinking about something for twenty seconds they could be detained and questioned. Brainwashing starts at the lowest levels with children. They are taught to question everything and everyone including their parents. The citizen’s of Oceania are also sexual suppressed in that the only reason for sex is to create a new Party member. With all this built up frustration the Party hold Two Minutes Hate where you just yell at telescreens that show pictures of Emmauel Goldstein, the enemy of the Party.
10. In 1984, George Orwell created a whole vocabulary of words concerning totalitarian control that have since passed into our common vocabulary. More importantly, he has portrayed a chillingly credible dystopia. In our deeply anxious world, the seeds of unthinking conformity are everywhere in evidence; and Big Brother is always looking for his chance. (Daniel Hintzsche for amazon.com )
Oceania is a sort of dictatorship that is run by Big Brother. Big Brother and the Inner Party control everything the Outer Party does by keeping a watch on everything that goes on with the telescreens. No one is allowed to think for themselves, and if they get caught having an opinion about something, they become vaporized. It is a hellish dystopian.
2) Based on what you know, will Parsons ever be vaporized?
Parsons is a simple may with boyish figures. He enjoys working for Big Brother, and loves how his kids are growing up to become great spies. He is totally brainwashed by the beliefs of the party. He will probably never be vaporized because he follows the rules, and isn’t capable of committing Thought Crimes.
3) What does Julia do that starts developing the plot?
Julia was approaching Winston, and suddenly fell. He helped her up and that is when she slipped him a note. The note said, “I LOVE YOU.” This causes Winston to do a total 360 on his feeling for her. They start meeting and talking secretly which really develops the plot.
4) What kind of person is Syme?
Syme is an extremely intelligent person who loves the idea of Newspeak. He is loyal to the party, but not to his comrades because if he noticed someone going against the wishes of the party, Syme would turn them in. The fact the Syme is so intelligent could be the key to his death.
5) What is the point to learning that Winston is/was married?
Finding out that Winston was married to Katharine lets us know what it’s like for party members to me married. Marriages for party members are not based on love. They are based on the needs of the Party. There should be no joy in marriage, especially when it comes to sex.
6) For whom or what is Winston writing his diary?
When Winston first writes in his diary, he wasn’t sure if he was writing it for someone in the past or the future. He wants to tell people his thoughts about things, and what life is like, but he didn’t know whom to tell. Finally he decided to write his diary for O’Brien.
7) Why does Winston decide to keep a diary?
By keeping a diary, Winston is rebelling mentally, emotionally, and physically. He is a thought criminal. Winston needs to do something to control his thoughts so he writes in his diary. Writing helps him to vent his feelings about the Party and also helps him to reflect on his life and his existence in this world. He is continually wondering if life had always been this way, with Big Brother controlling everything. The dairy gives Winston a way to control and channel his thoughts by writing them down. This helps to avoid revealing himself to the Thought Police and other spies. The diary is a metaphor to Winston’s free thinking which is his way to avoid becoming zombified like the majority of the other party members. Keeping a diary is what is saving Winston’s existence.
8) How are both Winston’s and Julia’s jobs ironic?
Winston works at the Ministry of Truth. His job is to change the past to make it seem like the truth, but the fact is that he is replacing the truth with lies. Big Brother is to always be right about everything. In order for this to occur, the people at the Ministry of Truth are constantly creating lies and cover-up stories which turn into facts of the past. The irony of this is that the Ministry of Truth makes up lies. Julia is very active in the Anti-Sex League but she tends to be “a rebel below the belt.” The Anti-Sex League is constantly preaching about how sex is bad and how it should only be a duty to the party. Julia plays her part very well, but she has been with many Party members in the past.
9) In what ways do Winston, Julia, and O’Brien escape from the constant watch of the Party?
The first Thought Crime we learn about in the book is when Winston starts keeping his diary. He was able to buy the diary because he went to a Proletarian store where there were no telescreens. When he started to write in it, he went into a room in which the telescreen only could watch part of, so he would hide in the corner and express his thoughts. When Julia came along, she use her knowledge of the land that she picked up on during the community hikes. With her experience, she knows that if you are planning on meeting up with someone, you must take different paths. She knew of the clearing surrounded by trees, where there were no microphones or anyone watching, and multiple ways to get there. She mapped out a trail for Winston to follow, and she took a different one. It is hard for the telescreens to keep track of everyone when the telescreens aren’t everywhere. Winston and Julia are very clever when it comes to cheating the system, and they know what they can and can’t do. For instance, the clearing they went to could only be used that one time, and then maybe once more in the future. If the used it frequently, they would be caught. The two are able to meet and talk when there are huge gatherings of people, and they are able to have interval conversations as they pass by each other. They also are able to hook up in Mr. Charrington’s shop because he has no telescreens. His shop is almost like Winston and Julia’s home together. They meet there a several times, but they are able to remain safe because each time they go there they arrive at different times, and go by a different route each time. Now O’Brien is a member of the Inner Party. Inner Party members have more privileges than anyone else. When O’Brien first approaches Winston, he does it right in front of a telescreen and talks to Winston about the new edition of the Newspeak dictionary, which keeps the conversation casual and safe. Winston picks up to O’Brien’s signals and they are able to set up their first meeting together. At O’Brien’s home, he is able to turn off his telescreen. This is where the Brotherhood is introduced. There are many ways to cheat the system, and the Brotherhood is going to find a way to defeat Big Brother through the flaws of the Party, and the sacrifices made by the Brotherhood members.
10) http://www.gerenser.com/1984/ This website is a good one to go to if you want to learn more about 1984. The site gives an analysis, which gives a synopsis, character assessments, and examples of symbolism. This site also offers a study guide and has a message board. The message board is used so people can share their thoughts and opinions, and they can also ask questions about the novel. It’s a great website that can be used to travel this novel thoroughly.
1) What is ironic about Winston’s job and what he believes in?
A: He takes history and rewrites it to say exactly what Big Brother had predicted would happen in any given situation. All history was palimpsest, scraped clean and rein scribed exactly as often as was necessary. In no case would it have been possible, once the deed was done to prove that any falsification had taken place. This is ironic with what Winston believes in because he is a thought criminal and he wants to go against Big Brother and find evidence hard evidence to tell the proles that the government is lying to them to get a rebellion going.
2) Why is the diary important to Winston?
A: He’s a thought criminal. He’s rebelling mentally and emotionally. He’s remembering and reflecting on how life was/is, reflecting on existence. The diary is his only escape from this world. The diary is the main way Winston stays alive- he’s able to channel his thoughts into the diary to avoid revealing himself as a thought criminal.
3) Why is the photograph of Jones, Aaronson, and Rutherford important?
A: It was a half-page torn out of the Times of about ten years earlier-the top half of the page, so that it included the date-and it contained a photograph of he delegates at some Party function in New York. Prominent in the middle of the group were Jones, Aaronson, and Rutherford. There was no mistaking them; in any case their names were in the caption at the bottom. The point was that at both trials all three men had confessed that on that date they had been on Eurasian soil. They had flown from a secret airfield in Canada to a rendezvous somewhere in Siberia, and had conferred with members of the Eurasian General Staff, to whom they had betrayed important military secrets. This piece of hard evidence was enough to blow the party to atoms, if in some way it could have been published to the world and its significance made known.
4) What is one belief Winston keeps about the proles?
A: If there was hope, it must lie in the proles, because only there, in those swarming disregarded masses, eighty-five per cent of the population of Oceania, could the force to destroy the party ever be generated. If only the proles could somehow become conscious of their own strength, would have no need to conspire. They needed only to rise up and shake themselves like a horse shaking off flies. If they chose they could blow the Party to pieces tomorrow morning.
5) Who is the girl that is following Winston around and why is she important?
A: The girl that is following Winston around is Julia. She is so very important to the whole novel because she is the one that allows Winston to commit thought crimes against the Party. She is the one that Winston loses him self in when they are together having sex. She is his escape from the world that he hates so much.
6) Why do parents fear there own children?
A: It was almost normal for people over thirty to be frightened of their own children. And with good reason, for hardly a week passed in which the Times did not carry a paragraph describing how some eavesdropping little sneak-“child hero” was the phrase generally used- had overheard some compromising remark and denounced his parents to the Though Police.
7) What is a way that Orwell shows us we will not have privacy if a Big Brother came into power?
A: A big one he shows to us is all the Telescreens that are all around the town and in your homes. When some one tells you people are watching you all the time even when you are at your house were people are supposed to have the most privacy that would make me feel like I never would truly have privacy of any kind at all. You would have to watch every little thing you did to make sure you did not go against the Party and you would be in fear at all times because if you make a mistake of any kind you could be vaporized.
8) What is Orwell trying to tell us to do if a 1984 would happen to us?
A: He is strongly telling us to rebel against the government if they every try and take complete control over its people. The people should rebel before the government has complete control. The people have to keep a close eye on the laws that are being pasted because they could come back to hurt you if you do not know what laws your government is passing. He is telling us to never lose are mind. In the scene that we have to remember every one is made uniquely and differently. If you are able to keep your mind and a scene of what is good and bad or morally right or morally wrong the government could never take complete control of its people.
9) What would have to happen to day for people to blindly follow what the government tells us? How is government as a whole like Big Brother? What do the American people have to do to stop the government from getting to much power?
A: Truly but very sadly not much. Do not misunderstand me but after the attacks on the world trade centers the United States government found ways to have the American people blindly follow and trust them. The government put into law the Patriot Act. All it really did was take more rights away from the great people to the United States. If for any reason at all the government thinks you have something to do with terrorism even if you have nothing to do with it the government has been given lots more power to get your phone taped. The United States government can listen to your conversations if they think you are a terrorist with out going through the courts to get a warrant. They have been given a short cut to getting around the freedoms America stands for. You may say I am not a good American citizen but I am. If you let the government have to ability to listen to any conversation they feel they have to because they say it deals with terrorism where do you set the line and tell the government enough is enough and they can no longer take more freedoms away from us. That is how are government is like Big Brother they want more and more power to do what they want to with it and will all ways want more and more power. I do not want my government to make any more laws limiting my rights as an American citizen. It is very simple with what the American people have to do to stop letting the government get more power stand up to them and say enough is enough. If this becomes a big decisions in elections and the American people only vote for the people that will not limit are rights any more that is how the American voice will be heard.
10) http://readers.penguin.co.uk/nf/Document/DocumentDisplay/0,,P000100000032,00.html Although we haven’t yet got telescreens we do have an expansion of CCTV. Our Internet use, e-mails and phone calls can all be monitored. Loyalty and credit cards allow our movements to be tracked and our spending habits to be analysed. A: It is so true what this person is saying. The government or other people can track us through are movements when we are on the Internet, e-mail and phone calls. They can not see us directly but they can find out what we are up to. The government can also track us when we use are credit card. Really the government could find any one in the whole U.S. when every they want to.
1. Why is Syme’s appearance in the novel important to Winston and the message of the novel?
Syme is one of the people who are slowly erasing the old language into newspeak. He is important because he shows that even people who do exactly what they are supposed to also can be vaporized. He knows too much about the inner workings of the party, and he is eventually vaporized because of it around the time the new edition of the dictionary is coming out.
2. Why is important to Winston that he buys useless things from the past?
Winston is one of the few people that see the value in the old things. They are from a time that didn’t have an overpowering government and a time when people had actual freedom. He sees that these little trinkets are windows to the past and are helping him to answer questions he has of the future, like, “was the past really worse then the present?”
3. What is the Brotherhood and what does it stand for?
The brotherhood is a secret underground society that aims to overthrow the government. The brotherhood knows that they exist, but they have no way of knowing how many members they have or have any way of contacting each other. They stand for freedom and choice. They have become the embodiment of all the people who want change in the party.
4. What is significant about the two minutes of hate?
The two minutes of hate are a way to brainwash people. It numbs people to actual hate, and also makes enemies of the party enemies of the people by exposing certain figures repeatedly to people during the hate session. It is also a way for people to get their hate out. During the two minutes hate, it allows people to openly get their frustrations out and makes for a safer party.
5. Explain why Julia is such an interesting character? (Ex. She is a thought criminal but she works for the government).
She is a freedom addict. She does things someone in her position would never be expected to do. She frequently volunteers her time to the party, doing things such as the junior anti sex league. But it’s only a cover-up. Underneath all the party activities she is expressing her freedoms. She has become interested in Winston because, like her, she could tell that he was a rebel. I always thought that she was setting him up.
6. What does Winston start renting from the shop keeper and why?
Winston starts renting the room above the shop. At first, he thought it would be a good place to just be away from the party and the telescreens, but now it’s because of his affair with Julia also. They first started having their affair in hiding places, but now they have a regular place to meet where they can be with each other and now worry about what other people may see them doing.
7. What is significant about Winston’s meeting with O’Brien?
O’Brien proves the existence of the Brotherhood. Up until then, Winston wasn’t even sure if anyone else existed that felt the same way as he and Julia did. Now, O’Brien will start giving Winston and Julia instructions on what to do to overthrow the party. This is a real turning point for Winston. It has given him new purpose. He will now be able to act on what he’s been thinking for along time now, and he may even die doing it, but is perfectly willing to as long as it means the destruction of the party. I think it will be hard for anyone to do anything to worth while right away because the Brotherhood is so spread out. It is going to take some time for all these actions to add up, but when they finally to amount to something, it will mean the empowerment of the people and the disarmament of the party. Winston agrees to do anything for the party because he knows that to make any difference its going to take some drastic measures.
8. Why did Winston’s relationship with his first wife not work out?
Winston didn’t like his first wife. I may go as far to say as he hated her. She did everything to serve the party. He hated the fact that every faucet of her being was geared towards the benefit of the party. She would volunteer their time to serving Big Brother in some way. I think if Winston had stayed with her that he eventually would have been turned in as a thought criminal. Even the sex they had was for the party. It was an activity, something to do, not something to do for pleasure. If she had maybe wanted to do something for fun, or just because, then maybe it would have worked. But in the long run, neither of them could accomplish what they wanted when they were with each other.
9. What are some things that the government does to make people act the way they want.
The government has complete control over everyone. They have ways of making you scared to think. They have the Thought Police. What’s scarier then someone policing your mind? How can they even tell what it is that you’re thinking? Really, they could just arrest you and kill you, even if you completely loyal in thought and deed to the party. Another thing they’re good at is brainwashing. Two minutes of hate. This is a tool used to numb and brainwash everyone. During the two minutes of hate, images of things, such as Goldstein and the Eastasia/Eurasian(depending on when you look at who they are fighting) soldiers and leaders, so that the people become numb to feeling that they are people, and see them as inhumane monsters that they want to tear apart if they had the chance. The two minutes of hate is also a way to actively let people release their anger. Any act of hate towards anyone on the street for no reason would be a hate crime, but once a day one can let out their anger, and in so doing, is venting and preventing a later outbreak. People in this novel have a lot to be mad about. The fact that the government tries to control everyone is a big one, and two minutes of hate allows them to keep people in check. Another thing they’ve done is convince the children it’s good to rat their parents out. Who better to get inside someone’s home then someone who actually live there? Plus, children are easily influenced with promises of huge rewards when they do turn their parents in. Children are a great tool to use because they are easily influenced, and once they are convinced in the ways of the party, it will be easier to control them when they become older. They will be better party members.
10. http://summarycentral.tripod.com/1984.htm
This is a website that gives a great summary of the novel. It talks about the terrifying future of George Orwell fantasies, and also gives detailed character synapses. By the way, I was reading about the characters, and I read Mr. Charrington’s description, and it ruined the book for me, so now I’m really angry!
Critical, thorough, and aware, Luke. Well done, as always.
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Sorry, Jason. But you can still enjoy it, right? You can still find significant meaning, right? You don't know all the details, surely. Even though I knew the outcome of Schindler's List I thoroughly enjoyed it and learned a lot from the film.
Q1. What is the atmosphere like in the novel 1984?
A1. The atmosphere in the novel is one of fear and unawareness. The citizens of the novel live in a state of unhappiness and have very little freedom of their own. When one reads the novel, it is depicted as a large gray world, one with little color to represent happiness.
Q2. Describe the children of the novel.
A2. The children of the novel are terrors, they are trained in school to watch their parents for suspicious activity and report them to the government. Mrs. Parsons is afraid of her children who are always quoting slogans of the party. She is afraid she will be turned into the government.
Q3. Who are Syme and Mr. Parsons?
A3. Syme and Mr. Parsons are “friends” of Winston, but in reality one is not allowed to have friends, they are more of acquaintances. Syme is a philologist who specializes in Newspeak. He is later vaporized for his intelligence. Mr. Parsons is a brainwashed follower, an ideal member of the party.
Q4. At first glance Julia represents the ideal party member. How is she portrayed as the novel progresses?
A4. Julia falls in love with Winston, for realizing he hates the party. She is a very good “actor,” she follows the rules of the party in public and participates in activities outside of work. In reality she hates the party more than Winston and wants to take the party down.
Q5. What is the party slogan and what is the significance of it?
A5. The slogan is WAR IS PEACE. FREEDOM IS SLAVERY. IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH. The significance of the slogan is that it is irony in itself, the inner party makes the quote seem important but in reality the quote is a contradiction in itself as the quote is opposite of our perception.
Q6. What is the ideal behavior of the party members?
A6. An Ideal member of the party is one who is brainwashed and will follow the words of Big Brother, no matter what. They are suggested to engage in community activities for the good of the party. One is also supposed to only have sex to reproduce, not for pleasure.
Q7. In one’s opinion why was a character like Winston chosen to be the protagonist of the story? A7. Winston was chosen for many reasons to be the main character of the novel 1984. Winston is the type of character many people would call an anti-hero, a person who is not good looking or charming or even having any wonderful traits. Winston was chosen for this reason. Winston was also chosen to be the character to have thoughts against Big Brother and the Inner Party, even though Orwell could have made anyone have thoughts against Big Brother he choose Winston. He was chosen for this reason also because of the fact he is different from the majority of the population, different enough to stick out and discover what is truly happening with Big Brother and the Inner Party.
Q8. What are the ministries and what do they do? What ministry does Winston work at?
A8. There are four ministries and each of them have specific jobs that must be completed. The first ministry is the Ministry of Truth which handles news, entertainment, education and the fine arts. This is where Winston works at, where his job is to “fix” articles and make them “true.” The second ministry is the Ministry of Peace which handles war. The third ministry is the Ministry of Love which maintains law and order. The Ministry of Love is the most frightening of the four according to Winston. The final ministry is the Ministry of Plenty which handles economic affairs. Each of the ministries are named completely opposite for what they do.
Q9. George Orwell wrote 1984 to warn the world of what can happen if the government takes to much control. What are some examples of countries that are similar to the structure of 1984? How can a government become like this and how can we prevent it?
A9. Throughout the years there have been many regions that were like 1984’s government or have been very similar. No country has ever been as extreme as changing information to control the population to their liking, but countries such as Germany and Russia were a dictatorship at one time. Germany became control after Hitler came into power. This happened because the country was too far into debt to pay and they needed someone who “promised” to help them. Hitler promised to bring the country out of debt so they people followed him blindly without using reason. Russia became a communist country when Stalin came into office. When a country’s government becomes corrupt as has happened in the past or even in the book, it is hard to change as people are afraid of being killed for standing up. There are two major reasons a country can become controlled such as in 1984. The first reason is military force. If a military becomes to powerful without any power prevention system, they will easily be able to overthrow a government. The second is false promise. This is like how Hitler promised to take Germany out of debt. A government can be prevented from becoming to powerful. The biggest thing that can prevent a government from becoming to powerful is the people, only if the people have a say in the government. The people are the ones who vote for leaders of our nation so if we don’t vote for someone who is corrupt that is a prevention method. A method in the government of the United States is the veto. The veto is a major key in keeping the president from seizing to much power. The veto allows any law to be overthrown with the majority of the vote. The current system of the United States government is built around ideal of having the people as the head of the nation, but having the government act out the roles. With our system and America being the peace keepers of the world, I find it hard to believe we ever need to worry about a government such as the one in 1984 ever happening.
A10. This website goes into the discussion of how citizens of today are willing to give up freedoms to remain safe. It uses the example of the Twin Towers to express their opinions. They also bring up the idea of how 1984 was the first book to show a society where war is freedom.
A: Winston works in the Ministry of Truth department. He re-writes articles, or rather re-writes history, for the Times to ensure that Big Brother is never wrong. For example, if Big Brother were to say that the soldiers of Oceania were going to earn a victory in Eurasia but in reality they were defeated, Winston would re-write the article and say that Oceania troops would lose a battle in Eurasia, but fought with great valor.
2. Who is Julia? Initially, how does Winston feel about her?
A: Julia is a girl that work at the Ministry of Truth in the Fiction Department. Winston hates her from the minute he sees her. Winston describes her as having “thick dark hair, a freckled face, and swift, athletic movements.” She also wears a scarlet sash around her waist, which signifies her membership in the Junior Anti-Sex League. Winston dislikes most women, but he especially hates the young and pretty ones, like Julia.
3. Who is always the object of hate during the Two Minute Hate?
A: The program of the Two Minute Hate varies from day to day, but everyday Emmanuel Goldstein is the principal figure. Goldstein is the “Enemy of the People” who was once a leading figure of the Party, almost on the same level as Big Brother. However, Goldstein soon engaged in counterrevolutionary activities and was condemned to death, but somehow mysteriously escaped and disappeared. All subsequent crimes against the Party spring directly out of his teachings.
4. How are Winston and Julia thoughtcriminals?
A: Winston is a thoughtcriminal by writing a diary. Free thinking is not allowed under Big Brother and is punishable by death or 25 years in a forced labor camp. Julia is a thoughtcrminal by having promiscuous sex with many men. What is ironic about Julia’s activities is that she is a member of the Junior Anti-Sex League. The two commit thoughtcrimes together by having sex numerous times together. Both of them are certain that death or vaporization is not far off for them as a result of their actions.
5. Winston made a prediction about O’Brien. What was his prediction and was he correct?
A: During the Two Minute Hate, Winston made eye contact with O’Brien. For a split second, Winston could sense by the look in O’Brien’s eye that he feels the same about the government as Winston does. Later, we find out that O’Brien does in fact oppose the government and is a prominent member of the Brotherhood, the leading opposition group.
6. Describe Winston’s marriage.
A: Winston and his wife Katherine had split 11 years ago after only being together for 15 months. In his mind, he nicknamed her “the human sound track” because she was incapable of thinking on her own. He would have been able to put up living with her if it wasn’t for the sex. Katherine hated having sex, yet continued to engage in the activity so that they could produce a child, “their duty to the Party” as she described it.
7. Describe the differences in Winston’s feelings towards Julia.
A: Initially, Winston says that he had disliked Julia from the moment he saw her. Winston hated most women, especially ones like Julia who are young and pretty. Winston admits to hating even the sight of Julia and wanting two rape her and murder her afterwards. Only two weeks prior to the beginning of their relationship, Winston wanted to smash her head in with a cobblestone because he thought she was affiliated with the Thought Police and was going to turn him in. However, once he finds out she is an opponent to the Party, he begins to feel affection for her. Before they are about to make love, Julia mentioned that she has done it “scores of times.” Winston wishes that it had been hundreds or thousands of times because he finds that corruption and impurity turn him on. Winston even tells Julia that “the more men you’ve had, the more I love you.” Winston thought of their love-making as a “blow struck against the Party. It was a political act.”
8. How are children the most important/influential members of the Party?
A: Children are a very important key to the running of the Party. Young children are very impressionable, and therefore are the easiest to brainwash. The idea of using children as a political ally was even used by Hitler. The Hitler Youth was basically a Nazi-Boy Scout troop. Children, being brainwashed by the doctrines of the Nazi Party, often turned in their parents for being opponents of the Nazi Party. It is not uncommon for children to turn in their own parents for thoughtcrimes against the Party because they have been conditioned to report any such crimes. Mr. Parson’s even brags about his children’s tendency to seek out thoughtcriminals and turn them in. Winston finds this ironic because he is certain that the Parsons’ children will eventually one day turn their parents in for thoughtcrimes.
9. Is Socialism good in theory?
A: Is Socialism good in theory? In an earlier blog I had made the statement that Socialism is in fact good in theory. However, after doing some research on the topic, I am not quite so sure about my assessment anymore. Isn’t it strange though, that for something that has been discredited economically, many people believe that it would work theoretically. Socialism promises an overabundance of goods to its people, therefore making sharing unnecessary. If this were the case, in 1984 people would not have to worry about the chocolate rations being lessened. Socialism also promised to subordinate the individual to society while liberating himself to be fully free of the necessity to make a living. Leon Trotsky, a leader of the Russian Bolshevik Revolution, said that a “Communist man will become immeasurably stronger, wiser, and subtler.” He also said, however, that “In a country where the sole employer is the state, opposition means death by slow starvation. The old principle: who does not work shall not eat, has been replaced by a new one: who does not obey shall not eat.” Socialism, also in theory promises to bring an end to inequality. However, that is not able to happen either. As Karl Marx said, Socialism would promise only to fill “each according to his needs.” But as we all know, everyone has different needs, so what may be equal to someone, isn’t equal to another. Which brings up another flaw in Socialist theory; an individual’s needs are determined and satisfied by the state. So, what the state may feel is completely satisfied, the individual may not feel the same. After reading up on the ins-and-outs of Socialism, I do not believe that it can work even in theory. To me, capitalism is the only way anything can work, realistically or theoretically. Capitalism has essentially already achieved material equality, while Socialism has not. Capitalism lets the individual establish their own needs and what is needed to fill those needs, while in Socialism it is pre-determined.
This is a video on YouTube with footage of protestors in Tiananmen Square and other images of war. The music is that of Anti-Flag’s “Welcome to 1984”. The lyrics of the song suggest that the world that Orwell had predicted has indeed come true and that he is adding fresh ink to the page from the grave. The lyrics also say that armies of peace are delivering death to make the world a better place and that if we do not change our ways we will all be heading straight to hell…a somewhat interesting take on the events going on in our world.
- Winston is the main character of George Orwell’s novel 1984. He is a member of the Party and works at the Ministry of Truth where he changes history to be in favor of Big Brother. He is also a prominent Thought- Criminal because he has began to keep a journal in which he logs all of his hatred for the world he lives in and free thinking independence into.
2. Who is Big Brother and what does he control?
- Big Brother is a grand looking man who has a strong face and a heroic mustache and is the glorious leader of the Party and ruler of Oceania. He always right and never wrong even if he is. His face is everywhere on posters, TV’s, buildings, statues, etc. He is always watching the citizens of Oceania to make sure they are living the way he wants them to and if someone defies him they are vaporized and made an “ unperson”
3. Why are parents scared of their children?
- Parents are scared of their children because Big Brother and the Party have brainwashed the children the same way Hitler did with the children of Germany in WWII. The children are bribed with candy and toys if they can catch their parents committing “Thought Crimes”. The parents are then vaporized.
4. Who is Goldstein?
-Goldstein is a man that is hated by all people in Oceania and is told to be the reason why things are so bad. He is a former high-ranking Party member who was declared a traitor by Big Brother and has been used as a scapegoat ever since. He has been described as having a Jewish face, which is ironic because Hitler used the Jewish people as reason for Germany’s problems during WWII.
5. Why do people choose to buy Telesreeens?
- People buy telescreens because they want to prove their loyalty to Big Brother. If you have a telescreen then that means you have nothing to hide and therefore won’t be investigated as closely by the Thought-Police. Winston wants to buy an antique shop because it does not have a telescreen and will make it easy for him to write in his journal.
6. How has Winston committed Thought Crime so far?
-Winston is guilty of thought crime because of a number of things. Fist he commits it by starting to write in a journal at his home. He then writes about how much he hates being a mindless zombie who does everything he is told out of fear of being vaporized. Also he thinks for himself while in public and has urges of a natural human being, which is also a thought crime punishable by vaporization.
7. What message is Orwell trying to convey to the reader?
- Orwell is trying to tell the reader that if we allow ourselves to become uninformed and unaware of what our government is doing then what is happening to Winston and the rest of the world in the book 1984 will happen to us. He is telling us that if we stop questioning things and stop standing up for ourselves when we know things aren’t right then eventually we will be killed for doing so. People are capable of doing extraordinary things, horrible, but extraordinary. We must always have a plan for stopping extraordinary horrible deeds and if we fail to do so the consequences could be so bad that even thinking our own thoughts that we can’t help but think will get us vaporized.
8. What do the words “War is Peace, Freedom is Slavery, and Ignorance is Strength” mean?
-“War is Peace” can be interpreted, as without war there can be no peace. If a person thinks about it all throughout the history of Man there has been war. Peace is the opposite to war just like day is to the night. If it is not day then it is night and if someone is not at war then they are at peace. “Freedom is Slavery” means that in order to be free and safe then you must be treated as a slave. The people of Oceania have given up their rights of privacy for security and are there for watched, punished, and treated like objects and not people just as slaves are. “Ignorance is Strength” to be ignorant is to deny your own faults and is not something associated with strength. I believe that the Party thinks that by denying everything that is wrong with Oceania and saying that everything is great and that they are strong will make people believe they are.
9. What should we do now to prevent what is happening in 1984 from happening to us?
-I think in order to remain free-thinking individuals we need to always question what the ones in political power do. We need to always understand what is going on and never get to the point where we don’t care as long as things get done. We need to never surrender our rights as humans and as U.S. citizens and should never have to back down from any other human being no matter what. We must be willing to die for our right to say what we want when we want to and to never be silenced. We must never forget all the times we have came close to this happening and we must never stop teaching the future generations because someday it will be up to them to guard our individuality. The Holocaust, the Kurds, Burma, Somalia, etc. are all just little tastes of what can happen if the deadly virus of evil intention finds its way into the minds of those in power. When we are told to sit down, someone must find the courage to stay standing and others must be willing to join them. It can almost be said that the quote below was written for the book 1984. “Our greatest fear is not that we are inadequate, but that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us.
We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, handsome, talented and fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God within us. It is not just in some; it is in everyone.
And, as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” - Marianne Williamson
10. www.readers.penguin.co.uk
- On this website a book club is thinking about reading the book 1984 even though most of the members have already read it when they were in high school. They were going to read it because they wanted to see if it affected them differently now that they are mature adults and have lived in this world longer and have been through more experiences with politics and government. It is interesting because someone from the group says this “We were all surprised how relevant it is as a commentary on current society rather than just a dystopian vision of the future. This made the book even more compelling.” This statement tells me that they believe that much of the book 1984 has happened or is beginning to happen to our world in some form or another.
The irony of the Ministry of Truth is they are really all about lies. They take what has been said or what has happened in the past and change it so that it looks like Big Brother can predict the future. They change history so that Big Brother can look like a god to the Party members. And makes it harder for anyone to question Big Brother’s ideas or actions.
2) What does Winston think of Syme?
Syme is a “comrade” of Winston and works in the Research Department. He is considered to be philologist and loves the language of Newspeak. Winston thinks that Syme knows too much for his own good. Winston knows that someday Syme will disappear for knowledge of different subjects. Then later we find out that Winston’s prediction turns out to be true. Syme becomes on of those people who have been vaporized and no longer exist in history.
3) What is the point of the two minutes of hate?
The point of the two minutes of hate is to create hatred towards any certain person or nation that Big Brother does not find suiting. The Party members are being trained to hate. As Julia demonstrates, people act extremely violent. Going as far as throwing things at the telescreen and screaming at the top of their lungs. The main person that Big Brother does not find suiting is Emmanuel Goldstein and can be found in every two minutes of hate.
4) Who is Mr. Charrington and does he do to add to the plot?
Mr. Charrington is the prole shop owner, from whom Winston buys his diary. Mr. Charrington looks like he is of the age of sixty. Winston and Mr. Charrington discuss various items the shop has lying around and Mr. Charrington even shows Winston the upstairs of the shop. Here is a big room that has a kitchen, bed, and a sitting area. This is where Mr. Charrington lived with his wife. She is now dead. Mr. Charrington adds to the plot because his room above the shop is were Winston and Julia come to commit their thoughtcrimes.
5) What is the purpose of the thought police and vaporization?
The purpose of the thought police is to create fear in the Party members and to act as a controlling power in what people think about or how they act. They are hidden through out the Party, which makes people really think about what they are going to say. The Party members know that if they say the wrong thing to the wrong person they could be looking at death or a force-labor camp. Vaporization is another tactic that creates fear in the Party members. None of the Party members want to be vaporized. If a person is vaporized they are completely wiped out of history. It is as though that person never existed. 6) What are Winston’s thoughts about keeping a diary?
Winston thinks that keeping a diary is something that he can do for future generation, so they can read about the truth of the Party. He knows that even just owning the diary can get him twenty-five years in a forced-labor camp or even get him killed. Winston does not care about the results of his actions as long his thoughts get out and that they possibly can end the Party. His diary can also be seen as a way to help him express himself. Also, it can prevent him from saying something, which he does not want to be heard, in his sleep that a telescreen will pick up and possibly get him into even more trouble.
7) What are Winston’s thoughts about his mother & sister? How does Julia react to his feelings?
Winston thoughts about his mother and sister are ones of guilt. In his age he realizes how bad he treated them before they disappeared or possibly got them murdered. But he also knows that they died to keep the past from coming back. They knew too much, while Winston was still young enough to be brain washed in the Big Brother’s teachings. When Winston tries to express his feelings about this subject to Julia, she acts like she does not care. She has gotten to the point where some deep feelings another person is trying to express do not really matter. She does not really care how Winston feels about this subject and only wants to get some more sleep.
8) What is the significance of O’ Brain’s note?
O’ Brain give Winston a note that contains O’Brian’s address. The reason for the note is for Winston to come and pick up the newest edition of Newspeak dictionary. Right away Winston gets the idea that O’ Brain is part of the Brotherhood and going to ask Winston to join. Winston becomes very nervous about this subject and questions whether he should really go to O’ Brains house. In the end Winston and Julia go to O’ Brain’s house. Together they find out that O’ Brain is part of the Brotherhood. To their surprise, they are asked to join the Brotherhood. This answers Winston’s question about the existence of the Brotherhood. They are both really excited to be part of the Brotherhood and to be helping to the cause.
9) Explain Winston’s thoughts of Julia up to this point and explain parts of their relationship.
When we are first introduced to Julia, Winston talks strongly against he. He tells us that he hates all women, especially the pretty ones. Winston tells us that he believes that she is even more dangerous than any other women he knows or sees. Winston hates her so much that he has dreams about raping her, just because she is part of the Junior Anti-Sex League. He thinks this because he knows it would be degrading to her. Then one night Winston is walking around in proles area and he runs into Julia. At this moment his hatred becomes so great that a thinks about going up to her and smashing her head in with the glass paper weight that he just bought. To our surprise Julia comes up to Winston one day at work, fakes an injury, and gives Winston a note. Winston is hesitant to open the note, but when he finally does he finds out that Julia loves him. Winston is surprise about the note but wants to talk to Julia even more. Once he gets the chance, they decide to meet up in a forested area that Julia knows very well. At this point Winston’s view of Julia changes from hatred to love. Together they find out their love for each other and decide to have a secret relationship. They tell each other that they do not care about the results of their actions towards each other, as long as they are together. In this scene we find out that Julia has slept with many men even though she is part of the Junior Anti-Sex League. And this makes her even more appealing to Winston. Over the next couple of months they become very close and also exhaust all of Julia’s secret hiding spots. Winston decides to ask Mr. Charrington if he can rent out his upstairs room has a hiding spot for the two of them to meet up at. Mr. Charrington agrees and his extra room turns into a new spot for the couple. It here were the two spend many evenings and exchange many black-market items. They also spend time here talking about their live and beliefs.
At this website they really tell you what is going on in the book and gives you examples or definitions to something you may not understand in the book. It really gives you background to why Orwell wrote the book and some his main points about the book. The website even go as far as telling you how Orwell changed some very important quotes into meaningful quotes in the book. And shows you how far Orwell went to tie this book into real life and what was or could happen in the future.
• What person is Big Brother most like in history? I think that Big Brother would be the most like Hitler. I think this because Big Brother killed everyone that plans to or is rebelling against him and Hitler killed everyone that is different from his view of a perfect person. Big Brother is forming a society that if you don’t obey what he tells you to do than you are the different one and should be vaporized for it. • Why is it illegal to keep a diary? It is illegal because writing in a diary takes thought and Big Brother forbids thought. BB doesn’t want thought because than people would start to see that they could have a better life without him. Those people could start a rebellion against him. • Who is Winston’s diary for? Winston’s diary was for the future at first then once he know of thought he know that O’Brien was against the party too he started writing it for him. I think that Winston is writing the diary for himself, so he has something to look back on to see how much the past has changed. • Why is everyone conditioned to hate Goldstein? Everyone hates Goldstein because he was a part of the group trying to overthrow BB. Goldstein was also a part of the party. Goldstein was vaporized for going against the party. Goldstein is used in the two minutes hate, for an example of what kind of people to hate and turn in to BB. • Who is Comrade Ogilvy? Comrade Ogilvy is a person that Winston made up. Ogilvy was made up to cover up a speech about an unperson. Winston made up the life of Ogilvy as if he had been a model citizen for everyone to look up to. • Why is the hope of over throwing Big Brother in the proles? The hope is in the proles because they are the only ones not under constant watch of BB. The proles don’t have telescreens in every room watching and listening to every thing that goes on. The proles are the only ones that are not brainwashed by BB. • How has Big Brother brainwashed an entire society? Oceana was in a recession and was looking for a leader to get them out of it. When Big Brother took over he started a revolution against free thinking. After he won the revolution he told everyone that life would be better this way because they would always be taken care of. The kids that didn’t know the time before the revolution are the ones that are truly brainwashed because they think that BB is always right even if he says two plus two equals five. The Parson’s kids are a great example of this because they think that Winston is a thought criminal and they threaten to vaporize him. The kids also think that the hanging is a great way to spend an afternoon. • Could 1984 happen today in any country? I think that 1984 would most likely happen in a third world country because the people in those countries are already clueless to what the government is doing. A leader like Big Brother could easily be put in control and brainwash the top officials that know more of what goes on than the common person or prole as they are called in 1984. The world police as America is known as would step in and overthrow a dictator like BB like they did in Iraq. I think that the world needs a police that keeps the government in other countries in check, I do not think that it has to be America but we are the only ones brave enough to stand up to a dictator that has stricken fear into the world. I do not think 1984 could happen completely in America. The security cameras are like the telescreens that watch our every move. It would not completely happen because the people have a right to speech out against the government. The president can also be impeached if he does something like what BB is doing to Oceana. When the constitution was written it was intended to prevent any one person from gaining too much power to control the entire nation by himself. This book also could not happen because the world would never split into three countries that are constantly fighting each other. I think that 1984 is closest to resembling North Korea. North Korea is a communist country that is threatening the world with its nuclear warheads. I think that Hitler depicted the book when he controlled who was to have a baby and who was to be killed. I think that this would not happen today because we have to many laws protecting against it or is having the laws making us like 1984. www.orwelltoday.com “When asked whether employees should assume everything they do inside the office is being monitored, privacy lawyer David Fraser says: "It's not bad advice, even though it may sound a bit paranoid." Workers should be aware that some of the office technologies they use and even carry on their person could easily become tools of Big Brother. So let's get paranoid.” This website talks about how security cameras are used to spy on American citizens. It also talks about how everyday things can be used to track your every move. A company car equipped with a GPS can help you find your destination but the company can also track the car and tell where you are at any given time.
1.)What does Julia’s note say that she gave to Winston? -Julia is the sexy brunette woman that Winston despised/fantasized about. He hated her because he knew he could not have her, and she was so beautiful that he found himself constantly thinking about her. Winston felt there was something about her. He found her spying on him and accused her of being part of the Thought Police. When she ran into him and handed him note it read, “I love you.”
2.)Who is Mr. Charrington, and what does he provide to Julia and Winston? -Mr. Charrington is a prole who owns a store with miscellaneous items. He is a widower who seems very lonely and opens up to the strangers that come into his store. He does not have a telescreen because he cannot afford one. What he provides is his wife’s old room where there is no telescreens and they can live for a couple of hours in private.
3.)Where do Winston and Julia meet for the first time? -Winston and Julia first meet with each other in a secret place that Julia knew about. It is located in the woods and has short vegetation, which insures that their wont be any microphones, so they can speak in private. They are also in a place where they could hear the rustle of the plants if someone was to come near.
4.)Why was Syme vaporized? -Syme was in charge of the Newspeak dictionary making sure that people wont have to use their brains as much as possible. He came up with words like ungood, plusungood, to mean bad and really bad. The reason Syme was vaporized was for the pure fact that he knew too much and had too many of his own ideas.
5.)What was Winston’s first reaction when entering the O’Brien household? -Winston had always suspected O’Brien as being a thought criminal from the first time he made eye contact with him. Even though he had a strong feeling the O’Brien was thought criminal he was very nervous about meeting with him and regretted even going there because, he did not want to be vaporized.
6.)Why was Winston so selfish when he was younger? -When Winston was younger he lived with his mother and his infant sister. When his father disappeared, his mother seemed to be going through depression. When Winston’s father was around he was used to getting more attention than he did with his mother, but ever since his father left they went into poverty and his mother was not the same person she once was. So when it came down to food Winston wanted it all even though he saw how his mother and sister were starving.
7.)Why don’t the proles bane together and rebel against Big Brother? -The proles are the people that are the average people that are not part of the Inner Party or the Outer Party. The proles are not even required to have a telescreen. With these freedoms you would think they would be able to gather their own thoughts, and realize that Big Brother is a corrupt system. Winston even notes that if they want to rebel against the brotherhood it must be with the proles. The main reason the proles do not rebel is because Big Brother keeps them unaware of what things that are going on. Brig Brother also provides the proles with enough things to keep them happy so they would have no reason to rebel.
8.)How do the Parson’s children act, and how is that significant? -Winston works with the father of the Parson children, and when he went over to their house the children attacked him saying he was a thought criminal. They pretended to shoot him, and vaporize him. Instead of playing cops and robbers they played Thought Police and thought criminals. The Parson’s daughter was out on a hike and saw a person out in the woods. She thought this was strange, because this stranger had foreign shoes on. She then proceeded to follow him and then turn him into the Thought Police. The actions of the Parson children are significant, because it shows how Big Brother has brain washed the children to be completely faithful to him. The children represent the next generation, who do not have their own thought process or their own free will, but only do things that Big Bother wants them to do. Children even turn in their parents if they over hear them having their own thoughts, or disagreeing with Big Brother. These children experience no emotion what so ever.
9.)What are the questions that O’Brien asks Winston and Julia, and how do they respond? -When Winston and Julia go to visit O’Brien they are very skeptical on what O’Brien needs, and why he wanted them to visit. O’Brien initially tells Winston that he wanted him to come over to his house to pick up the tenth addition of Newspeak, because if Winston works in the Ministry of Truth he should use the latest way of speaking. When Winston and Julia arrive at O’Brien’s house they are greeted by his Asian servant then directed to the room where O’Brien is. O’Brien greets Winston and Julia and then turns the telescreen off. They begin by having every day conversation, and then Winston begins to tell O’Brien everything that was on his mind. He tells O’Brien that him and Julia are thought criminals and that if O’Brien knows of a rebellion against Big Brother, him and Julia would like to join. O’ Brien then tells Winston that there is a rebellion, but no one knows who else is in it and that it could range from only hundreds people to maybe thousands of people. He goes on by saying that no one talks about the rebellion and that they randomly get messages from anonymous people that tell them what they need to do. O’Brien than begins to ask Winston and Julia a set of questions about certain situations they may find themselves in and see if they can handle them. Some of the questions were, “You are prepared to give your lives (187),” “You are prepared to commit murder (187),” “To commit acts of sabotage which may cause the death of hundreds of innocent people (188)?” Winston and Julia bother reply yes to all the questions with no hesitation. The only question that Julia instantly responded no to was, “You are prepared, the two of you, to separate and never see one another again (188)?” Since Winston really wanted to be a part of the rebellion he hesitated at this question but then later answered no. They both answered no to this question because prior to meeting with O’Brien they both had discussed that no matter what they would stay together. Despite Winston and Julia’s response of saying no to that one question, O’Brien still accepted them into the rebellion
10.)“A recent study showed that thanks to Fox News and other Minitrue news sources, most Americans believe untrue things about the war in Iraq.” Studentsfororwell.org -This website is interesting to me because it presents the facts that our world is slowly turning into that of how it is in 1984. It states how us Americans are slowly losing our freedoms, and that since we do not keep informed and do not stay involved with our politics that our government is slowly taking over. The quote I chose I found particularily interesting because I believe it is 100% true. Our media feels that it is not good news unless it is bad news, especiall in the case of the Iraq War. All they talk about is how people are getting killed and how we are torturing prisoners, basically negative things. They should start focusing on the positive things, such as our soldiers building new schools, providing homes, and providing the Iraq people with employment. All they focus on is the negatives, which most of the time are not even true. Our country needs to choose for themeselves what they want to believe in, and not rely soly on the media.
1) Who did Winston find out likes him, how did he find out? *Winston found out that Julia likes him. He found out when Julia acted like she fell and was hurt. She had a sling on her arm, and she fell on her arm so she looked like she was in extreme pain. Winston gave her his hand to help her get up and when Winston gave her a hand to help her up, Julia handed him a note that said “I love you.”
2) Why are the Parson’s kids important to the story? *The nine year old boy and seven year old girl act like they are spies at their young age. When Winston went to their house to fix their sink, the kids told Winston to put his hands up. They could tell that Winston wasn’t true to the Party. Someday the kids would probably tell on their own parents for not being faithful.
3) Who is Syme and hwy is he significant? *Syme is a philogist who works in the Research Department. He is a specialist in Newspeak. As Winston was having lunch with Syme, Winston knew that someday Syme would be vaporized. Not to long later, Syme disappeared and it was as if Syme never existed.
4) Why is the Party supposed to hate Goldstein? *The truth of why the Party is supposed to hate Goldstein is because he represents good things, and Big Brother doesn’t want good things to exist. Goldstein is a Jew who traitor because he wanted freedom and peace for Oceania. He was a very clever man.
5) How is it that Julia has not been caught of being a thought criminal? *Julia acts like she is very true to the Party when she is being watched. She attends anti-sex league meetings, helps with posters for the Party, and helps prepare things for Hate Week. It is mainly Julia’s body that goes against the Party. She doesn’t remember what it was like before the Revolution. Her mind is filled with things that Big Brother tell her. She doesn’t pay attention to how Big Brother changes things.
6) Who is Mr. Charrington? Is he a thought criminal? *He is the owner of an antique store. He lets Winston and Julia use the upstairs of his store to make love. He doesn’t have a telescreen in his store because he couldn’t afford one, and plus he said there was no need for one. He is a thought criminal. First he is because he allows Winston and Julia to go against the Party in his building. He doesn’t turn them in as thought criminals. Another reason is because he says old rhymes that existed before the Revolution. He remembers and talks about the past.
7) How is this book a dystopia? *Dystopia depicts society as it should not be. This book has things happen that are completely the opposite of what would happen in a perfect life. The three slogans are great examples of dystopia: War is Peace, Freedom is Slavery, and Ignorance is Strength. In a utopian world, those things mean opposite, where here, they equal the same meaning. Peace, freedom, and strength is what we like. It is a comfort knowing that we have those things. When they are matched with the bad words, it is complete opposite of what we like. Humans like to have privacy. In the book they don’t have any privacy hardly anywhere, creating a dystopia. Every step they take, they are being watched, which is a horrible feeling not being able to act freely.
8) Why is Winston happy to find out that Julia has slept with many men? *There are two main reasons of why he is happy to find this out. The first one is because then it means Julia is very much against the Party. He likes rebels because he is one. People are not supposed to sleep together, and because she does it often it makes him love her even more. Another reason of why Winston is happy that she had slept with many men is because then it means there are lots of other men who do no like Big Brother If there are lots of people against Big Brother, then there is a chance for all of them to get together and rebel to create a normal society again. Winston felt so lucky to meet Julia, but he knows their relationship can’t last forever.
9) Is it possible for the U.S. to become like Oceania? Explain. Would you rebel or give in to the government? *It is possible for the U.S to change into a dystopia instead of the utopia we have now. I sure hope it will never happen, and I will do everything to stop it from happening, but anything is possible. Americans need to not let the government get too much power. We need a strong government in order for America to stay civil, but we can’t let them take it to the extreme. In my opinion the government is taking more control as time goes on. It seems like they’re always adding new rules and things that we need to do. Our society has become stricter, not being able to move as freely as we used to. Americans are being watched a lot more than we used to be. The reason we are being watched is to keep us safe, but we can’t let the government take it too far and take advantage of us. Because there are many crimes committed, we need the governments help to keep everybody safe. It seems like there are more policeman now days. Whenever there are police around, I feel like I can’t act like myself. I feel like I can’t act like myself, feeling like I don’t always have privacy. I think it is great to have policemen to prevent crime, we just can’t let them take away our freedom. Technology has taken away our privacy. There have been many new things invented to spy on people without them knowing. There are hidden cameras many places throughout America. Technology keeps increasing, which is good in some cases, but someday it could take over us, taking away our freedoms. As far as rebelling or giving into the government, I think I would just go with the government. I would be way to scared of being caught. It would be hard to give myself up and die for the generations to come, because I would never see any change. If I would rebel, it probably wouldn’t make much of a difference because I would get caught anyway. My opinion may change if I would have to life that horrible life, I hopefully will never know.
10) http://www.newspeak.com/1984.htm: This website was interesting because it told a lot a bout the book, but it was short. It told all of the main points in the book in a short essay. The main points were Newspeak, telescreens, Winston’s job, and being a thought criminal. The bad thing is that it told me the ending, and I didn’t want to find out some of the information it said before I read the entire book.
1. In this novel, what does the diary represent? The diary that he bought from a prole shop represents his unconformity. It isn’t illegal to have the book, but whatever he has written in it, if I discovered, would label him as a thought criminal. It makes Winston feel like a rebel to have a book such as that. 2. When Winston begins to write in the diary, what does it bring to the plot of the story? It brings about the end of his conformity. It represents his individuality. Up to this point, the plot of the story has been very dull, much like Winston’s life has been. Now, with the diary in his possession, his life becomes more risky and unpredictable. 3. Who is Syme and what does he represent? Syme is one of Winston’s “comrades”, and Syme’s job is to constantly review and modify the newspeak dictionary. He vanishes mid-story because he knows too much about newspeak and where their language is heading, towards total conformity. He represents how fragile life can be in this story. 4. What is the significance of the Two-Minutes Hate? The two minutes hate is a way to keep all of the people in that area under control. It is a way to brainwash them all to think the same way. It also allows them to let their angers and frustrations out. This helps their government because it allows them all to channel their frustrations in one direction, rather than multiple directions, so they are all brainwashed. 5. Who is Julia, and why is she intriguing to Winston? Julia is intriguing to Winston because she is so beautiful but so hard to get. She is a member of the Junior Anti-Sex League, which annoys Winston because he thinks that she is too beautiful to be a part of that group. 6. What does the note that Julia hands to Winston represent? The note is a symbol of “other life,” if you will. It shows Winston that he isn’t the only one who is different. It also brings to him the realization that there are other people who think like he does, that the “brotherhood” might actually exist. It gives him hope, but also fear because he doesn’t know if she might be a spy or not. 7. What event in the novel is the “point of no return”? The event in the novel where both Winston and Julia realize that there is no turning back is when they both go, simultaneously, to O’Brien’s flat. Winston realizes how risky this is because under normal conditions, no normal party member would ever see any other party member’s residences. Also, it was especially ridiculous to go to an inner party member’s residence. The normal party members hardly saw the fraction of the town in which they lived because they never had any actual business there. Winston realizes that he also could have possibly made an enormous mistake by even daring to show up. He doubts his assumption that O’Brien was a thought criminal like himself. The absolute peak of the event is when he admits to O’Brien exactly why he is there and what his purpose is. 8. What evidence is there that Julia might not be aiming at the same goals as Winston is? Julia is represented as a rebel against the Junior Anti-Sex League only from the “waist down.” She is a hypocrite because she is a member of the JASL, and she has slept with so many party members and other men. Every day, she protests, marches, speaks, and acts upon the exact opposite of what she wants to do. Also, it is pretty evident that she isn’t as interested as Winston is about the entire government of Oceania and the government and ideals of Goldstein’s book. When Winston tries to get her to pay attention to what he is reading her she falls asleep. Winston tells her that they both need to read the book in order to become a member of the “brotherhood”, but she takes care of herself first by falling asleep. 9. In what ways does the book agree and disagree with the world today? The book disagrees with the world today and how Orwell wrote it in many ways. He predicted it way too early. He predicted that it would happen in 1984, but the world of today, in 2008 is nothing like that. I think that it will not ever be like that. He also predicted that the government would have total control of the people. He is wrong in that I think that the world today, or at least the United States, is more free than it was in the fifties. More people have more options, whether it be voting, jobs, or just life in general. Today we have suffrage for women, we don’t have racism to the degree that it was in the fifties, and there are many more jobs than there were then. At that time, women were nurses, teachers, or housewives. Today, a woman could probably hold the exact same job as a man, no matter what job. Another way that the book disagrees with today’s world is that now, we aren’t prosecuted for thought crimes. We have a pretty broad range of what we can do and what we cannot do. Even though some people think that our freedom of speech is too limited, it will never affect our freedom of thought. I believe that we will always be able to think whatever we want to. On the other hand, there are parts in the book where it may agree with the world and what it is like. For example, we are constantly changing who we are at war with. We are always at war with somebody, there isn’t ever any peace. In the book, the enemy can change in a heartbeat. That isn’t very realistic in today’s world, but over a few years we may be in a “dispute” with an entirely different country that used to be an ally. 10. http://members.tripod.com/~SummaryCentral/1984.htm This website gives us a general run down of the events, characters, and plot in the book 1984. IT also gives us some quotes from the book, and some specific symbols and themes (or “Dominant Philosophy”) in the book. This website is a very vague representation of the book. It doesn’t go into much detail about the book. It is really very general. Being that it is just a search engine, I can understand why. It didn’t really help me understand the book because everything that it said I already knew, except for some of the quotes which give away the ending to a certain degree.
1)Who is O’Brien and how is he important in the novel?
O’Brien is a member of the inner party. He is a thought criminal just like Winston believed. O’Brien works in the records department in the Ministry of Truth. O’Brian is important in the novel because he is a thought criminal along with Winston and is part of the brotherhood. He gives Winston a copy of Goldstein’s book.
2)Who is Julia?
Julia is a thought criminal just like Winston. She loves Winston and comes up with plans on how and when they are going to meet. Julia loves to have sex with Winston anywhere she can. Julia is a very intelligent, beautiful and sneaky girl.
3)Who is Syme and why does he disappear?
Syme was Winston’s friend that worked in the Research Department. He was a specialist in Newspeak. Syme’s job was to destroy words in the dictionary so their were less words and only one word for each meaning. Syme was vaporized because he was too smart and spoke to plainly and clearly.
4)Why is Winston so secretive in writing in his diary?
Winston is so cautious writing in his diary because he is rebelling against society and Big Brother. It is against the rules to have a diary because having a diary means being a thought criminal. If the Thought Police caught him he would be vaporized.
5)What does Winston do at his job?
Winston works at the Ministry of Truth. He speaks into this microphone and it writes what he speaks. Winston changes history to make sure that the Party and Big Brother were and always will be right. Winston can make someone that doesn’t even exist, exist.
6)What is the Two Minutes of Hate?
It’s a gathering when all the Party members join together and bash on Goldstein. Goldstein’s picture is up on the screen because he goes against what Big Brother stands for. He represents individuality and freedom to think for yourself. He even has a book out that represents what he stand for and Big Brother does not like this.
7)Who is Mr. Charrington and how is he different than what you think he is?
Mr. Charrington is an old man who runs a secondhand store in the prole district. He is kind and encouraging especially to Winston. He rents Winston his upstairs room that has no telescreen. He seems to support Winston’s rebellion against the Party. He is different that what we think of him because he is actually a member of the Thought Police. He actually does have a telescreen behind one of the pictures in Winston’s room. The book makes us believe that Mr. Charrington is just this laid back nice guy but in reality he is one of the bad guys trying to catch thought criminals like Winston and Julia.
8)What happened to Winston and Julia when they got caught?
Winston and Julia were separated. Winston was taken to a prison of some sort. When he was there he found out a lot of other people that were thought criminals too. He met O’Brien in there and as well as Ampleforth (some guy he knew from the Party), and Parsons. There were regular prisoners all in this jail cell they were kept in. There were drug peddlers, thieves, bandits, drunks, and prostitutes. Winston just sat and waited to see what was going to happen to him. He was very hungry and when he wasn’t hungry he was extremely nervous. He never really thought about Julia that often if at all.
9)What are the three groups of the party and how can you get into those parties?
There is the Inner Party, the Outer Party, and the Proles. The Inner Party is right below Big Brother on the chain. After the Inner Party comes the Outer Party. Below the Outer Party are the proles. The Inner Party is limited to six million people which is less than two percent of the population of Oceania. They are called the brain of the state where as the Outer Party is called the hands. The Proles are called the dumb masses and are 85% of the population. They are not a permanent or necessary part of the Party. To get into these three groups is not hereditary. The child of the Inner Party parents is not normally born in to the Inner Party. To get into either branch of the party is by examination at the age of 16. There is no racial discrimination, or any marked domination of one province by another. Jews, Negroes, South Americans of pure Indian blood are to be found in the highest ranks of the Party. Between the Inner Party and the Outer Party there is a certain amount of interchange, but only as much as will ensure that weaklings are excluded from the Inner Party and that ambitious member of the Outer Party are made harmless by allowing the to rise. Proletarians, in practice, are not allowed to graduate into the Party. The party does not aim at transmitting power to its own children, as such. And if there were no other way of keeping the ablest people at the top, it would be perfectly prepared to recruit an entire new generation from the ranks of the proletariat. Once a Party you are always a Party member until you die. They don’t want someone knowing all their secrets to live in the normal world and go leaking all the information they know. Being a Party member means that you live under the eye of the Thought Police from the time you were born to the time you are dead.
10)http://www.online-literature.com/orwell/1984/
When you go to this website it’s kind of interesting because there is a preview of what the book is about. Also there is a forum that people can write things about the book. One person said that it confused him so much and that he can read college books but this book is so much harder.
1. Where did Winston get the diary and what could happen if he is caught with it?
Winston purchased his book from a second hand store in an unknown quarter of the Proles district. If Winston were to be caught with the diary he could be punished severely or be vaporized because of the content in it. In the diary are entries talking about Winston’s life and his anger towards Big Brother. This is an extreme hate crime since it is speaking out against the government.
2. Who is Julia?
Julia is a member of the Fiction Department and is Winston’s “girlfriend.” At first she isn’t liked by Winston as he hated many women including Julia. She then writes him a note and gives it to him. On the note is a single sentence that says “I LOVE YOU.” Julia is also some what promiscuous and brags about how many party members she has slept with.
3. How is finding out Winston’s past marriage important to the book?
It is important to know that Winston was married so that we can find out what it’s like for members of the party to be married. The relationships especially romantic ones are sort of like those from the movie The Island. Marriages are not supposed to be based off of love but by the needs of the party. Winston’s marriage also shows that sex is not supposed to be to the liking since that would be against party policies.
4. What are the Junior Spies and how are they important to the Party?
The Junior Spies are made up of children. Their mission is to watch over the adults and others to make sure that no one is thinking outside of the box or rebelling against Big Brother. Parents are often afraid of their children since they can’t express their feelings about the government and can not discipline them or they might be turned in. If the Junior Spies collect any information against Big Brother or the Party they turn it in to the Thought Police.
5. Who is Emmanuel Goldstein and why is he disliked by the Party members?
Emmanuel Goldstein is a former leader of the party. He is also Jewish. The Party members do not like him as he was kicked out of the Party. They also view him as being dangerous and a threat to the country of Oceania and its government. The party and Big Brother are also not sure where Goldstein is. They believe that he is hiding in a secret section of Oceania or happened to make it to a different country.
6. What is the Party’s objective for the Two Minute Hate?
Big Brother has a sort of gathering every day. At this gathering, Party members and what not will meet together and watch a series of hateful things on a telescreen. At these sessions, party members will profess serious hate and rage towards things that are being shown. Every day, Emmanuel Goldstein is shown in the Two Minute Hate. The Party also uses this to brainwash the members into being loyal to only Big Brother and his Party.
7. How do children play a major role in the book and to Big Brother?
Through out the book children are on constant watch over their parents and other adults. Their goal is to be the eyes and ears of Big Brother. If they see or overhear something that is against the government they will turn them in. Children also important in other ways. The younger the person is, the easier it is to brainwash them. If you teach them something when their young (such as Big Brother training them to be loyal) the better off they’ll be when their older. The way I look at this is children are leaders of the future. If you train them how you want them to be, brainwash them, and teach them to hate your opponents, chances are they will carry on you views and ideas.
8. Why are telescreens important to both Big Brother and members of the Party?
As we read the book 1984, mentioning of telescreens is everywhere. Telescreens are two way monitors that can be used to watch something, or for something to watch you (sort of like a computer hooked up with a webcam). Big Brother likes to have telescreens put up all over in the houses and buildings used by the members of the Party. This allows the Party to closely monitor the movements and thoughts of the members. The members of the Party want to have telescreens in their houses or buildings for various reasons. The first reason is that if they have one, Big Brother will not watch them as much as some one who doesn’t. It also shows that they are loyal to the Party and makes them seem like a better citizen.
9. Do you think the United States could become a 1984 in the future?
Right now the country of the United States is living in a government of Democracy. The people are in power of what goes on. In order to live in a country such as that of Oceania in 1984 would require a government to be Nazism, Fascist, Communist, Totalitarian, Anarchist, etc. As we look at our government and how lucky we are to live in such a great country, we would not think of this question. But since the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 I have began to think elsewise. More and more, our rights are starting to be taken away from us. The government especially the Democratic Party is trying to take away our 2nd Amendment rights which gives us the right to bear arms. Without 2nd Amendment we would be disarmed and defenseless such as the citizens of Germany in WWII when Hitler took away their right to bear arms. He then used this to his advantage and killed and enslaved millions of people. Another thing that is sort of Big Brotherish is the “Patriot” Act. The “Patriot” Act gives the American government the right to look at all of our personal information with out a search warrant. All of this includes our bank accounts and spending, tapping our phone calls, reading our email, hacking into our computers, etc. They use the excuse that this is to catch “terrorists” as their scapegoat when really it has done nothing except catch sex offenders. That is great and all, but I would rather have my rights back then to catch a handful of sex offenders. Secret defense agencies such as the CIA, NSA and FBI are also starting to become like the Thought Police or Big Brother. If suspect you of being a terrorist (like a person thinking outside of the box or attempting to over throw the government) they can arrest you and hold you for as long as they want. This means that they can just come into your house in the middle of the night, with our a search warrant, take you to a prison in a secret location, hold you prisoner, and never tell your family where you are for as long as they please. We are also going into another depression even though our government says we are not. They keep feeding us “BS” information and digging us a deeper hole for the economy. This would be a great time for a small time person to become a big rebellious leader. A great example of how this happened can be seen when we study Adolf Hitler and how he rose to power during Germany’s Depression. He blamed the Jewish population for Germany’s problems. A person could do the same in the United States and blame the Iraqi people for ours.
This website is excellent and very interesting to finding more information on the topic of 1984. On the website you can read about George Orwell and how he wrote the book. It is sort of like a webpage dedicated to Orwell and at the same time has tons of information about the characters, important things and summaries of the chapters. The page also uses references that Orwell used to relate to the characters and things happening in the book such as Hitler/Stalin to Big Brother and all sorts of other things.
1. Describe the Parson’s family and what they symbolize?
The Parson’s family symbolizes what is right and wrong with the Party. Mr. Parson’s, like Winston, is a man who presumably is from the old days free from the Party. He does his best to conform and keep himself alive and lives mainly off of fear like everyone else. The product of the Party is then symbolized in their child, who does not fear the party because he is part of the Party. He has no reason to fear thought crimes because he has been trained not to commit them. He is a machine doing Big Brother’s bidding, which involves abandoning his own family.
2. What do Winston and Julia stand for?
The two lovers are like quicksand. They were caught in a relationship that they knew would eventually kill them, and yet they stood together until the end sinking into the grip of the Party. They were willing to risk everything for a shot at love and something more meaningful than Party slogans and propaganda. They inspire people to hold on to their ideals even if the entire world is against them.
3. How does the Ministry of Truth confirm the Party’s power?
They can change anything they want to, and they will let you and everyone you know see it. They have so effectively brainwashed the population that they will believe anything that the Party tells them to. People are hypnotized and act oblivious to the fact that anything in history can be rewritten if the Party wants it that way. The Ministry of Truth continuously makes its changes as the real truth is lost in the dark holes.
4. Explain the Party slogan.
This again shows the blatant lies brought on by the Party in order to get people to listen and cooperate. “War is Peace”? It makes no sense and is entirely backwards. “Freedom is Slavery” basically tells people that being a slave to the Party is what will keep you free. “Ignorance is Strength” tells people that stupidity equals strength. Even as outright and campaigned lies, people fully believe them and follow them to their deaths.
5. What role does sex play in 1984?
Sex is viewed as a chore and a duty in the eyes of the Party. It is neither to be enjoyed, nor practiced for pleasure. It is a way that the Party is controlling human emotion and desire so that they cannot create loyalties to people besides Big Brother. However, this form of suppression can also be used as a weapon. Winston and Julia have sex and love it for each other and as a form of defiance to the Party.
6. What does Room 101 accomplish?
Room 101 is the great equalizer. No one can brave it no matter how strong their relationships are with other people or how great their purpose may be. It shows that there is no escape from the Party, and that trying to buck the Party ideals will only end in disaster and abuse. Everyone has fears, and Room 101 makes those fears more real than they should ever be. It teaches people to be afraid of the Party and to become another machine working mindlessly towards the goals of Big Brother.
7. What significance do Goldstein and The Brotherhood have for the book?
Goldstein and The Brotherhood are Winston’s chance for getting out of oppression. In a seemingly caged world, they were the hole in the fence that Winston could escape through. However, because it was O’Brien who gave the book to Winston, and because it was O’Brien who cheated him, Goldstein and The Brotherhood come to symbolize false hopes. The book was used only as a lure to bait in anyone with the slightest mistrust in the Party, and eliminate them before they could cause any serious trouble. It would be like someone coming up to you with a Bible in hand and telling you the whole thing was made up and that you were a fool for believing it. There is no hope in Oceania. No chance of liberation or any form of freedom. They are stuck in a world of complete control and any uprising is quickly extinguished.
8. What do the proles represent?
One way we can look at the proles is a reflection to American culture. We are the ultra powerful masses, and yet we get up, go to work, go to the bar, repeat. We would like to think that we are self aware and capable of changing the world, however when given the opportunity we choose not to. In the last presidential election, more people voted for American Idol than for any of the candidates combined. The grim reality is that we have little motivation, and remain fairly calm as long as we are not too disturbed. We take pleasure in stupid things, not in positive advances. Where will we stand in the future? Will we remember how we brought about world peace or ended mass famine? Or will we remember Britney Spears’ downward spiral? Like the old prole in the bar that Winston talks to, we are going down the road of useless information. Look at the proles and mock them. You are only looking in a mirror.
9. What are the modern day connections from 1984?
Lately it seems like 1984 has been more like a history book than a novel. Orwell’s look into the future has come frighteningly close to what is all around us. Look at the CNN website any time of the day. What propaganda do you see? Our troops are doing an excellent job of cleaning up insurgents and it looks like democracy will be in place within months! We’ve been hearing that same old song for the past five years now. Even so, we continue to believe it because we continue to believe that our country is the best sheriff to police the world. The government can tap your phones without you knowing and there is no legal action you can take in retaliation (all in the name of national security). Ironically in London (a.k.a. Oceania), you cannot go anywhere in public without being seen by their CCTV system. No matter where you go, you are being watched, and like Big Brother, they can find you and accuse you if you do anything viewed as suspicious. Orwell would roll over in his grave if he knew that his futuristic fiction had come true.
We believe what we are told to believe, and we do it in a fairly efficient way. We are the ones who created the government, and yet the government has come to control us. Like proles, we do not care what the government does, as only about half of us voted in the last election. We are forfeiting our right to be humans, and continually refuse to think for ourselves. All the while, we are giving more and more power to those who are already there. What are we going to do about it? From the looks of it, not too much. We uneasily accept the advances brought on by our world, and jump in line with everyone else. After all, we love Big Brother.
10. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6h3G-lMZxjo
I found several videos linking this years election to the Apple commercial created in 1984. The creators of these videos were smart. They used something that many people were familiar with in order to show their feelings. By linking Hilary Clinton to the controlling idea of Big Brother, it causes you to question whether or not voting for her would be a good idea based on knowledge of what you have learned from the book.
1) Where does Winston work and why is it ironic? Winston works for the Ministry of Truth, where they use machines to write for them as they speak. He uses old information or documents that go against what Big Brother has said and then change them to something else or someone else so it looks as if Big Brother is always the good guy telling the truth. It is ironic because it is the Ministry of Truth where they are making up lies.
2) According to Winston, the Proles are the only ones that could ever stop Big Brother, Why? Winston believes that the Proles are the only ones that could put an end to the party because they make up most of the population. The Proles are the only people that are not brainwashed and have the strength to stop this dystopia.
3) What does Winston first think of Julia when he see’s her? Winston first thinks that Julia is a part of the thought police. He thinks she is beautiful and he wants to rape her, and then beat her over the head with a cobblestone. He doesn’t believe that she is true by the look she has.
4) Why is the room above Mr. Charrington’s shop so significant? The room above Mr. Charrington’s shop is significant because that is where he can go to relax and just get away from the party and the constant watch of the telescreens. It is also very significant because that is where he will spend most of his time with Julia, his lover and sex mate.
5) Why is Julia’s Job ironic? Julia works for the anti-sex league. There she tries to eliminate the kind of sex that is bad and that the party doesn’t permit and tries to advocate sex that the party wants. This is very ironic because she has slept with countless men and now is making love to Winston.
6) Why does Winston put some dust on the cover of his diary? Winston puts dust on his diary as a signal. He knows that writing in a diary is a thought crime and could possible be vaporized for it. The dust on the diary is a warning signal to him because if the dust is off the diary he knows that someone got into it and read it without him knowing.
7) Why does Winston keep a diary? Winston keeps a diary because he is a thought criminal. Writing in his diary is a way of rebelling mentally and emotionally. He is remembering and reflection on how life is and on existence. By keeping up on writing in his diary, he is escaping from Big Brother and the rest of the zombified world that the call Oceania. By writing in his diary he is exposing himself to the thought police as a criminal of thinking on his own and of creating ideas outside of work. He doesn’t have endless time that he can write in the diary because the telescreens are watching him constantly. Because of the privacy that he doesn’t have he has to write in a corner where the telescreen can’t see or he has to write in the room above Mr. Charrington’s shop.
8) What is the Parson’s family like? Mr. Parsons is a very loyal party member that works with Winston and the Ministry of Truth. Mrs. Parsons is scared of her kids who are members of the Junior Spies. The Junior Spies are another branch of the thought police that go around and turn in adults. The Parson kids are accusing Winston of thought crime when he goes over to help Mrs. Parsons with the plumbing. Her kids were mad at her because she didn’t let them go and see the public hanging of the prisoners of war. She is afraid of her kids turning her in while Mr. Parsons is very fond of them for doing good work and being loyal to the party.
9) Could 1984 ever happen in the United States of America? If it did, would you be like Winston or be a part of the inner party and conform? I don’t think that this style of government or dictatorship would ever happen in the U.S. If this were to happen to any country in the world it would happen to a smaller, more poor country that already treats there citizens like crap. A more modern version of Big Brother and Oceania would be Saddam Hussein and Iraq. The reason I don’t think it will ever happen in the U.S. is because we have way too many laws that will not allow it. The laws like freedom of speech or freedom of religion protect us from getting brainwashed into not thinking and speaking for ourselves. From the beginning of our society we have made it possible so that if a President or leader gets out of line and does stuff we don’t like we will impeach them. If someone like Big Brother came in and tried to dictate what was going on and what was going to happen the U.S. government and citizens of the U.S. would get him out of office. I don’t believe that a dictatorship will ever happen in the United States because people like the rights they have for the most part and like the feeling of being able to have a say in things and vote for what they want or what they believe in. If this kind of government did come to the U.S., which I strongly doubt, I would be like Winston Smith and rebel as much as I could. I don’t think I would even want to live in the conditions that they are in. They are becoming completely zombified, they can’t even think without having to worry about getting caught by the thought police. I would do as much as I could to rebel whether it being destroying stuff owned by the government like “V for Vendetta” or doing what Winston and Julia do.
10) http://students.ou.edu/C/Kara.C.Chiodo-1/orwell.html I like this link because it gives various links to other great websites. This website has links for bibliographies, biographies, texts, quotes, and pictures. The bibliographies are short but there is a couple of them for readers pleasure. There are a few essays your are able to enter as well, which is nice for some of the kids who like to express their thoughts about the book through essays.
1. In Oceania what is the government like and how does it affect the citizens? The government of Oceania is a hellish terrible place to live. The government rules everything from where you can work, to who you marry. The government creates a dystopia the most extreme opposite of a dream. Also the government is totally against the ideas and motives of America. The government is a form of communism. It affects the citizens because they are not allowed to think and the only knowledge they know is from the government.
2. What is the Two Minute Hate? The two minute hate is a gathering of the “party” of Oceania to basically brainwash them all. On the screen they show Goldstein and they all must hate him because he represents free thinking which is forbidden. The main message of this and the hole book is, war is peace, freedom is slavery and ignorance is strength. The two minute hate can be related to the pecking party of Cook’s Nest.
3. What is Winston’s job and what does he do there? Winston’s job is consisted of lying for Big Brother. Winston works at the “Ministry of Truth”. Which is where he fixes all of Big Brother’s mistakes and wrong predictions so it looks like Big Brother is always correct and never wrong.
4. Explain everything about the diary? Winston keeps a secret diary, it is secret because if he is caught possessing a diary he could be killed for it. The diary is a way of rebelling mentally and physically towards the government, society and Big Brother. The diary also helps get the plot moving in the story and starts the internal and external conflicts.
5. What does Winston do to his diary after writing in it? Winston is very careful about his diary being secret and not being found. If the diary is confiscated he could be vaporized or sent to a labor camp. Winston finds healing in writing in the diary and is one of the most precious things in his life. After writing in the diary he places a speckle of dust on the cover of his diary so he will know if anyone touched his diary.
6. Explain everything about Julia? Julia is the dark haired girl who has been following Winston around the hole time. Winston even thought about killing her because at first he thought she was a spy. The first contact between each other was a note Julia sent Winston saying “I love you”. Ever since the note Julia and Winston meet up with each other and discuss thoughts. Julia is apart of the anti-sex league which is ironic because she and Winston have sex all the time. She even said she has performed sexual acts with well over 100 other people just like Winston.
7. Tell about the Parsons family and everything they stand for? The Parsons family is a complex family to understand. Winston met Mr. Parson at work a while back because he works at the Ministry of Truth with him. They have one boy and one girl, the ages are not given but I believe they are around seven or eight. The children are also spies that belong to the junior spy organization. The job of its members is to oversee their parents and any other adults and make sure they are not corrupt and turn against Big Brother. Mrs. Parson asked Winston for some mechanical help one night while her husband was away. While Winston is working on helping Mrs. Parson out with a sink problem Winston is accused of thought crime and is shot with toy guns. Mrs. Parson apologizes to Winston but Winston is wondering why anyone, even young kids would think of something like that. I think the kids might of attacked Winston because they were upset at their mother for not letting them see the hanging of a thought criminal.
8. What does Big Brother act like, and why he does it, and how does it affect the party members? Big brother is the complete opposite of America and democracy. Big brother acts like mean parents that keep there kids from doing anything outside of the house. B.B. is concerned of individuality so he doesn’t allow any members of the party to show emotion, to talk to others or do whatever they want to do. Just like Hitler in Nazi Germany Big Brother can not allow free thinking or else it will ruin his plan. What big brother is doing is just like how Hitler developed such a strong dictatorship which was run by his military. Big Brother is the current Hitler in “1984” and wants to changer everyone they way he wants them to be. It affects the party members in numerous ways. Like they don’t know what is going on so they can sometimes feel lost or alone. Or they can actually think for themselves secretively and realize they are being controlled and try to do something about it. Which is what Winston is trying to do.
9. How could a government gain such total power and what are the steps they would need to take? Also give examples of past governments like this. I believe it would be very difficult for a government or even a government ran by someone with military background to gain total power like Big Brother has. In order to do this you must take total control over everything and everyone. The first step I would take if I was going to control a country would be to brain wash everyone. Brain was the citizens and clear all of there memory banks. I would also brain wash them with overwhelming information about the government and how good they are and how much better it will become. The second thing I would do to the citizens is to erase all prior knowledge about how it use to be. That would mean to take all books and destroy them if they had any information about the past. It would even mean to take school books and history books and destroy them also. Another way of putting this is to lie to everyone about everything. Another item I would address is to take total control of the citizens. You would have to go so far as to assigning them a place to live, and not letting them make decisions for themselves. You would also have to make them perform a job that you want them to do. That job could even be something that would benefit you as the government, like how Winston’s job is to erase all previous history and alter images. After you do all of that you can force a curfew law, which will keep them from going out late at night and rebelling against the government. Than if they do violate the curfew law you could punish them accordingly. The last thing I would instate to contain the threat of thought criminals is to hire spies. Spies would work tremendously because the ordinary citizens are not smart to start off with and they would not even recognize the spies because they would be undercover. An example of one of these governments and rulers would be Nazi Germany in the late 1930’s through the 40’s. Here is a quote from a classic movie “Tommy Boy” that pertains to this topic greatly. “What the American public doesn’t know is what make them the American public”.
10. http://media.www.dailytrojan.com/media/storage/paper679/news/2005/01/20/Opinions/2005-Is.Reminiscent.Of.Orwells.1984-836138.shtml This website shows similarities from the novel “1984” and the currents government system in place. In 2005 George Bush is quoted “I just want you to know that, when we talk about war, we're really talking about peace”. Which is just like the modo of Big Brother, war is peace. I thought it was interesting that this book can relate to many things and in some ways I think this book has actually came true.
1. Why does Winston Smith think Syme will eventually get vaporized? -Winston Smith thinks Syme will get vaporized because anyone can see Syme’s fate. You see Syme is too intelligent to be in the party’s favor. He says things that would have been better unsaid, he has read too many books, and he frequents the Chestnut Tree Café, haunt of painters and musicians.
2. Why is the name “The Ministry of Truth” ironic? - It is Winston’s job to go and find information in books, plays, newspaper, magazines, etc and change the history so it makes Big Brother look good. Every word in the history books, even the things that on accepted without question, was pure fantasy. The past is to be erased and the lies became the truth . 3. According to the party what was it like before the revolution? -Before the Revolution the proles had been hideously oppressed by the capitalists. They were starved and flogged. Women were forced to work in the coal mines and children were sold into the factories at the age of six. If it weren’t for BB they would still be in the state of bondage.
4. Who is Katharine and why is she important to the plot? -Katharine is Winston Smith’s wife. She is a tall, faired-haired girl, with a noble face. To embrace her was like embracing a jointed wooden image. She is a lifeless zombie when then have sex. She has two phases for intercourse: “making a baby” and “our duty to the Party”. She is important to the plot because she is the uppity of a Oceania citizen. She has not a thought in her head that was not a slogan, and there is no imbecility, absolutely none, that she is not capable of swallowing if the Pary handed it out to her. “ The Human sound track”.
5. What is a two minute hate? - A two minute hate occurs daily. It is a way to express their hatred toward anything they hate, mostly capitalists. The man that appears the telescreen is Goldstein. Goldstein is hated and despised by others. One lady shouts “Swine”. Winston says, “The horrible thing about the Two Minutes Hate was not that one was obliged to act apart, but that it was impossible to avoid joining in”. That reminds me of Nazi Germany. If you can’t beat em’ join em’.
6. Who is Goldstein and why is he hated so much? -Goldstein was the renegade and backslider who once, long ago, had been on of the leading figures of the Party, almost on a level with Big Brother himself, and then had engaged in counterrevolutionary activities. He was condemned to death, and had mysteriously escaped and disappeared. He has a lean Jewish face. Orwell probably did that on purpose because the Nazis hated the Jews. He is hated by the party because the is a traitor; he stands for everything the party hates: free thinking, individualism, and rebellion.
7. Why and how do children become easily convinced? - If it isn’t the telescreens it is your children. Another year, two years, and they would be watching Mrs. Parsons night and day for symptoms of unorthodoxy. The Parson children adore the Party and everything connected with it. It is almost normal for people over thirty to be frightened of their own children. Children make excellent spies because they easily convinced. These children don’t take in consideration of what they are actually doing just as long as they get something out of it. Since the children’s brain isn’t fully developed it may be easier to brain wash them. In Nazi Germany Hitler promised the children all the chocolate they could eat if they turned their parents in for disobeying the Nazis. Big Brother is everything they need and want. 8. How did Hitler and Stalin come into power? -When George Orwell wrote 1984 in 1945, he was responding to the dictators of WW II. He saw first hand what a totalitarian and communist environment does to people’s morals. After World War I, the country of Germany was in economic depression. The marc had barely any value. Then a man named Adolph Hitler came along and gave them hope. As the years went on he started to give speeches in local beer halls. He was a good public speaker and people began to buy into his theories. What he did was found a scapegoat for all of Germany’s problems. He claimed that the Jews are responsible for the loss of the war and the depression. He eventually gained up and Army (Nazis) and overthrew the government. Germany believed in him because he turned the country around even if it was morally wrong. I believe that is how big brother became powerful. He gave the citizens hope after the bomb/revolution. Stalin came into power because he promised the Soviet Union a strong economy and army. Communism is really a good idea but it doesn’t work at all. If someone doesn’t pull their weight it all goes to hell.
9. What does the party do to maintain the power and control? -George Orwell wrote this political novel to warn the readers the dangers of a Totalitarian government. 1984 portrays the perfect totalitarian society where the party monitors and controls everything you do from in your room to even your thoughts. It was Orwell’s duty to sound the alarm to the western countries and show them that if you allow you government to run your life this is what it will be like. The party uses several techniques to control its citizens such as: psychological brain washing, physical control, control of the history and information, and the technology. The citizens are constantly reminded that “BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU”. That has to manipulate their mind to the fullest. The party tries to diminish the independent thought. Each room is equipped with a giant telescreen that bombards the citizens with propaganda designed to make the failures of the party to appear to be triumphant. The party has destroyed the family structure by ordering the children into the junior spy leagues. The party manipulates the citizens through physiological techniques but the party also forces its member to partake in morning exercises and then go on to work long grueling hours in the Ministries. By controlling the minds of their victims with physical fitness, they are able to control the reality convincing the subjects that 2+2=5. Winston’s job at the Ministry of truth is to control the past. That way the Party can control the present. The proles are not allowed to keep any records of their past because the Party want them to have fuzzy memories. If they read the new altered information they will become perfectly willing to believe what the Party has printed. The party is able to monitor the citizens almost all the time through telescreens and hidden microphones. 1984 shows that technology can be life saving and good but can also ruin our lives from its evil attributes. 10. Students for an Orwellian Society. - I found this site very interesting. These “students” highlight the similarities to Oceania and the U.S. George Bush once said: “I just want you to know that, when we talk about war, we're really talking about peace.” That quote belongs proves that War is Peace. Sometimes I think our government can become the party. Donald Rumsfeild puts it the best, “In order to fight terrorism, was cause it”.
1. What is ironic about Winston and Julia's relationship? A: Before Winston actually knew Julia he hated her and lusted for her at the same time. He had odd and violent visions and thoughts about killing her but of sleeping with her as well. He was disgusted that she was a member of the Anti-Sex League. He thought she was just another beautiful, young, attractive, woman that was just a brainwashed zombie.
2. Why does Winston fear Julia towards the beginning of the novel? A: Winston thinks Julia is a member an spy of the Thought Police. She seems to be where he is too often to be coincidence and takes too many glances at him. When he's walking in the prole district and Julia looks him right in the face and right then he's certain that she's a spy and plots to kill her immediately. With her numerous appearances he's also certain he will be vaporized soon.
3. Who is O'Brien and how does Winston know he's a thought criminal too? A: O'Brien is in the Inner Party. He and Winston made eye contact for a brief moment during a hate session and that was all it took to convince Winston that O'Brien was a thought criminal too. Later Winston meets with O'Brien who is a member of The Brotherhood which Winston and Julia join.
4. What are hate sessions and how do Winston and Julia feel about them? A: Hate sessions are directed toward Emmanuel Goldstein an enemy of Big Brother, leader of The Brotherhood, and author of THE BOOK. Hate sessions are usually two minutes long. During this time the people seem to go mad with rage. Winston and Julia think the sessions are ridiculous but pretend to be mad and hateful because of Big Brother's ever watchful spies.
5. Why is Winston and Julia's love forbidden? Any form of love that's not directed toward Big Brother is forbidden. To love someone is to be thinking for oneself and committing a thoughtcrime. Big Brother is trying to create a country entirely loyal to him. To achieve this the people become less and less human with little human emotion except anger and hate toward Goldstein.
6. Why is Mr. Carrington important to the plot and why can't the picture in the upper bedroom be moved? A: Mr. Carrington is a secret member of the Thought Police. He only tells Winston the picture can't be moved. There is a telescreen behind it which the two lovers cannot know about. When Winston finished reading the book out loud to Julia the Thought Police came lead by Carrington who is now undisguised.
7. How does Big Brother maintain control? A: Big Brother has control of the mind. The Inner Party has developed a method of torture so horrible that they are able to convince anyone of anything no matter what. Big Brother has been in power long enough he can do no wrong. The people are so brainwashed they accept the altering of history without question. Big Brother is wrong about many things but Party members, like Winston, "correct" Big Brother's mistakes so he is right about everything making him both all-knowing and all-powerful. The Party is watched constantly with the ever watchful eye of the Thought Police. If someone creates any suspicions or becomes too smart for their own good they are vaporized. As far as everyone else is concerned they never existed.
8. Why are Winston's memories important? A: Winston's memories are what kept him "sane" and an individual for so long. He remembers his mother and sister. His feelings and memories of them remind Winston of how life used to be and how is could be if the proles revolted. Deep inside I think Winston knows the world he lives in isn't how it used to be nor how it should be. His memories show Winston the truth of the past. They provide him with proof that the government is corrupt and can be defied. Even after Winston is released from the Ministry of Love he has memories of his childhood. Sadly, he thinks of them as false. However, they are still there which must count as something.
9. What are the motives of the government and how is Winston affected in the Ministry of Love? A: While Winston is in the Ministry of Love he is tortured by O'Brien but also understands the government even though it leads to his mental deterioration. The government's goal is to achieve total control physically but mentally too. O'Brien informs Winston that the method of the Party far exceeds that of the Inquisition, Nazi's, and U.S.S.R. The Party wants to obtain infinite power over everything. If the Party can control every mind that matters then they have power over all else. Its belief is that once minds are totally controlled they can make the world into whatever they want it to be. In the Ministry of Love, Winston is tortured but he still keeps his general beliefs and his hate for Big Brother deep inside. He doesn't betray Julia until he enters room 101. In this room he is face to face with his deepest fear. In his horror he finally breaks and betrays Julia by screaming out to torture her instead. In his heart he does truly believe it and want it. In doing this he allows himself to be convinced that the Party is right. Winston does resist for awhile and knows that no one can possibly control the universe or the force of gravity, but he, like so many others, ends up to be brainwashed. He begins to love O'Brien because he stops the pain and apparently cares not that O'Brien is the one causing the pain. Over a period of time Winston believes 2+2=5 and everything else O'Brien tells him. Ultimately Winston loses his human feelings and becomes a true "Party member". He dismissed his memories as false and comes to love Big Brother. In this conclusion George Orwell creates a masterpiece that should not be forgotten or taken lightly. We can learn many things from this book and hopefully our end will not be the same as Winston's or Oceania.
10. www.gerenser.com/1984/ A: This is an informational website that has a good analysis of the book. The analysis goes in-depth about the book and the characters. It also has questions throughout the book that are very helpful. It also has a message board that people can comment on.
1. Who is Julia and why is she important to the book? A. Julia is Winston’s “lover” if I say so myself. They are each other’s significant other because Winston has a wife and they can’t get legally separated so they can only be lovers right now. She is important to the book because she gives Winston something to live for instead of getting caught doing something careless and then vaporized and become an unperson. Julia becomes his only reason for living and eventually part of the reason he joins the brotherhood.
2. Who is Mr. Charrington and why is he important to the book? A. He is a man that is a prole and owns an antique shop that no longer has any use because the government has destroyed most things that were old and that they want everybody to believe is false. So there for he is a man with a safe haven for Winston and Julia to have their love affair without being caught or too scared of being caught because he isn’t watched by the government and has a shop that has no importance. A.K.A. perfect.
3. What is the importance of Syme’s vaporization? A. It shows how much control the government has over its people and how much they know about their citizens. Because even Winston predicts he will be vaporized way before it actually happens. It shows how the government can find the people that make a difference and could be a threat to the government and they find them and weed them out before they ever become anything without a chance, and Syme is the one shown that has to be eliminated. 4. Why does Winston want to join the brotherhood so badly? A. I believe the reason why he wants to join so bad is because he needs a reason to live, and he has a reason somewhere inside him that says life can be better and it has to be better or else he wouldn’t mind being vaporized. Julia is the person that gets him to realize that there is something better in life and that he really wants to make a difference and then gets enough courage to actually go talk to O’brien. 5. Why does Winston feel the need to buy the diary? A. He believes that he needs to show the future how the past was if he can. He wants to believe that the whole past can’t be erased completely and he wants people in the future to realize that life is getting worse and not better and if it is better maybe his book can become part of history as a warning as how to never let life be again. 6. Why don’t the proles rise up against the government? A. I believe that the reason why the proles haven’t risen up against the government is because they have been turned into animals. The government weeds out any smart, individual thinking, leader among them. They have no way of grouping together under one single leader. Just like in that book we read back middle school where they made everybody equal by frying their thoughts and average was good. Well this government is doing the same thing but just in a different way, they kill off the smart people and leave the average and plus the random rocket bombs that kill people probably doesn’t help the situation because the government could just target one meeting place if the proles did meet and kill off everybody that is uprising. 7. Why does Winston find it appealing that Julia has been with many men instead of just a few? A. This is very odd to me because I would never have been happy with a woman that’s been with many men, but he finds it appealing because he now knows there is other people out there committing thought crimes just like him and he is not alone in his fight against the government. He feels security in the fact that she has and it makes him love her even more. This shows how much the times have changed with the people in this book. 8. Does Big Brother exist? A. I don’t believe he does, I think that the government has created this figure as a figure to make the subjects of Oceania worship him as a sort of godly figure for them to worship and feel protected by and it’s a form of brainwashing tool the government uses to unify them for a cause of the government. I think the government is run by a small section of the inner party and they just kill everybody that gets in on the real government. 9. Does Goldstein exist? a. I think he does exist. But I have two theories about him. I think he was once part of the inner party and was the only one with a conscience and decided to get out and survived. He enlightens the people of Oceania and wants them to rise up against the government. Or he is a tool of the government to find out the people who are trying to rise up against the government so they can be exterminated and the government is impenetrable and has control over everything. And this program has will go on forever and always find out who is against them and who’s with them and will always be in control. 10. What role do the Parson’s kids have in the story? a. It shows how brainwashed everybody is in the year of 1984. The government even has more control over the kids than the parents do. There is no such thing as a family anymore, it’s just the family of Oceania and what is best for it. The kids have no problem turning their parents in to be killed and have no problem ever seeing them again. They don’t even get rewards for finding out the “traitors” they do it just because they believe they’re doing the right thing for the government. That is the scariest part of the book is that there is no such thing as family anymore, no confidentiality, no trust, just Ingsoc.
1. What is Winston’s job, what does his job entail, and does he like it?
Winston works at the Ministry of Truth. At the Ministry of Truth old documents come to him and he speaks into a machine that writes for him. When the documents come to him he rewrites history to make it seem like Big Brother is telling the truth even though whatever he writes is a lie.
2. What is the two minute hate, and what is its purpose to Oceania?
The two minute hate is a big gathering of people at a specific time of the day where they practice hating someone, usually Goldstein. It is important to the citizens of Oceania because it teaches them to hate someone for no reason further zombiefying them into the citizens Oceania needs to continue there government of ultimate control.
3. Who is O’Brian and why is he important to Winston? O’Brian is a member of the Inner party and works in the same building as Winston. He is important to Winston because Winston believes he is a thought criminal like himself. He, in a sense, gives Winston hope that there are others out there who question their government and how they control everything.
4. What are the Parsonses? The Parsonses are a family who live in the same apartment complex as Winston. Unlike Winston, the Parsonses are totally brain washed and have conformed to Big Brothers style of government. Tom, the dad is a fat, brain washed idiot, and the wife lives in hell trying to keep control of their kids who run wild accusing people of thought crimes and are members of the Spies organization for kids.
5. Why does Winston put dust on his diary when he leaves? Winston puts a speck of dust on his diary before he leaves because if it is moved, he will know. It is illegal to keep any personal belongings, especially a diary that Big Brother does not issue out. It is illegal to even own a diary yet alone have one; if he is caught with one he will be vaporized. So he wants to know when he will die in a sense.
6. What is the significance of Winston’s dream of O’Brian? The significance of the dream where O’Brian says to him “we shall meet in a place where there is no darkness” is very important to Winston. This dream further convinces Winston that O’Brian is a thought criminal and further gives him hope that he is not alone in is free thinking state of mind.
7.Why are the telescreens important to Big Brothers government? The telescreens are very important to Big Brothers style of government. In a world where with the amount of people it is not possible to keep an eye on everybody the telescreens do just that. In the Inner, and Outer party districts a telescreen is everywhere. The keep an eye on everybody to make sure that no one is a free thinking person. When you sleep he is watching, when he bath he is watching, When you eat, go out, go to work, when you work, Big Brother is always watching. He is always keeping a watch out to make sure that the citizens of Oceania are still brain washed citizens. The telescreens also help the thought police catch the free thinking citizens or the revolting citizens, so Oceana stays under total control.
8.What are the ministries and why are their names so ironic? There are four ministries, the Ministry of Truth, the Ministry of Love, the Ministry of Plenty, and the Ministry of Peace. At the Ministry of Truth the workers take old documents of history and change them to whatever Big Brother decides. Essentially they are making up lies at the Ministry of Truth. At the Ministry of Love they take all free thinking thought criminals and lock them up and torture them to get names of other thought criminals. They are torturing people at the Ministry of Love. AT the Ministry of Plenty there are handing out enough rations to barley live off of. They are slowly starving their citizens at a place called the Ministry of Plenty. At the Ministry of Peace they make wars, and weapons to help them out on their continuous warpath. War is not peace despite Oceania’s slogan.
9. Could this type of government ever happen in the U.S.? Also give examples of places that are like this government. I don’t believe this type of government could ever happen in the U.S. Ever since the beginning of our country we have prided ourselves with our free we are. We have way to many laws, like freedom of speech, or freedom of press. When communism happens anywhere else we go help out that country to help make them a democracy. We basically police the world. We also elect our presidents and they don’t even have total control. All the control is split up between the people, the senate, the House of Representatives and the President. The U.S. also has a law where if we don’t like the president we can impeach them and get them out of office, so if a person like Big Brother were even elected into office we could have him impeached and out of there and elect a new president in. Another reason whey this couldn’t work is because America is full of free thinking individuals, we have the most diversity out of anywhere in the world. If a leader was elected and tried to change our government, our citizens would revolt. Also for this to happen all of the other world powers would already have to be taken over otherwise they would step in and help us out. Democracy is the leading government in the world and the countries who are democratic would like to keep at that way, and will do whatever needs to be done. Despite the U.S. and other free countries, countries around the globe do have a less extreme type of government. North Korea is a perfect example. Their leader rules with terror and has almost complete control. They don’t let people in and they don’t let people out. Before Saddam Hussein was taken out of power their government was like Oceania’s. Saddam ruled his country with fear and killed many people if they did not conform to they way he wanted things.
10.http://www.gerenser.com/1984/ This is a great site of you don’t understand this book, or you just can’t have enough of it and want to know more. They have a story analysis that breaks down the story to help you better understand it. They also have an in-depth study guide so you can answer some questions to better learn about the book. This site also has a message board where you can log on and tell everybody how much you like this book, or how much you hate it.
Take Home Quiz 1. How would you explain the secret hiding place at the antique shop where Walton bought the Diary? Answer: It is a little shabby room above the shop. There is a big bed that is made. There is no telescreen, so the room is considered secret. There is an old fashioned clock with a twelve hour face on the mantle piece. In the corner on a gateleg table, the glass paper weight which he had bought shimmered. There is a battered tin oilstove, a sauce pan and two cups provided by Mr. Charrington. The window was protected by a muslin curtain. This place is a great place for the two love birds to meet up. There was two entrances into the room there for they have a less of a chance of getting caught by the treacherous thought police. 2. What does Winston put on his diary? Why does Winston do this and why is it very important? Answer: Winston is a very smart man when it comes to thinking upon covering up his thoughts. When he stores his diary he decided to put a small amount of dust sprinkled on top protecting his diary. He does this so that when he gets his diary out he knows if some one has been viewing it or found it. This is very important due to the fact that it is a crime to write the things he is more or less to own such an item. If the thought police would catch Winston it would mean a sure death for being a though criminal, and a burden to Big Brother. 3. Describe what Winston does at work, the name of where he works and why it is ironic? Answer: Winston works at the Ministry of Truth. This is ironic because they do exactly the opposite of what you would gather from the name. They actually take the past and write what they want of the past. Winston’s job is to rewrite these articles or what ever they may change history in. He gets slips of paper in a code written form once he completes the task that he is instructed to do he sends these slips of paper down a memory hole which no one really knows where it leads but they ideally think that it leads to a big burning furnace. 4. Why was Winton’s meeting with the old man in the pub pointless, what did the old man complain about? Answer: Winston has this high hope of getting wisdom from elders that could possibly remember more than he can from the past. Winston has constantly been battling his memory, as it seems to be that he can not remember the exact details and certainly can not remember the dates in which they occurred. He looks to seek an answer from the old man, but as Winston found out rather quickly that the old man had nothing to offer. The old man just went in loops and really detected nothing that had any importance or helpfulness for Winston. The old man complained of the beer sizes in the bar. He remembered that years ago the offered a size just perfect for him, which was a size in between what they offered in 1984. 5. How did Winston receive a note from Julia and what did it say? How did that go against the party? Answer: Winston received a very important note one day, this was certainly no ordinary note that he had ever received before. Julia pretended to trip and fall so that Winston would come over to help the poor young lady out and get her off the floor. When Winston did this she slipped a rather small sheet of paper in his hand. Winston then got to where he could slip the paper in his pocket to read later. When he read this note it was three simple words that certainly have a strong meaning, “I love you.” This sort of act had to be played out due to the fact that a dating like sort was considered to be a thought crime. Sexual relations were not permitted at all, only for reproduction, which was even needed to be pleasurable. Winston is dumfounded by this note and tries his hardest to get by himself to find out more information about Julia. 6. When Winston and Julia go over to O’Brien’s house what do they discover? Answer: Winston and Julia go over to his house to get a dictionary that is updated, or so they think that is what they are going for. When they arrive they discover that O’Brien can turn off his telescreen for about thirty minute intervals at a time. They then get told about the Brotherhood, which goes against the party and Big Brother. This is exactly up Winston’s idea of going against the norm. They get told how they will receive a copy of the Brotherhood book, which Winston will get in a brief case that looks similar to his. They get to drink wine while they were at his house. After the thirty minutes was up they were to leave at separate times. They leave there with a new sense of happiness that maybe someday if they don’t get caught they we be “set free.” 7. Describe the Brotherhood. Answer: The brotherhood is made up of enemies of the Party. They are thought criminals and also are adulterers. The leader of the Brotherhood is Emmanuel Goldstein. With the brotherhood party you have to be able to give up several things if you get caught and give up things from getting caught. Some questions asked when introduced to the Brotherhood are as follows: You are prepared to give your lives? You are prepared to commit murder? To commit acts of sabotage which may cause the death of hundreds of innocent people? To betray your country to foreign powers? You are prepared to cheat, to forge, to blackmail, to corrupt the minds of children, to distribute habit forming drugs, to encourage prostitution, to disseminate venereal diseases to do anything which is likely to cause demoralization and waken the power of the party? You are prepared to lose your identity and live out the rest of your life as a waiter or a dock worker? You are prepared to commit suicide, if and when we order you to do so? You are prepared, to separate and never see your loved one again? It is necessary that O’Brian knows everything about everyone. They are to read the Brotherhood book that Winston will receive in a brief case that looks similar to his own. The are to read it and give it back when they are finished in two weeks. Brotherhood is like fighting in the dark, you are going against Big Brother who is mighty powerful. When some one completes the whole Brotherhood book they are considered true and full members of the Brotherhood. 8. What does Winston put in his diary? Answer: The first thing Winston puts in his diary is the date of April 4th, 1984. He was not positive that this was the real date. He first wrote about movie flicks that he had saw. He wondered who he would be writing the diary for? For the future, for the un born. He had a troubled amount for being able to write anymore in the diary, for it was very illegal to be doing such an act. He continued writing and his first film contained from the night before, was about a war. One very good one of a ship full of refugees being bombed somewhere in the Mediterranean. The hoar story goes on from there as you can imagine and then the audience watching the film began to laugh, they found this very sad event as a funny and enjoyable comedy. They know no different it is one way they are brain washed. Another day Winston found himself writing in his diary again only this time we was writing in a reparative form. He constantly wrote DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER several times. Winston surly knows how much trouble he would be in if this diary was ever found by a party member, he would be dead for sure! 9. Describe the two min hate. Why do they do it? What do they do? How do certain characters react to it? How would you like to participate in such a thing? How do you think Americans would react to this sort of thing? Answer: Everyone would gather around, there was absolutely no way of getting out of the two minute hate, you would be caught and would die for sure. When the two minute hate began this is what happened: A grinding screech, as of a monstrous machine running without oil, burst from the big telescreen at the end of the room. It was a noise that set one’s teeth on edge and bristled the hair at eh back of one’s neck. The hate had stated by now. The face of Emmanuel Goldstien, the Enemy of the People, had flashed onto the screen. There were hisses here and there among the audience. The little sandy-haired woman gave a squeak of mingled fear and disgust. Goldsiten was the renegade and backslider who once, log ago, had been one of the leading figures of the Party, almost on a level with Big Brother himself, and then had engaged in counterrevolutionary activities, had been condemned to death, and had mysteriously escaped and disappeared. The program of the Two Minutes Hate varied form day to day, but there was none in which Goldstien was not the principal figure. He was the primal traitor, the earliest defiler of the party, all treacheries, act of sabotage, here sides, deviations, sprang directly out of his teaching. Somewhere of other he was still alive and hatching his conspiracies: perhaps somewhere beyond the sea, under the protection of his foreign paymasters; perhaps even so it was occasionally rumored in some hiding place in Oceania itself. Winston could never see the face of Goldstein without a painful mixture of emotions. It was a lean Jewish face, with a great fuzzy aureole of white hair and a small goatee beard a cleaver face, and yet somehow inherently despicable, with a kind of enile silliness in the long thin nose near the end of which a pair of spectacles was perched. And all the while, lest one should be in any doubt as to the reality which Goldstein’s specious claptrap converted, behind his head on the telescreen there marched the endless columns of the Eurasian army-row after row of solid looking men with expressionless Asiatic faces, who swam up to the surface of the screen and vanished, to be replaced by others exactly similar. The dull, rhythmic tramp of the soldiers’ boots formed the background to Goldstein’s bleating voice. Before the Hate had proceeded for thirty seconds, uncontrollable exclamations of rage were breaking out form half the people in the room. In its second minute the Hate rose to a frenzy. People were leaping up and down in their places and shouting at the tops of their voices in an effort to drown the maddening bleating voice that came from the screen. The little sandy haired woman had turned bright pink, and her mouth was opening and shutting like that of a landed fish. O’Brien’s heavy face was flushed. The dark haired girl behind Winston had begun crying out Swine! Swine! Swine! and suddenly she picked up a heavy Newspeak dictionary and flung it at the screen. In a lucid moment Winston found that he was shouting with the others and kicking his heel violently against the rung of his chair. The horrible thing about the two minute hate was not that one was obliged to act a part, but that is was impossible to avoid joining in. Within thirty seconds any pretense was always unnecessary. The hate rose to its climax, then the telescreen showed Big Brother then faded into the Party’s slogan words: WAR IN PEACE FREEDOM IS SLAVORY IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH. 10. Web address and what you found interesting about it. Answer: http://www.online-literature.com/orwell/1984/ This web site was a very informational web site. It helped me gather additional thoughts and words to describe the thought. The web site gives you a search option where you can type what you wish and it will search the entire book for your answer. This site also has a chapter summary of each chapter of 1984, which can help you better understand each and every chapter of the book. The website also contains some character descriptions and character quotes which is a helpful studying tool.
1-. How do Winston and Julia compare? Winston and Julia are a lot alike. They share the same views on how everything is ran. Big Brother is the one that they need to watch and try to destroy. They both do things that are expected of them and more. Julia volunteers in the Anti-Sex league so it will look good to others. She wants to follow the rules and be like everyone else, but really she is plotting a way to destroy him and how to get past the rules. Winston to is trying to understand how Big Brother is working and how they can bring him down.
2-.Why does Winston rent out the room from Mr. Charrington? Winston rent the room out from Mr. Charrington to be able to get away with Julia. To have privacy and be able to make love to her without having to hide or sneak away in different places everytime. Mr. Charrington never says anything, but is sure to know what they use the room for. Mr. Charrington is a parole and not really going along with what Big Brother wants.
3-. Why does Syme get vaporized? Syme is a very smart character. Too smart for his own good, which leads to his death. Syme is creating the Newspeak and he believes that it is a great thing. But Syme thinks to much about what could happen in the future. He likes the idea of creating new words and what Big Brother expects out of him and if he sees anyone not doing the same, he is sure to turn on them.
4-. How did Julia get the coffee, tea, and make-up and bring it to Winston. What problems could this have caused? Julia took a big risk by getting the items from the Inner Party. If other people knew that she had these things, there would be more questioning about why the others dont get them either. If Big Brother even knew half of the things that she was able to get or do, she would be vaporized. Her and Winston together are going against Big Brother just by being in the room together and talking about ways to get past him.
5-. Why does Winston hate his wife? Winston does not like his wife because she is trying to fit an image that Big Brother wants. She does everything by the book. There sex is not what we would call sex or love malking but what we would maybe call an awkward situation. He has no feelings for her. She goes by everything that she is told to do and nothing will get her to change her mind. She has been brainwashed to think that she should do what she is told to.
6-. What changed Winstons feelings about the girl following him? Winston hated the girl that used to always follow him. He thought that she was a though police and knew what he had been doing. Up until he recieved the note that said "I LOVE YOU" he didn't know who the girl was. He finally figured out that Julia was the girl following him and the one that sent him the note. She was in love with him and that made him happy. He didn't know what to do when he recieved that note, but she was there to figure it out for him.
7-.Why are parents like the Parsons afraid of their children? Parents should be afraid to do things around their children because children are easily pursuadable. It wouldn't take much for someone from the though police to approach them and ask them about their parents and what they have said of what they have done. Children would easily turn on their parents. If its something like candy or anything that they havent recieved in a long time, no doubt that they would tell. The Parsons children believe that they are thought police and act like them too. They for sure would tell on anyone that they over heard say something about big brother. You can not trust children in this book, mainly because they are not reliable and could easily make up something to get what they want.
8-.How did Big Brother come into control? If Big Brother says something, then more then likely everyone in the party will believe it. Winston and the other people in the Inner party dont but alot do. He has control over them by making them think things and changing their world by removing things and putting different things in there place. Newspeak is an example. He is getting rid of the language that everyone knows and having them learn a totally new language. This language is his language that he has other people create for him. Big Brothers wants everything the way he wants it and will not let anyone get it its way. This is why so many people are vaporized, they try and think for themselves.
9-. Could the government ever take complete power like in the book "1984"? I believe that people have their own opinions about things and that it would take a very long time before something like this happened. We choose our president based on what we like about him. He makes the laws in which we have to follow is the only down fall. He has the right no get rid of laws and make new ones just like that. But the US has to do is find someone that is geniue and someone they can trust fully to not let something like "1984" to happen. The government has power over the US, im not disagreeing with that, but we cant just let a single person take over what we believe in and what we believe is right. I believe that the people in the US have more power then we think. We can decide what we want and who we want to represent us. If the government had complete control, they we would not be able to vote for different laws and different people. We have choices and we get to choose what happens in the US. The president does have control over a lot but for a single person to take over like Big Brother did, well that would take a lot from a single person. So far our choices for presidents, well they havent been to strong of picks. We have had some good choices in the past, but what we need to do is prepare for the future and recognize what could happen if we dont speak up.
10-.http://www.gerenser.com/1984/ Good website if you want to get to know more about the plot and a summery of the book. Gives a bio about Orwell and his life. Also gives you questions that you are able to study from.
Big Brother is kind of like the president in this book. He is basically identical to a president accept for he has much more control over not only a nation, but over the whole world. Big Brother scares and rules over the entire world as if a terrible dictator would.
2. How does Big Brother rule and stay in power?
There are many ways that Big Brother keeps rule among world. One way is he brain washes all the common people (proles) in the world into believing that he is the only way that they will live, but also he keeps rule by the threat of death.
3. Who is Winston?
Winston is the main character in the book; he is what the book revolves around. Winston tells the book in third person, he kind of narrates it. As the book goes onward, Winston continues to be the center of attention as well as his significant other Julia.
4. What is Julia’s connection to Winston?
Julia is only a co-worker to Winston at the beginning of the book, but they don’t know or communicate with each other, until she hands him a note secretly when they accidently bump into each other at the Ministry of Truth where they both work.
5. What does Winston’s Job consist of?
Winston works at the Ministry of Truth where he takes previous articles that were published and makes them sound as if Big Brother is correct in his assumptions not just some of the time, but all the time. Winston’s job is very repetitive and he never does anything other than re-create articles.
6. What are some devices are used by Big Brother to monitor people?
Telescreens are the primary device used to monitor the people of the party, these telescreens are like a television, but they can see and hear everything that is said around them. Another device used are little microphones that are placed randomly and can’t be seen by people, but can hear what people are saying.
7. What does the cobblestone that Winston has symbolize?
This particular cobblestone that Winston bought the day he seen Julia in the street not only is used for a paper weight, but is used by Winston to commit thought crimes. First, the thought crime that was first committed was when he bought the cobblestone. He thought out of the ordinary to have wandered off and buy this thing. Next, the main source of the cobblestone is for Winston to imagine what life could be like. He has a dream in the book where his life is taking place inside the stone. I have not read very far in the book, but I think that this cobblestone will be more and more symbolic of how life used to be and how all of the inner party wants it to be.
8. Describe the room above Mr. Charrington’s shop and what significance it has to Winston and Julia?
This room is more or less becoming a home away from home for Winston. This place is a place where Winston and his lover Julia go to get nasty. Not only is this a place for them to get nasty, but it is a place of isolation from big brother and anyone that is part of the party. This room was quite disgusting for someone of our standards, but in their case, it was a place of paradise as they say in the book. This room was full of bugs and every time they returned to the room they notice that the bugs become greater and greater. Also, at one of their visits to the room they see a rat. This shows that even though the room is quite disgusting and uninviting to us, the two of them are desperate for alone time together.
9. Although Big Brother is very strict and punishing with people committing thought crimes, do you think that members of the inner party commit many thought crimes and strive for a democracy like that of our American government today?
The members of the inner party are much smarter than the reader gives them credit for. These people are in the inner party for a reason and that is to take care keep big brother on top of everything. If these people are smart they must have the ability to think for themselves. I think that these people are very guilty of committing many thought crimes. For example, Winston is what you could call an average member. He is not overly smart, nor is he stupid. Winston has the knowledge to think for himself and we find him thinking for himself quite frequently throughout the book. I think that every member of the party thinks for him/herself but they keep it concealed, and are more careful about it. Winston and Julia are very daring in acting the way they do up until the point where they get caught. They get caught up in loving each other and forget about the severity of Big Brother’s punishment. Although these are two examples of inner party members the reader could question whether acts of rebellion or thought crimes are committed a lot by the members. I think that there are many rebellious acts that happen throughout the inner party. If these acts are in fact happening, then these specific people are indeed longing for a “fairer” government or one that is like that of our government. The members do not know of any other place in the world having a government that is fair so maybe they don’t know exactly how it would be. Even though they don’t have anything to base their dreams on, they do wish for something less harsh than how Big Brother’s government. This longing for a better government could be categorized as a description of the brotherhood, but neither the party members nor the reader know exactly how big the brotherhood actually is. Maybe very few of the inner party members do actually know of the brotherhood, but maybe all of them have been recruited, and are in the brotherhood, the reader doesn’t know this specific question. My prediction for the end of the book is that not the proles will take over, but that the inner party will rebel and the proles will follow, sending Oceania into chaos and maybe ending up in a better style of government.
This website is very informative of Orwell’s goals in writing the book and tells a lot about the book. The site sums up the book and reviews everything so we understand what happened and it points out things that one may have missed. Also it shows how Orwell tried (and succeeded) in relating this book to our world and how the world could one day become, if we let it.
1. What is ironic about Winston and Julia's relationship? A: When Winston first saw Julia, he hated her. He was scared she was the Thought police, but he also visualized himself having sex with her. That is ironic because Julia is part of the Anti-Sex League, which is, teens against sex.
2. Why is the name “The Ministry of Truth” ironic? A: The Ministry of Truth is a very ironic name for the institution which Winston works at because they correct the past with things happening now. They also change the past so whatever Big Brother says is the truth, so they are basically making up lies.
3. According to Winston, the Proles are the only ones that could ever stop Big Brother, Why? A: The Proles are the only ones who don’t have to obey everything Big Brother says and they aren’t brainwashed to believe everything the government has to say, so they have the strength to stop this dystopia.
4. What role does sex play in 1984? A: In 1984, sex is just a chore. Members of the Party are supposed to have sex to try and create future Party members. They are not supposed to enjoy sex; they just have to do it.
5. What are the Junior Spies and how are they important to the Party? A: They Junior Spies are the children. The children are basically programmed to spy on their parents and listen to their conversations. The children are designed to turn their parents in to the Thought Police to be vaporized.
6. What is the Two Minute Hate and why is it effective? A: The Two Minute Hate is a gathering everyday that everyone must attend and at this gathering, hateful images are showed on a screen and everyone yells hateful things at the screen. It is used as a brainwashing mechanism so Big Brother can stay in complete control.
7. Who is Mr. Charrington and how is he different than what you think he is? A: Mr. Charrington is the nice, old man that owns the secondhand store which Winston buys his journal in. Mr. Charrington seems like he supports Winston’s rebel against the Party because he rents his upstairs room to Winston and Julia. Mr. Charrington assures Winston that there is no telescreens in the room, but in fact there is one behind a painting and Mr. Charrington is actually a member of the Though Police.
8. Why is Winston happy to find out that Julia has slept with many men? A: Winston is happy to find out that Julia has slept with many other men because now he feels like she wants to rebel against the government just like he does. Winston wants her to sleep with many men because he doesn’t want to think of her as “pure” or true to the Party. 9. Is it possible for the U.S. to become like Oceania? Explain. Would you rebel or give in to the government? A: I don’t think the United States government will ever become like Oceania’s government because we have many “inner” party members that would not let that happen. The United States enjoys its privacy and enjoys relations with others too much to ever let our freedom become slavery. The United States has always wanted there citizens to be unique and different in their own ways. If the United States ever did become like Oceania, I would definitely rebel because, like many others, I enjoy my freedom and our ancestors did not waste their lives dying for this country just so we could change completely and enslave our own citizens. Our economy would suffer from not being able to interact with one another and the citizens would also be mad for not being able to enjoy their romantic lives and not being able to have sex with whom ever they please.
10. http://www.gerenser.com/1984/analysis.html A: This website summarizes and discusses a person’s view on how Orwell created 1984. This person says how Big Brother resembles all the dictators of the world, such as, Joseph Stalin, Adolph Hitler, and Francisco Franco.
1) How would you describe the setting of this story? The story is set as being in the future. Mostly everything is simple as far as clothing and homes. The point is to make everyone the same and to not have your own ideas. And if you do have your own ideas you would need to cover them up to make it seem like you really are just part of the mindless crowd. When I think of this story I think of a dull blue or a grey kind of like the cover of the book; real dull and boring, nothing out of the ordinary. 2) What are thought crimes? A thought crime is a crime of basically having your own thoughts and not the thoughts that the big brother wants you to have. If you were to question why you do something or what was really going on with the “war” then that would be a thought crime. There are people set up to guard against this. They are called thought police. Those people look for people that seem to be in doubt of the system. 3) What role does the diary have? The diary is a symbol of his rebellion from the system. He goes into a shop that he is not suppose to be in, being that he is a party member. And he buys a diary just out of a whim. When he first brings it home he starts to write in it. He really doesn’t write much in it about his life or his views he just basically wants a way to relieve stress; at least that’s how I interoperated it. But by using the diary it means and starts a revolt inside of him. 4) What is a hate session? Winston talks about going to a session where everyone gathers to a tela-screen and they are shown pictures of people. Everyone in the room will start to yell and scream things at the screen. Winston describes it as being addictive as if he couldn’t help but be pulled into the action of the hate. This hating period is a way of brain washing the people further. In order to keep big brother in power he needs to make sure that everyone else that could ever be seen as a idle is squashed and learned to hate. 5) What does it mean to be vaporized? People in this world will just all of a sudden be gone and no one ever sees them again. Winston says that they always come at night to do it. It is a way of getting rid of someone and making it seem as if that person had never existed in the first place. This happens to people that question or know too much. They are usually thought criminals. Winston is scared that this will happen to him.
7) What role does the young woman play in the book? Winston sees a young lady and she is part of the anti sex league and he is interested in her. He becomes a bit upset because he knows that he could never have her because being with her would mean breaking all of the rules and plus she was part of the anti sex league so it would appear that she wouldn’t be into that anyways. He notices that she keeps watching him. He thinks that she is a member of the thought police so he becomes scared of her. He tries to avoid her but eventually they do meet and it turns out that she is the exact opposite of what she comes off to be. She is very much so into sex and having affairs. She is also not a thought police member. Her and Winston become an intimate couple, but of course they have to keep that hidden from everyone else. 10) http://hans.presto.tripod.com/isbn/1984.html This web page is a suggestion page for good books. It has posters for the book, questions about the book, and a brief summary of the book. Off this site you could even get collectibles from the book. It is dedicated to showing you a little bit of everything. It’s just a way to let you better understand of get a little taste of the book.
1. Who is Julia? A: Julia is a woman who works at the Anti-Sex League and is a thought criminal like Winston. They have had many meetings where they make love and talk of a changed world where they live the way they want. She is very similar to Winston because they both dislike the Big Brother and think for themselves.
2. Where does Winston work? A: Winston works at the Ministry of Truth. He takes old documents that contradict what Big Brother and the Party says and changes them into true statements or creates new people to say them. Basically he works for a ministry that is said to be truthful but he is creating lies for the party.
3. What is the Two Minute Hate? A: The Two Minute Hate is a meeting everyday that everyone is required to attend and yell at the screen. The screen has horrible images that people hate or have been told to hate by the party or been basically brainwashed by Big Brother.
4. Why will Syme eventually get vaporized? A: Syme will get vaporized because Syme is too smart to be able to help the party. Big Brother believes all he could do is hurt it. He says things that would be better unsaid, he has read way too many books, and he goes to the Chestnut Tree Café, the hangout of artists.
5. Why does Winston rent the room above Mr. Charrington’s? A: He rents the room above Mr. Charrington’s shop because that is where he can go to just kick it and relax. He also wants to get away from the Big Brothers constant watch of him on the telescreens because Charrington can not afford one. This is also where he brings Julia and O’Brian.
6. Who is Emmanuel Goldstein? A: He is the former leader of the party. He also happens to be Jewish. The Party does not like him so he was kicked out of the Party. They view him as dangerous and a threat to Big Brother. No one knows where he is but they think he is still alive in hiding.
7. Why does Big Brother use kids as spies? A: Through out the book children constantly spy on their parents and other adults because Big Brother promises them rooms full of chocolate and other wonderful things kids want. So if anything is said against the government Big Brother’s army of spies will turn them in. He uses kids because kids are easy to train they are already brainwashed from the beginning of the whole thing. Plus if you teach them now they become even more loyal as they grow up and are now your biggest followers with absolutely no chance of them wanting to revolt or start a riot against their Big Brother because when they were little Big Brother gave them a huge room full of candy just for being loyal to the party but my guess is that when their kids try to spy it would be the same thing.
8. Why is Winston turned on by Julia? A: He is turned on by her for a couple of reasons. The first one being that Julia is very much against the Party. People are not supposed to sleep together, unless it is for Big Brother and they do it as an act against Big Brother. Another reason of why Winston is turned on is because she has slept with over hundreds of men. This excites him because now he knows he has a partner in his fight against Big Brother and his government. Plus it shows there are other people out there like Winston and Julia who do not like Big Brother maybe this could be the start of a revolution so it maybe on like Donkey Kong for Big Brother.
9: How should we prevent 1984 from happening to us now? A: I believe in order to stay away from being in a 1984 like scenario we need to know that power is important but not that important. We need to understand what is going on in our life’s and with our government and never just say well it does not concern me because it most certainly should concern you. We need to never back down from our beliefs whether it be religion our just your favorite sports team. We must be willing to take lives for our rights to say what we want or do what we want when we want to do it. Let us not forget all the times we have came close to 1984 actually happening we were the start of a nuclear war with Big Brother and the Soviet Union away from being like 1984. We more than likely would not be here right now if we would have blinked first or maybe we were a loss away in World War Two to Hitler and his Nazi Army we could have zero freedoms today as we would all be speaking German with Nazi propaganda all over this great land of ours. But some people continue to ask “Why would you ever elect Hitler?” and “We will never do that!” Well guess what people we are almost in the same state Germany was some many years ago they were in major debt and then a charismatic guy with a goofy looking mustache promised people basic needs and a better life with them getting out of debt by creating jobs and roads. I believe we are in a bigger debt than Germany was so many years ago. So to help prevent 1984 from actually happening to us we need to continue to vote for the right candidates for offices ones who don not want the job for the power or for the glory just the right person for the job and not one who is going to promise the things Hitler did but if anyone would have read his book they could have seen it coming from a mile away because any one could have. So my final piece of advice is that maybe we should take a long look at the past before any rationale judgments about anyone are made because it could happen to us if we let it.
10. Internet based task
http://www.online-literature.com/orwell/1984/
I googled the numbers 1984 and with the exception for wikipedia websites this was the first site that came up and for very good reason it turned out to be a very wonderful and helpful site. This site had quizzes that you could take it had some blogs and forums that you could read to help you understand the book a lot better it really was a very wonderful site I will be going back to help me understand this book better.
Winston works at the Ministry of Truth. Winston works with a "speakwrite", which is a machine that writes as he talks into it. Winston finds old statements that contradict what the party says and changes them to ensure that the party is never wrong. This allows people to follow the party because they truely believe that the party is never wrong.
2. Describe the lady who passes a note to Winston.
The lady who passed the note to Winston was a dark haired girl who appeared very attractive to Winston. On the note that was passed was written "I love you". Winston first believes that the lady may be a spy, so Winston keeps a close eye on her and keeps his space.
3. Describe the Parsons.
The Parsons are Winson's neighbors. Mr. Parsons happens to work with Winston at the Ministry of Truth. The Parson children scared Winston when he stops over one night because the accuse him of being a thought criminal. The children are junior spies because they spy on everyone, even thier own parents.
4. Why is the Two Minute Hate important?
It is important for the party because they use it as a brainwashing device. The Two Minute Hate trains the people's mind to hate for no particular reason. Without the Two Minute Hate then the people may start to think for themselves instead of just doing what is asked of them.
5. How is Winston a thought criminal?
Winston is a thought criminal because the writes in his diary a lot. This is considered a thought crime because Winston thinks for himself and expresses himself on paper. Winston is also a thought criminal when he has an affair with Julia because he is exressing himself physically.
6. What role do the children play in the novel?
The children are very important to the government because they are brainwashed and brided into spying on everyone around them. The children even spy on their parents and wait for them to committ a thought crime and then be vaporized by the government.
7. Why does Winston keep a diary?
The main reason that Winston keeps a diary is because he is a thought criminal who wants to rebel against the government. The diary allows Winston to express himself in many different ways. This diary could also get Winston in trouble because if he expresses himself in the diary then he could be vaporized is caught by the thought police. The diary is also symbolic because it shows Winston's mental process as a thought criminal. The diary prevents also helps to prevent Winston from becoming brainwashed because he still thinks for himself and has an opinion about the government and its operation.
8. Why is Winston happy to hear that Julia is very sexually active?
Winston is happy because he now knows that he is not the only one who wants to rebel against the government. Winston doesn't have to fell like he is alone because he knows that Julia likes to rebel just as much as he does. Before he heard this from Julia, Winston thought that she may be a spy. However, after hearing that she has slept with many men he knows that he is not a spy. The fact that Winston is not alone in rebellion makes him very happy.
9. How is the government able to obtain this much control over society?
The situation described in this book is very similar to Hitler after World War 1. Both countries were in a recession at that time and needed someone to lead them throught the hard times of economic despession. Oceania turned to Brother for help just like Germany turned to Hilter. The people turned to these men because they were low on options and desperate for help. Brother probably started out with good intentions, just like Hitler until both started to gain some power. This power and authority led both of them to seek even more power, authority, and control over society. Since neither government had checks and balances in place, the power that Brother and Hilter had became almost alunlimited. When the power became almost unlimited is when Hitle and Brother's intentions turn from good to bad because they both probably thought that they could get away with almost anything. Many people from both countries soon became brainwashed into following the ways of Hitler and Brother. The only way that Hitler was stopped was through a physical war. Maybe that is the only way that Brother could be stopped. Another question that I wonder is whether this could happen in America. I think that the answer to that question is no because the checks and balances in our government wouldn't allow one person to obtain almost unlimited power. Instead, all of the power is split between many different people making it harder to control society like in Oceania. However, if the the wrong people are voted to represent the people in America then checks and balances may not be enforced maybe allowing one person to gain power. As long as America continues to vote for good politicians that represent them well then I think that we can avoid the situation the exists in Oceania.
10. http://www.newspeak.com/Newspeak.htm
This site debates whether or not we live in an Orwellian world. This site helped my to connect the book to our current situation in America. There a few interesting facts that are listed in the middle of the page that show how America could possible be turning into Oceania.
1 Who is Winston Smith? Winston is a small man, age 39 and lives in London. He is part of the Outer Party and is unhappy with his life because of how Big Brother Controls them. He thinks a lot about the world and how things used to be when he was younger.
2 What is Winston’s job? Winston works in the Records Department in the Ministry of Truth. He changes all records of the past that weren’t true from books, newspapers, and poems to make it so the party is always right. Once things are changed so the party was right all the old information is put in memory holes and destroyed forever.
3 Who is Big Brother? He is the leader of Oceania, and in complete control of the party. They put his picture on posters and the party slogan that says “WAR IS PEACE FREEDOM IS SLAVERY IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH.” The posters are everywhere just like Big Brother is everywhere. They have telescreens everywhere so he can watch your every move.
4 How does Winston first meet Mr. Charrington? Winston goes into a junk shop that is part of the black market. The shop is owned my Mr. Charrington. Winston finds a diary with a marble cover and buys it from the shop even thought it’s against the law. Mr. Charrington turns out to be part of the Inner Party and is a Thought Police.
5 Who are the proles? The proles are the lowest class in the social hierarchy of Oceania. They live under low surveillance from the government. Most of them don’t have telescreens. In the novel he befriends Mr. Charrington who he thought was a prole. The proles make up about 85% of the population in Oceania.
6 What is room 101? It’s a room at the Ministry of Love and it’s the final stage of torture and rehab. The room has the one thing that each person is afraid of or hates the most. When people go to room 101 they are very afraid and helpless.
7 What is George Orwell trying to tell us? He writes this book as a warning to what man kind can become. Unless we stand up for what we believe in and be individuals the government or anyone will be able to control everything we do and say. At the beginning of the book the mood of the story is dull and hopeless. There is no excitement because of how Big Brother has created a world. The people in 1984 are controlled like robots. Orwell wants us to see that it can happen to us if we let it. I think he uses the term being “vaporized” because people actually did get vaporized. He brings things into the book about what we already know and think about. We always hear about the dictators and how they are so mean but he wants us to make sure we are not the ones being dictated. I think he wrote this book for the younger generations to understand why we can’t conform. Everyone must remain individuals and think for themselves.
8 What is the role of the proles in the book? Orwell seems to imply that the proles are part of the society and have more freedom than the outer party has. As long as they don’t challenge the government they government doesn’t really mess with them. They don’t see the proles as having any value but what the proles don’t see is they make up the majority of the population and could over through the government if they wanted. The proles are not watched as closely as the Inner and Outer Parties. They don’t have to speak Newspeak and are permitted to do things that Party members can’t.
9 What are some examples that Big Brother has absolute power over Winston and everyone else in Oceania? In the novel 1984 the whole book is centered on the abuse of Big Brothers power. Orwell makes it a point to exaggerate the governments’ power so we realize what could really happen. The goal of the Inner party is to have absolute control over the live of all the citizens of Oceania. They don’t want anyone to have the ability to think for themselves. They do this by having secret Thought Police to catch you if you commit a thought crime, such as writing in a diary like Winston Smith does. They also have the telescreens to monitor everything they do. Big Brother doesn’t want any emotion or feelings from the citizens so he can control them anyway he likes. They even belittle there vocabulary by cutting adjectives out of the dictionary, by doing this no one can be creative with there words. There are signs posted everywhere with a picture of Big Brother and Winston says that anywhere you are it seems the eyes are looking right at you. Also on the posters they have the party’s slogan, War is Peace, Freedom is Slavery and Ignorance is strength. The last part ignorance is strength means that if people are stupid and unaware of what is really happening then it will be in the governments favor. If people don’t know what is going on and what is happening to them, they will let it happen. Most the people in the novel are brainwashed by the government and will believe anything they tell them. They even believe the simplest math problem 2+2=5 because the government told them it is. Winston works in the Records Department where he changes records all day to make anything the government said right, so they will never be wrong. At the end of the book they even make Winston believe that 2+2=5 because they torture you until you believe it. They use unbearable methods to get you to confess anything they want and to brainwash you so you believe Big Brother.
10 I googled 1984 and it brought me to this site http://www.gerenser.com/1984/analysis.html#Anchor-symbolism. I clicked on the symbolism because that is what I need help understanding. I thought it was interesting that Orwell could right this book and use so many different things to symbolize what he really wanted to say. For example the nursery rhymes, I didn’t know they had any significance in the book I just thought it was something to add to the story.
1. Who is Julia? --Julia is a twenty-six year old with short, thick, dark hair. She seems to just appear in the novel and remains a mystery to Winston for some time. She is a part of the Junior Anti-Sex League but it is later noted that she only does this for cover up, and that she indeed too hates the Party along with Winston.
2. Elaborate on the contents or the idea of the book that is forbidden. --Goldstein, who is the center of hate in this novel, wrote this book. The book tells the truth about the Party and about Big Brother. Any copies that are made and given out are immediately tracked down by the Thought Police and destroyed. The title of the book is The Theory and Practice of Oligarchical Collectivism.
3. What is the significance of the glass paperweight that Winston finds in the junk shop? --It is curved on one side and flat on the other. In the center is a piece of soft corral, which is surrounded by the glass that looks like soft rain. Winston buys it for it’s beauty and admires it. I think it might remind him of Julia, so that is why he purchases it. He feels that the glass is the sky and that the corral piece inside reflects himself and Julia living together in a carefree world.
4. Explain what Newspeak is. --Newspeak is the language of Oceania. Newspeak helps officials prevent others from arguing about the “truth” because there are not too many words or phrases that they can say to defend themselves. The language continually becomes shorter and more precise, and words are eliminated on a daily basis. This is their way of making the world more simple and easier to understand.
5. Two minute hate seems to be a popular thing in this novel. Act as though you are a member of one of these hate sessions and describe what you would see around the room. --The telescreen shines on the faces of hundreds of angry and furious people. It’s a daily routine; nothing out of the ordinary. Pictures, words, and sounds appear on the telescreen, and the people go crazy. Cuss words are shouted and things are being thrown all over the place. It’s total chaos. The main victim is Goldstein, with whom everybody despises. Everybody joins in when they see Goldstein’s face appear on the telescreen to show their hatred for the things he does and the lies he tells.
6. Explain who Big Brother is. What is his purpose in the novel? --Big Brother is the leader of Oceania and the symbol of the party. Throughout the novel, his face appears almost everywhere and his voice is heard through loudspeakers daily. He has black hair, a black mustache, and dark eyes that are said to follow the members everywhere, everyday. He watches everyone and maintains “structure”, so to say. Some members, particularly Winston, begin to doubt his existence.
7. Why does Big Brother forbid showing emotion among the party members? --Showing emotion is a crime in this novel. When showing emotion, a person expresses how they feel, and Big Brother wants everybody to feel the same, so to say, and be expressionless. This allows a person to develop individuality and rebel against conformity, which is what Big Brother does not want to happen. Everything is run by a set schedule, and conformity helps keep the routine under control and helps to avoid any problems. Big Brother sets the rules for the people and turns his lies into truths, and with people being able to show emotion and think for themselves, he fears he may be all figured out. He enjoys having people wrapped around his finger and brainwashed into the way he wants the world to be.
8. For what reasons does Winston decided to keep a diary? --Winston keeps a diary because he feels he is the only sane person left in the world. There is nobody else to talk to that will understand how he feels about the structure of the world. By keeping this diary, Winston is rebelling against Big Brother’s rules physically along with mentally. There are so many thoughts running wild through Winston’s head and he doesn’t know what to do with them, because he is living in a world full of zombies who wouldn’t care what he had to say, none the less know what he was talking about. His diary allows him to let his thoughts and feelings out, in a somewhat safer manner. This diary helps Winston distinguish between the past and the present, and helps him foreshadow the future. He cherishes the diary as though it is his friend, and sees it as an item of hope for survival in this brainwashed and messed up world he lives in.
9. Explain the different ways that Big Brother keeps close watch on the citizens. --Party members are constantly watching the citizens in hopes of catching some of them committing thought crimes or any sign of rebellion. This helps support the slogan “Big Brother is Watching You.” The telescreens are probably the most important means of surveillance. They are everywhere and always being monitored. The screens never turn off. Outer party members can dim the screen or turn the sounds low, but they are always on, and always watching. Senior members of the party have the ability to turn the screens off, but this is only for a short and limited amount of time. However, very few proles have telescreens, because they are looked upon as useless people who don’t pose a threat. There are also surveillance helicopters that fly around, peeking into windows to spy on the citizens and make sure everything is under control. Children are also used as a way of keeping close watch on the adults. Most adults are afraid of children because they have been trained to catch people doing crimes. They have been trained and encouraged to eavesdrop in order to find out who is following the rules and who is not. The Party members reward their children for their findings as if they are doing a good deed. All marriages are supervised in order to prevent sexual tension between people, and must be approved by a committee, who will deny the marriage if they feel there is any attraction between the couple. Sex is only permitted when making more party members, never for affection or pleasure. Attendance is vital also. The attendance at the Community Center is carefully monitored and party members should not be alone unless they are sleeping. Party members are forbidden to walk in the prole area, and if they are caught doing so, the police will question that person and check their papers. All letters sent out in the mail are opened and evaluated by the mail service. There is no privacy for any of the citizens and they are continually being watched. The only thing left that the party members are unable to monitor are the feelings that people feel inside, such as the affection that Julia and Winston feel toward one another.
10. http://www.corporate-aliens.com/articles/maintemplatedb.php?1984-in-the-21st-Century&art_id=71 (1984 in the 21st Century) --This website explains the different types of surveillance used in our world today, and compares it to the novel, 1984. I never really thought about just how much surveillance we actually do have in our world, and after reading through this, it made me start to wonder about our future. Everyday technology is advancing and machines are taking over the world. Cameras are just about everywhere. In some ways this is good, because it’s always nice knowing that crime is being monitored and it helps reduced any problems. However, could this possibly ever turn out to be the miserable world that Winston was forced to live in during the year 1984? This novel and this website make me begin to wonder…
Take Home Quiz 1. What is Orwell trying to tell us about this novel?
He is telling us about the dystopia that is taking place in the novel 1984. He is basically telling us what could happen or what has already happened in the real world today. I think every author relates there novel to the real world in some way.
2. Who is Big Brother and what is he trying to do?
Big brother is the guy in the novel who is in control of the party; he is kind of like our president he is in control of the nation or the party. I think he is trying to take away everyone’s freedom away by not letting them think and commit thought crimes. I think he wants to rule the world kind of like what Hitler did with the Nazis.
3. What are the Paroles?
The Paroles are part of the party that controls everyone. They are kind of like the police of Brandon, they watch over all of the citizens and society to make sure that know one is committing thought crimes, or doing anything that they aren’t suppose to be doing.
4. What is two minute hate?
Two minute hate is where all the people sit and look at a screen and they yell at it and scream. Big brother has them do this so they all stay stupid and so they don’t figure out how to do anything.
5. What does it mean to be vaporized?
This means that if you do something wrong like commit a thought crime or don’t listen to big brother you will disappear for ever. This probably means that you will be killed. Big brother is kind of a dictator and if you don’t listen to him you will vanish.
6. Why are they not able to commit thought crimes?
The reason they can’t commit thought crimes is because this place is kind of like a dictatorship. Big brother is in charge and if he lets people think for themselves and discuss with others, they might be able to over throw him and that’s not what he wants so he just wants everyone to stay put.
7. Why should we read the novel 1984?
We read 1984 to better our understanding on what the world could turn into if we don’t think rationale. The book is about people being controlled by the government which is kind of like what happened in the past with World War II and the Nazis. To keep ourselves from turning into this kind of government we need to think for ourselves, and be thought criminals. I think 1984 is a lot like the past, and a lot of people were killed. The government has all the power to control you so people are afraid to think for themselves.
8. What is the setting and the tone of 1984?
I would say that the tone of 1984 is really dark because the government rules over all the people. The setting takes place back in the early 1900’s where they don’t have a lot of technology to watch over the citizens. The book is written from 1948 to the future which is 1984. Orwell says in the novel that there are telescreens watching there every move to keep the citizens from committing thought crimes. I think the reason for the telescreens is to mainly scare the people so they don’t talk. They could have cameras or telescreens that don’t work and it would still stop the citizens from talking because they are that intimidated by the government.
9. What is your thought of room 101?
I think room 101 is very scary to the citizens in the novel. Room 101 is like a torture place for the citizens, or that’s what they think. I would say now days our room 101 is probably like a jail but worse because you are tortured. We really don’t have anything that is as bad as room 101. We have the death penalty but that is a short easy death, you don’t have to sit there and be tortured. I think room 101 is the unknown because know one actually knows what happens in there. They don’t know what happens because know one ever returns. The society assumes that the people that go in there are tortured and killed but if know one returns back out of there how does anyone know what really happens they just make an assumption. I guess them thinking about what’s in room 101, and making up stuff that happens there is kind of like what we do in society today. Our boogy man when we are little is like there room 101, we just assume that the boogy man exists, and that he is a scary creature. I think the unknown to all of us is always scary and makes people think and make up things. I think in society because of the unknown it makes people act in funny ways, like the novel all the people are afraid to talk out or to make thought crimes because they know they will go to room 101 so that keeps them intimidated by the government. We don’t really know what is in room 101 at this time in the novel but I think the government just tells them about it to scare them, and there might not even be a room 101. I think the government just tells them that to keep them from talking out.
10. http://www.online-literature.com/orwell/1984/ What does the book relate to?
I think this book relates to the real world around the time of World War II. It talks about the three different parts and how Winston is unhealthy, Big brother is kind of treating them like Hitler did to the Jews.
1: What is the purpose of the Junior Anti-Sex League? The purpose of the League is to try to abolish sex as a pleasurable act. They seek to demoralize people and convince them sex is wrong and an evil act.
2: What is Newspeak? Newspeak is the language that is trying to replace English in Oceania’s culture. Newspeak seeks to eliminate any individual thought left in the masses, making the process of conformity much easier.
3: Who is Mr. Charington? Charington is the owner of the antique shop. Since most antiques are contraband, the people who buy them are typically committing a thoughtcrime, and Charington is a disguised member of the thought police trying to catch his customers.
4: What is the purpose of the telescrenes? The telescreens have two main purposes, to spread Big Brother’s mind numbing propaganda and to keep an ever-vigilant eye on his people, to watch out for any thoughtcrimes or signs of faltering loyalty.
5: Who is Winston? Is he the typical definition of a hero? Winston Smith is the protagonist in the book who tries to rebel against Big Brother. Winston is not the definition of a hero; in fact he is an anti-hero. Winston is not strong, nor good-looking, he is the inverse of what you expect the protagonist to be.
6: What are the three slogans of the party and why are they ironic? Ignorance is Strength, Love is Hate, Peace is War. These are extremely ironic because the words seem like complete antonyms, but in making the people believe them to be truth, the party maintains complete control over its people.
7: How does Orwell create false scenes of serenity with Julia and Winston? Orwell uses very vivid imagery when he is describing Julia and Winston’s safehouses. The little grove by the stream seems calm and serene. The singing bird just adds another layer to that “safe” aspect that deceives them both. Inside of Charington’s shop, they seem to instantly fall into a place where there is no outside, there is no party. The telescreen is gone, the contrabands don’t matter, and Julia and Winston can enjoy themselves and each other without fear of repercussions. They seem in a perfect utopia, they get good coffee, can eat what they want, and yet something just seems too good. Orwell does a great job in foreshadowing that something may be wrong with the room while still making is seem like a paradise for Julia and Winston.
8: What details has Winston been trained to notice, and what things has he just been conditioned to ignore? Winston Smith has been brainwashed. Something just didn’t quite line up though, the gears didn’t quite click, and Winston started learning things. Smith pays attention to anything that would seem out of the ordinary, even if it’s a small gleam of the eye that he seems in O’Brian, or the obvious deviance of someone like Julia. Winston doesn’t really notice appearance at the start of the novel, but not long into it he starts getting flashbacks, such as the one of the prostitute he found. The newfound details are typically about how the people look, the whore, Julia, the woman hanging clothes, O’Brian, everything about their appearance now catches Winston’s eye. Winston also is trained to notice how important social rank and class is within the party and even outside of it.
9: Is Goldstein a real person, or is it an idea? And if he is an idea, was it created by the rebels or by the Party? Goldstein is not a person, at least, not anymore. The Goldstein that people yell and swear at during the Two Minutes Hate is not the Goldstein of the past, it is an idea, another way to further brainwash the people. By making Goldstein immortal, the party is giving the people another enemy, besides the one they are “at war” with. The party is bringing the fact that there is a rebellion out in the open to scare people away from trying to join it or rebel themselves. If the common people see that there is a direct target of hate, one of evil, they will not want to become one of that man’s ranks. The party makes Goldstein seem tangible, however, because it is far easier to despise something you can see, something you can store an image of. In some aspects, the party IS the rebellion, the party IS Goldstein, and they make the rebellion because it suits their best interests. Fear is the party’s greatest weapon; it can cripple both the body and the mind. Fear can induce false confessions, can make people turn against their loved ones, and can even build an empire. Without fear, what stops the common people from rebelling? The party wants power, that part is for certain, and they will stop at nothing to maintain their power, even expand it. Money means nothing to them, as they burn millions and billions of dollars into fake wars, fake rebellions, recreating the past, and building the future. If it costs them an inexorable amount of money to keep their Goldstein puppet in the public’s eye, what does it matter? Goldstein embodies the sickening, repulsing things that are “wrong” with Oceania. In the Two Minutes Hate, in Hate Week, inside every bit of propaganda that Big Brother puts out, hatred further brainwashes everyone into believing that these people are the enemy, instead of the party. Images of hatred are everywhere, in church, in government, in schools, and we are influenced by them every day. In school, every school has its rival, and in some subtle way, all schools are taught to hate those people. In church, the devil is always there, trying to lead people astray, bring them over to “the dark side.” Even within our own government this happens. We are taught, at some level, through the papers, or television, or other outlets, to hate people. Back in the day, those were the British… Followed by the Indians, followed by the Japanese, and the Germans, and the Saudis… On and on this chain goes, there is always an enemy in the public eye, because it detracts from problems within the society. If problems seem distanced, they seem less serious, but just as real as a problem right at home. Orwell’s selection of the “enemy” however, is slightly ironic. Goldstein, being a strongly Jewish name, is the generic scapegoat in the world. The Jew has typically been the one who is hated by all, for some realistic reasons, and for some completely absurd ones. Orwell, or “the Party”, chose a name the people can really relate to in a negative way. The “Hate events” in this book are closely paralleled with Hitler’s hating of the Jews, having rallies against them and propaganda and media to turn his people into mindless followers with only the goal of hate in their minds. By making Emmanuel Goldstein the reason for everything going wrong, Big Brother can maintain his squeaky clean image and seem omnipotent. It doesn’t matter whether Goldstein is real or not, Goldstein is there. Goldstein is the fear inside all of them, and the hatred they need to release, he is Big Brother’s devil, he is black to Big Brother’s white, Goldstein is the complete opposite of big brother, and if one is not real, neither is.
10: http://www.orwell.ru/ This site has a massive library of Orwell’s works, all free of charge to read online or even print off. Both Animal Farm, and 1984, are online in full, along with multiple translations in different languages. Also included are many of Orwell’s essays and Literary Criticisms. If you are interested in doing more digging into Orwell’s life, there are photo albums, a biography, and much more on him. This site has anything anyone would want to know about George Orwell.
1.) Why does the government make all the proles dress in the same fashion?
A.) The government makes all the proles dress the same to make them lose their own individuality and under mind them more. Dressing this way prevents people from looking up to one another. By doing it this way makes it so people can only look up to Big Brother.
2.) What does it mean when the party says “War is peace”?
A.) By saying “War is peace” keeps the people ignorant and tells them that the only way to achieve peace is by war. By doing this all the proles will naturally believe that if Oceania is at war that they are at peace.
3.) What is ironic about where Winston works?
A.) Winston works at a place called The Department of Truth. This is ironic because the Department of Truth is actually like The Department of Lies; they don’t tell the truth but rather lies. They lie about government affairs to keep the proles ignorant and make them never ask questions.
4.) What is the danger of Winston having a diary?
A.) In 1984, the government condemns open minds and forms of thought. If the government catches a prole thinking, the penalty would be death. Since a diary is a form of thought, Winston is in grave danger for having one. Though Winston is in the higher branch of government, he is not scanned or looked at as much.
5.) Why does the government have a “two-minute hate”?
A.) The purpose of a “two-minute hate” is to keep the proles angry at their enemies and to fulfill their other phrase, “Ignorance is strength”, by making them racist, war hungry, and to hate others. The “two-minute hate” has been going on for so long that is has become a habit, and many proles do not even realize it anymore.
6.) Who is Big Brother?
A.) Big Brother is the dictator of Oceania and in the last 30 years he has taken control of the proles by taking their minds away. Big Brother is feared by all and is seen by all the telescreens for most of the day. No one ever sees him in person, Big Brother is the one that came up with War is Peace, Ignorance is Strength, and Freedom is Slavery.
7.) What is the point for Winston keeping a diary?
A.) He keeps a diary because he believes people can still think for themselves. Since Winston was born there have always been thought-police. When Winston was little he asked his grandma what the world was like before thought-police. Winston’s diary makes him believe that the world that his grandma lived in can become reality again. Winston likes the thought of being a thought criminal and hopes that many more proles will become thought criminals along with him. The diary also represents change for later when he finds more thought criminals like himself that also want a new life. The diary keeps Winston going every day.
8.) Why does the government use children as spies?
A.) The government uses children to spy on their own parents. Children are very easy to manipulate into spying on their own parents because the children at such a young age are brainwashed into listening to Big Brother over their parents. When these kids spy on their parents, Big Brother will tell them that they will receive a roomful of chocolate or other toys. Parents that think for themselves usually do it in a secret area where only the children will know and the thought-police could never find them without the children’s help. The children do not care if their parents end up being killed as long as they get their treats.
9.) Can 1984 ever happen in this country?
A.) The chances of this happening in America are none. This country was made on the belief of freedom not slavery, peace not war, and strength not ignorance. Our founding fathers made a government which has many of checks and balances. There are three types of branches of government: Executive, Legislative, and Judicial. In other countries, for example Germany and Russia in 1940 did not have three different types of government. In America with the three types of branches if one were to become corrupt the other two would step in and solve the problem. Germany and Russia have one branch of government and if they were to become corrupt, 1984 just happened. In America citizens can vote for two of the three branches of government and the third branch is elected by the officials the citizens elected themselves. No one man can ever brainwash this country. 1984 is only one man’s crazy dream. This one man is George Orwell. Orwell wrote this book on the basis of trying to make sure that people don’t lose their freedoms, rights, and minds to governments. In America, freedoms, rights, and minds are what we live on and no man can take those away. Many Americans believe that our country is heading for a 1984. In recent years the government has taken more safety precautions by phone tapping and surveillance cameras to make sure that terrorist do not turn our country into a 1984. Orwell’s book depicts a country full of simple minded people that were not willing to stand up for themselves. Almost every industrialized country in the world could never fall into this book simply because the stand up for their own ideas. Orwell was a great man but foretold a future that will never see the light of day. GO AMERICA! Wooo….
10.) Students for Orwell
A.) This website is out to spread the word of Orwell and what he stands for. A group of kids run this site mostly liberal and think that the USA is coming to a end just like in the book. I think this group needs to calm down and read something else because 1984 is never going to happen. ya boy!!!!!!!!!!
1). Why has Orwell set such a depressing and gloomy setting/mood to this book?
Orwell sets a mood in this book that is repulsive right away in the beginning few paragraphs. He sets this book in such a depressing void so it will make a larger impact on you. He probably wants you to have a negative reaction to it. Without this negative affect the book wouldn’t make a lot of sense, he wouldn’t write about a cheery and bright future when you think, you die or when everything you do is controlled. Those particular things aren’t exactly the most blissful.
2). Describe Winston Smiths job, who works with him?
Winston works at the Ministry of Truth where they transform lies into the truth. Winston takes something Big Brother said that was false and makes it true by changing the records and destroying the lies. He has three special shoots, one is for written messages, one is slightly larger and is for newspapers and the last is for waste paper, it destroys the information that is no longer needed and that could possibly prove Big Brother wrong. Winston works with his comrade Syme who he thinks is going to be vaporized, a woman with sandy hair who he doesn’t really know, a guy with hairy ears named Ampleforth, a man named Tillotson and around fifty unmentioned workers. He doesn’t go into great detail on his co-workers except for Syme.
3). Why do the Parsons kids hit Winston in the back of the neck and what does Winston think about when that occurs? Why is he suddenly so afraid?
The Parsons kids are very ruthless and rambunctious. They were just playing around for now but they hit him in the back of the neck and accused him of being a thought criminal. He becomes really nervous because kids don’t know much and can be easily corrupted. Big Brother uses kids as little spies who think they are just getting a treat for turning in their parents to the thought police. They probably are un-expectant of the fact that their parents aren’t coming back. Winston fears they might figure out he is committing crimes and turn him in. He just suddenly realizes how dangerous it is to rebel but his is till persistent. He also stated that he feels bad for Mrs. Parsons because in a year or two her kids will be watching her for crimes. It’s a never ending fight for everyone, Winston gets an awakening I think and he realizes he has got to go all out or not at all.
4). Why does Winston think Syme is going to be vaporized?
Winston knows that if people act to smart then they can be categorized as a threat. Winston thinks that Syme is kind of stupid because Syme flaunts his intelligence and seems to be unaware of what could happen. Syme is Winston’s “comrade” and so they talk often, he feels simply that he will be vaporized because he is to smart. Big Brother will feel a threat from him and most likely order him to be vaporized. There isn’t really anything Winston can do but wait it out. 5). When Julia makes her appearance in the book why does Winston suddenly accelerate in his crimes?
When Julia comes into the story Winston seems more confident and continues to further corrupt against Big Brother and the Party. Julia brings him confidence and new feelings. She accelerates his rebelliousness far beyond what he was previously doing. Writhing in a diary had no comparison to the numerous crimes he had been committing with Julia. She seems to open up new doors for Winston, new ways to rebel against the Party. I think that Julia breaths life into Winston, she gives him the confidence and yearning to move on in his crime sprees.
6). Who is Katherine and what is her role in this book?
Katherine is Winston’s wife. They weren’t together for long for they separated and he has no idea where she is. When he talks about her they are on a hike in the woods and they get lost. They seemed to be all alone by a chalk quarry somewhere. Winston talks of her as a serious conformist, she is all for Big Brother, she is devoted. She hates it when the mere feeling of committing a crime comes up. She would have turned in her own husband to the thought police because she was so brain washed. He was never scared of being betrayed though because he exclaims that she wasn’t bright enough to catch his unorthodox opinions. They were married but in my opinion I’m not sure why.
7). Describe Winston, what is his character like? His beliefs? His feelings towards the party? Towards Big Brother and Goldstein? What are the things he does to rebel?
He is a 30 or so year old man in a world that watches his every move and thought. He works within the party at the ministry of truth. He wants to rebel against the party but if he does and gets caught he would be vaporized. Winston is a pretty quiet individual but when he finds a book with black pages he begins his first offense. He begins to write in it like a diary and that is a major thought crime. He would be vaporized instantly if he was found out. Not very far into the future he commits one of the worst crimes, a sex crime and he does it numerous times. He is in full out rebellious mode, it’s funny to me because when I first started reading this he seemed normal and sort of innocent. He has such hate towards Big Brother, he wants to join up with Goldstein and try to overthrow the Party or that’s my prediction for the book, I haven’t gotten that far into it.
8). When Winston first starts to write in his diary what are some of the things he writes about and why?
When he first begins he isn’t sure what to write about because he isn’t supposed to have his own thoughts. So to start off he doesn’t write much. Then suddenly he begins to furiously sketch onto the paper a story of murder. A man, a son and a woman shot and blown up, he stops and isn’t sure why he wrote it. His next writing was when he came back from the two minutes hate and he wrote several times, enough to cover a half page, “DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER.” He wrote it immediately and in neat capital letters. He then talked about being shot in the back of the neck and not caring at all but he was all for down with big brother. He also writes about a greeting to a free world and how he was feeling dead already for the thought crimes he has been committing. “Thought crime does not entail death: Thought crime is death!” He follows up with this quote. He also has written about his first sex crime with the old hag lady and how he the way she looked didn’t even matter he just wanted to commit another crime against the Party. So far that is some of what he has written. I have gotten a little more into the book and it seems to me that Winston writes a lot of his fears or the things he does to rebel, it is also a good way for him to vent.
9). Relate this book to 2008, what similarities does our time have to 1984?
I think that there is a large possibility in the future for something like 1984 to occur. There are a lot of similarities of 2008 to the time in “1984.” For instance in this day and age I observe or just randomly notice the numerous amounts of cameras all over now. They are every where, from the restaurants to the shops to parking lots even. They seem to be for security for businesses but what if they weren’t, what if they were the very beginning of telescreens. We don’t know for sure, some people believe that the government is actually always watching them. Another comparison or assumption was between out presidents and Big Brother. How did B. B. come into power, was he elected or did he some how just take control like Hitler. I’m thinking it might have been an election gone wrong. A conspiracy to grab hold of power and take over completely. Lets think about it, are our elections safe and secure, this meaning that if lets say Obama wins, can he take over? I don’t think that anything is for sure these days, people always seem to find loop wholes. Also with technology rising that’s also going to help on the road to world corruption. The slogans that B.B. has I have also connected with some of Bushes slogans, like “war is peace” and “a safer world and a more hopeful America,” I think this portrays war, a safer world means you most likely are going to have to fight to achieve it. It’s a long shot but there are microscopic connections that could grow to be much larger connections, but that’s just my opinion. There are also small things like curfews, cops, and little kids that like to nark on people but not for the same reasons, but the bad reasons could come. I’m feeling like the U.S. could really become “1984” or something a lot like it, it could happen, there are some really crazy people out there.
10). www.glug.com/homework/1984.html “Probably the most important thing to remember while reading “1984” is that Orwell never intended the book to be a prediction of the future.”-Brian. He thought that Orwell, besides the fact that Orwell wasn’t trying to predict the future, Brian(no last name) thought he was on track on what could happen in the future, it is possible that this world could come to that. He also thinks that this book was a warning to people of the signs that Orwell had seen. I really believe and I guess agree with Brian that this book was some kind of warning to the world. It really could be warning because we are very capable of accomplishing a world like “1984.”
#1. How come the proles aren’t watched as closely as the party members?
Big Brother obviously doesn’t think that the proles are smart enough to rebel against him. There is probably enough people with a hatred for Big Brother to have a rebellion but they are watched so closely that it would be impossible to organize an attack. Even the proles are watched. Although not as closely as party members are. The proles still have to worry about party members following them, and in Airstrip One everyone is watching each other so if the thought police don’t get you someone else probably will.
#2. Why has Julia slept with so many men?
Julia looks at intercourse as no more than rebelling against Big Brother’s rule. Her hate for Big Brother is what created her love for sex, and this is why she is sneaking around with Winston. However, I do believe that she thoroughly enjoys making love to Winston. I also believe that Winston is more invested in the relationship than Julia is and I’m predicting a “break up”.
#3. Why does the Party constantly lie about the past?
In order to have party members and proles completely brain washed the Party changes books and articles magazines to make themselves look good. Even the most serious subjects like wars are simply made up because everyone has anger and would like to take it out on someone else. Big Brother knows this and he must constantly have an enemy so that his people hate the enemy and not him.
#4. What is the significance of Winston’s diary?
The reason the diary is important for Winston is because it is one object in his life that let him express himself. Lucky for him he also has a place in his house where the telescreen can not see what he is doing. The store where Winston bought the diary is also important. The diary is the only thing that he has to keep himself sane.
#5. If telescreens are not mandatory why do the party members have them?
With a powerful leader such as Big Brother many people simply want to show their loyalty to the party. They want Big Brother to like them the best and anyone in the party that does not have a telescreen would surely be investigated.
#6. How 1984 similar to Lord of the Flies?
Both of the two groups have created dictatorships ruled by evil males. Winston is like Ralph in that he does not follow Big Brother’s ways, and just as Ralph doesn’t have enough power to take over neither does Winston. They both know what is right but they are surrounded by brainwashed people.
#7. What examples did George Orwell use to show us how controlling Big Brother is?
The most obvious way that Orwell shows us are the telescreens. Not only can these futuristic TV’s watch you but they can also hear you. Most of the people that are in the party have telescreens although it is optional. Some people like O’brien can actually turn their telescreens off. The proles however don’t have telescreens at all. Perhaps this is why Winston thinks that the power lies within the proles. If they aren’t being controlled than they must have more power than those who are constantly being monitored. Telescreens are not the only thing that the people of Oceania have to worry about. The thought police are a group of people working for Big Brother to prevent crimes against the party. These are called thought crimes and people can simply be vaporized just for thinking about doing something.
#8. How well did George Orwell predict the future?
I would say that George Orwell predicted the future very well. Even at the time that this book was being written some of the things he described had already happened. Now that more time has past we see even more of these events taking place. Orwell might not have been perfect but I would say his version of the future is fairly accurate. We may not have telescreens in every room that we are in but look around when your at school or in a store and you will notice that we are certainly on our way. There are even satellites that we can’t see that could take pictures of where we live, and watch what we are doing. Our own government can now listen to every word we say on the telephone without us knowing. We are already being watched and controlled but thanks to Orwell I don’t think it will ever compare to Big Brother’s grip on society.
#9. What does this book show us about the importance of our civil rights?
As Americans we have civil rights that we are all aware of and some that we may not be aware of. What has happened in the novel 1984 is that the government has taken all power away from the common people. Big Brother and the party have brainwashed all these people to forget about anything but benefiting the party. Even the most intimate and personal things like having children are only done for the party. If you live in Oceania and your not a prole than you work for the party. Winston himself hates the party and yet he works for it by making up lies that will someday become the past. Without the freedom of speech no one can write about events that have happened. So if everyone only hears one side to the story than they will most likely agree with that version. Especially if that story was made by the people controlling your every move. Even the right to peaceably assemble has been taken away from the people of Oceania. In America we use this right to form groups with common beliefs trying to better life in our country. However in Oceania meeting with other people for your own benefit is not only unheard of, it is very dangerous. The thought police are constantly on the look out for anyone out of place. Therefore nobody in Oceania can form a protest or even a support group, without being vaporized immediately. In the former U.S.S.R people who spoke out against the government where killed. Also this government told its people lies about war, and the outcome of battles. The kind of control Big Brother has in 1984 isn’t comparable to much for us in the United States, but people in communistic countries would beg to differ. Our civil rights are the one thing keeping us from living a life like Winston’s. These rights are crucial to our freedom and we must never give them up.
#10. http://youtube.com/watch?v=Z4rBDUJTnNU
This is a movie trailer for 1984. It does not say anything particularly interesting. However it is fun to see the characters portrayed. The film maker has his version of Big Brother and Winston and I like that he was creative while sticking to the script. I haven’t seen the movie but the trailer appears to be very similar to Orwell’s book.
George Orwell makes a depressed downtrodden mood by the kind of descriptive words he uses when describing the streets and the smells of Oceania. The colors he paints in our minds with how grungy the walls are, and how filthy the streets are. How he describes the gray of the walls in his house and the grayness of the party’s clothes makes me feel bored and dull and lifeless, almost as if I had been sitting in a fluorescent office all day, doing paper work leading a dull dull life. He also portrays this downtrodden way of life by the colorfulness of the country side and how cheerful it is and how happy Julia and Winston are and it contradicts with how they act when in the city. Winston feels free and unburdened but when in Oceania he is sad and lonely and always trying to keep control of the little details that will give him away. Julia enjoys having sex and dances and kisses and listens to the bird, but when she’s back in the city she participates in the things she is absolutely against. The anti-sex league the spies and marching and making banners for the party. The descriptive words Mr. Orwell uses are the clues he gives us to make us feel downtrodden and lifeless.
How would the government gain control like in Oceania? I think that first there would need to be a war, but not just any war. A war that was internal and everybody was suspicious of everyone else and they voted away all the people’s rights to the government so that the government could keep them safe. Then the government comes up with a great idea! The telescreen, so they can watch everything anybody does. It stops all the sabotage, it protects all the people, and it stops all the crimes before they even happen. But the tricky part is how does the government start getting all of its subjects brainwashed? Well since the people have given up their right to vote the leader becomes a dictator and not a president so he makes the rules. First he’ll make sure his power can’t be taken away from him so he stays in power, and the best way to do that is to ensure his people that he is the best for them and show them proof of all the great things he’s done. But freedom of the press is gone; he owns it he can print whatever he wants. He makes the statistics; he can create anything he wants. Ex: Quotes from the future;” Terrorists stopped! The economy is booming and bigger than ever! The invention of the telephone by our great leader is the best invention of the century!” And if anyone even thinks of arguing with the press they’re vaporized. They become an unperson, ceasing to exist and no one cares, because that’s another step in the taking over the country. Violence is the key, they’ll try to numb our conscious’s making it easier to kill and be killed. No one will miss anyone anymore, no more love, no more caring, just blank everlasting grayness in everyone. But the other key factor in taking over a country is the young. They’ll start brainwashing the kids just like the Parson’s kids; the teachers will train their kids with weapons for the war front, (just like the Japanese train their young to hate the Taiwanese in their schools.) They’ll brainwash them to think of the country before their family, to look for the best interests of the party. Even tell on their parents for anything said against the government. It’s possible for this to happen and it’s scary to think some of these things have already been put into place. We need to remember never to give up our rights because if we do we will end up like the people of Oceania, brainwashed, miserable, and beaten.
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080215144342AAPltKC is the website I found and it’s a forum of people who like to talk about the philosophy of this book. I find it interesting that he was a socialist in the beginning of his life and turned to write terrible books about it and found out that he absolutely hates totalitarianism and Stalinism and things along that line. He fought for Democracy in the Spanish Revolution and got wounded there. I found this website to be very interesting.
Winston is the protagonist and main character in the novel. Orwell wrote his novel so that we would experience his visions of the future through Winston’s eyes. Winston is very curious and a thought-criminal and he desperately wants to understand how and why the Party can have so much power and control.
2. Who is Julia and how is she important in the novel?
Julia has sexual relations with the main character, Winston. She is also the only person Winston can trust that truly rebels against the Party and Big Brother. Julia is sensual, needy, and what some may call a ‘free spirit’. She cares more about having sex and not getting caught then about figuring out the party and how to work the system.
3. Who is one of the antagonists in the novel?
O’Brien is an antagonist in the novel. He seeks out Winston and convinces him that he is a member of the Brotherhood and asks Winston to be a part of the Brotherhood. Only later to find out that he is actually one of the thought police. Which is revealed later when Winston is abused and brainwashed in his jail cell into agreeing with the party by no other then O’Brien himself.
4. Who is Big Brother?
In the novel Big Brother is never actually seen. It is not know if he exists or not. The people in the book have no idea and the readers have no idea. All around the city there are banners saying Big Brother is watching you and that is how it is believed that they are always being watched by Big Brother. He is the ruler or Oceania. His face is everywhere even on coins and he is hated by Winston and the Brotherhood.
5. Who are some secondary characters?
Parsons is an overweight, annoying, and boring man who is a coworker of Winston’s at the Ministry of truth. He wife is also dull and his children are junior spies. Goldstein is an influence in the novel but never actually appears in it. The Party says he is the leader of the Brotherhood. The Party portrays him as a danger and evil man.
6. Who is Syme?
Syme is a smart and outgoing man who works with Winston at the Ministry of Truth. He works with language and in the beginning of the novel he is working on a new edition of the Newspeak dictionary. Winston thinks that Syme is too intelligent to stay in the Party and he is right because later he is ‘vaporized’.
7. How is Big Brother never seen yet so successful?
Big brother, or just the Party, is a master at manipulating and brainwashing the Oceania people. The Party uses tactics very similar to those of the people in Harrison Bergeron. They put so much brainwashing power and psychological capacity on the people that their minds cannot reach any level of independent thought. The telescreen in everyone’s room not only is watching them all the time but is also sending out messages saying that everything the Party does is correct. Even when they mess up the telescreens announce that they did something right! Its madness there and they are the masters of it.
8. Does the Party have so much power they could create or destroy even the existence of any human or event?
Yes, very much so. The Party controls all sources of information given to the people. They could rewrite every newspaper that has ever been written. That is how the irony of the Ministry of Truth is so ‘out there’. The people are not allowed to keep any photos or records of them in the past, which is a law of the Party. The Party needs to be able to have the power to erase any one from ever existing so if there are photos or documents they need to be destroyed just in case the person needs to be destroyed. Due to no photos or documents people’s memories become weak, only allowing the Party easier access to total brainwashing abilities.
9. How can novels like 1984 make anyone, even criminals or George Bush, analyze what they have now and what could come in the future?
I think 1984 brings a whole other level of thought to any human. The thought of totalitarianism does not really cross everyone’s minds all that often. The novel makes you truly consider that we have now and how something that this novel is absolutely possible, even in the near future. We analyze now about how we are watched constantly on monitors in the hallways and in stores and parking lots. We also recognize that we are constantly watched and monitored to see if we are following a bogus set of rules. The novel is real in many ways. Just to a different level of extremes. We are watched to make sure someone is punished if they disobey the rules. Well, it is the same in 1984. It is just that the rules we have are logical and we agree with them. The rules in 1984 are absurd and if they were to exist in the near future, there would not be enough jails to hold all the thought criminals. I think that totalitarianism is not possible in the near future because this ear or generation of people would not put up with it. We have the hicks who would rather shoot Big Brother and go to jail then sit and not be able to farm and enjoy life. There is also the military that would rather die for their country then follow wretched unconstitutional laws. Teens would go mad without gossip and TV and relationships. Men would loose their minds without sex even being possible, ever. The entire United States would be a brotherhood. Whoever would want to be the next Big Brother wouldn’t make it past day one. But with future generations, no one knows. No one will ever know until that time comes. 1984 was predicted for 1984 so can we truly predict totalitarianism?
10. The Yes Dance on Youtube.com
The Yes Dance has everything to do with 1984 and everything not too. This is an amazing example of how America is free! This is one of our forms of entertainment. And we all love it! If 1984 were to happen things like these men doing this dance just for fun will never happen. And if that day comes then I do not want to be alive for it. If this were in Poland during the holocaust, these men would have been tortured. For now, all we need to do is enjoy what we have in life. And these men are not gay; they just made up this day for a festival and to entertain the crowd.
1.) Who is Syme and why does Winston believe that he may be vaporized?
Syme is one of Winston's "friends" (if there was such a thing), who works in the Research Department. He was a philologist, or a specialist in Newspeak. He seems to support the Party in every way. He enjoies the hangings he claims especially when the feet are left untied. But he is too smart for his own good and Winston believes that this will lead to his vaporization. Although he in on Big Brother's side he is smart enough to find a way to betray the party.
2.)Why does Winston hate his wife? Winston has a wife, who he did not choose and who he despises. He has not seen or spoke to her in many years, yet is still married to her because the party frowns on divorce. There was no romance, they were simply married to reproduce new party members. Katharine was her name and she had no interest in being with Winston besides to do her duty of "making a baby" for Big Brother.
3.) What can one conclude from Winston's reoccuring dream? During his dream Winston hears someone say, "We will meet in a place where there is no darkness." Winston believes that it is O'Brien saying this to him and hopes it is. at the two minutes hate Winston caught a glimse of O'Brien and believed he felt the same about Big Broter and the Party as Winston does. The dream could be foreshadowing a meeting between Winston and O'Brien. I think that Winston is right about O'Brien, but then again he was wrong about Julia. The "darkness" could be symbolizing the party, telescreens, or anything having to do with Big Brother.
4.)Who is Parsons and what is significant about him and his children? Parsons is one of Winston's neighbors who has two children and a wife. Winston says that Parsons will never be vaporized because he is too stupid and follows whatever the party says. Unlike Syme however he is brainwashed by the party and is too dumb to be able to rebell. He is very proud of his children who are amature spies. The kids pride themselves on obeying the Party and everything it represents. They call Winston a "thought criminal" and pretend to vaporize him. This might be a foreshadow to what might happen if Winston continues to write in his diary like he just had been before the encounter.
5.)Agree or disagree with the Party's slogan. "War is Peace Freedom in Slavery Ignorance is Strength" I do not agree with this but I can understand how the people of the party do. The ones who could know any different can not remember and the others have never known anything else. They do not know real freedom, they have never not been in slavery of the party and they are ignorant of thier ignorance.
6.) What is ironic about the party? The party members have a workout routine everyday that pushes each of them. But when Winston decribes all the other males from the canteen they are fat. Unlike the Nazis the party members are stupid and not in shape. They are not good looking and athletic like Hitler wanted his party to be. These party members are not the aryns that Hitler would have choosen. This is because the Big Brother party does not want attraction and rebellion.
7.)What is ironic about Julia? Julia is a twenty-six year old woman who Winston hates for no reason when he first sees her. Winston hates all women,especially the young pretty ones, because he thinks that they soak up everything the party says like sponges. Julia also says she hates women for the same reasons. At one point Winston hates Julia so much because he thinks she is a member of the thought police. He even plots murdering her with a cobblestone. She wears a scarlet sash around her waist, which is an emblem of the Junior Anti-Sex League. This is all very ironic because after Winston starts meeting her ,in secret, in the country they engage in sex and she does not behave at all like a woman. She says that she has had sex, "hundreds of times", and that it had always been with party members.
8.)Where does Winston find himself on his walk? Winston discovers that on his walk he is drawn to the juck shop from which he bought his diary earlier. Above the junk shop which is an old antique shop, there is a room where the owner and his late wife had once lived. Winston contemplates asking the man if he could rent out the room for himself. There are no telescreens in it. There are also pictures on the walls. One in perticular reminds him of something he can not remember. The room probably feels like a sanctuary to Winston because it is so different from his own life, which he hates.
1) Katharine was the quiescence of the party values. She was incapable of doing anything against the party. She spoke in their phrases and that was all she ever said. No thoughts of her own were ever produced inside her head, she was completely brainwashed.
2) Passing notes is a way Julia and O’Brien are able to first talk to and contact Wilson. Both of them do this in front of the telescreens perhaps in order to make it seem less suspicious, but also endangering them because it gives the screen a better look.
3) Julia has a lifestyle that Wilson desires which makes him desire her even more than just because she is good looking. She is able to show and teach him by example and help him to have the kind of life he wanted by living more freely.
4) Winston is fully against the party in his head and is starting to convert that into a more physical rebellion. He is the symbol of the middle class working to keep the government from completely going out of control. Although in the book the government is in nearly complete control, Orwell is showing us how it is up to the people to make sure the government doesn’t completely control their lives.
5) The Beetle Eyed Man is the man who always seems to be watching Wilson. He is like the people you are afraid of when you are about to do something wrong; the people who see everything. He is similar to the telescreens and gives Wilson an additional feeling of being watched.
6) The Two Minutes Hate is a session where there is a mandatory hating of Goldstein. Almost nobody knows who he is, and yet they hate them with their whole being. It is a good way for a government to brainwash its people and prevent them from wanting to flee the country in search of a better life.
7) The descriptions of the paths to their hideouts that Julia gives to Wilson are amazing. They would be hard to remember because they are quite long, but Julia is able to simplify them and give only the necessary details. She is almost like a military advisor in the way she gives her directions. She is very knowledgeable in the ways that they can evade the Thought Police and stay out of trouble. The directions are very calculated. There are in fact four paths that they take in order to get to one spot. Each take a different path to the chosen spot, and each take a completely different route home.
8) Sex is a key instinct of most every species on the earth. It allows a species to reproduce and carry on their population. Without it a species could not survive and would go extinct. It is on our minds all of the time, whether it is a split second thought that we won’t remember in another 30 seconds or a calculated decision, it is unarguable that we think about it often. When having sex there is a deep emotional attachment to the other person. This attachment and unity is what Big Brother is trying to destroy by teaching that sex is a bad and dirty deed. It is necessary to start to brainwash kids about sex before adolescence and the hormones start flowing, because at that time things would not be able to be controlled by the Party. The sex impulse is one of the strongest in human nature, and thus the most important one for Big Brother to control.
9) The appearance of people is very important today and in the book. Everyday people get up and get themselves ready for the upcoming day. Most don’t just get up and go to work or school without showering or any thought towards how they look. They shower and make sure their hair is presentable. It is also important to brush your teeth to make sure your breath isn’t repulsive. Smelling good is often pretty important and can make a lasting impression on someone. Looks are often more important to females than they are to males. They not only have to make sure their hair looks good, but they will also straighten or curl it too. Then they often put stuff on their eyes and other kinds of makeup. It is a feminine desire to want to look and smell nice. Julia is the same way. When Wilson and her are meeting above Mr. Charington’s store Julia puts on makeup. Julia not only puts rouge on her cheeks, but also uses some sent. These are acts against Big Brother, not because of what they are, but because of what they accomplish. By putting on makeup Julia makes herself even more beautiful and also more desirable. Big Brother is against having feelings towards one another. Males and females are only supposed to be married so they can reproduce for the purpose for the party; any actual attraction between couples is not allowed. By applying makeup and using sent, Julia is able to go against the party once again as well as fell more like a woman. Looks are very important to people. They give us uniqueness and reflect our personalities. Our appearances are how we are able to express ourselves and show the world who we really are.
10) The website I chose is http://www.newspeakdictionary.com/. This site is very interesting and put together well. They apply things to the real world and link them back to the book. There are also many interesting facts about the book too. The site is also very visually appealing.
Tyler Merkel Take Home Quiz College Bound English Period: 7 1) What is the name of the language created and supported by the Party and why is a new language significant? Newspeak is the name of the language created by members of the Party. A new language is significant because it allows the Party to further brainwash its citizens. The Party is now eliminating words from the former vocabulary and replacing it with words and ideas of their own. 2) What are the rules of marriage and what is the purpose of a married couple? All marriages must be approved by the party before they are allowed to take place. A married couple exists only to reproduce for the Party. Sex should not be found joyful or desired. It is an act of duty, performed only to serve the Party. 3) What is a thought crime and how are thought criminals dealt with? A thought crime is any thought or action performed by a citizen of the Party. These criminals may be discovered by a simple action such as a guilty look, a delayed response, or a incorrect answer. Thought criminals are typically vaporized but sometimes just taken, only to reappear long afterward. 4) How do children serve the Party, and what do their services prove of the Party’s power? Children serve the Party by turning in their parents or other adults that they suspect of being possible thought criminals. They are promised rewards for serving their country. This proves that the Party is only going to get stronger because they have already begun brainwashing the future generation. 5) What are telescreens and what are their purpose? Telescreens are an instruments used by the Party to control members of the Outer Party. They are capable of seeing and hearing words or actions of these members. They also provide updates and news flashes the Party wishes to network. 6) What is double think and why is it important? Double think is a method used by the Party in order to erase history. The concept of double think is to rewrite history with predictions and statements made by Big Brother. This is important because it allows the Party to control the past. If you can control the past, you can control beliefs, laws, and ideas that found a country. 7) How does Winston rebel against the Party and what does he expect to happen to him because of his rebellion? Winston rebels against the Party in a number of ways. The simplest way he does so, is with simple thought crimes. His thoughts do not coincide with those the Party finds honorable and acceptable. Another way Winston rebels is by keeping a diary. The Party finds this unacceptable because they want to be in complete control of the past. Another record, especially one that does not agree with the Party’s record may jeopardize their reputation. Winston thinks that he will one day be vaporized for his actions. He is constantly expecting the Thought Police to show up at his door and end his existence. 8) How does Orwell demonstrate the power and influence possessed by the Party? Orwell demonstrates the Party’s power and influence through many different ways. The Party is capable of controlling the past. They rewrite records and documents to make them say whatever they so desire. This process is called double think. The Party also has so much power, that they are able to change the language used by the population. They use a new language called Newspeak to do so. Newspeak cuts words from the old vocabulary, therefore reducing thoughts. One more influence the Party posses is the one over the children of Oceania. Most children adore the Party. Some go as far as exposing their parents as thought criminals in order to serve their country. 9) Explain the importance of double think to the Party and provide examples of how similar events have occurred throughout history? Double think is important to the Party because they can control the past. If one can control the past, they are able to also control the present and the future. Using double think, the Party erases or rewrites records and documents. By doing so, the Party is always right and never wrong. The past can appear exactly as they wish it to. Wrong predictions can be altered and made right. Actions can be told in a different way and events can be erased completely. The citizens of Oceania become more and more brainwashed and believe more in the capabilities of the Party. They only see the positive points of the Party and never see the wrongs or mishaps the Party commits. This has occurred in our world and citizens of our world have allowed it to happen. Most times, these events occur in communist countries. People have allowed their government to change events in their records, and have allowed governments to control their past, present, and future. The most important idea of double think is that if the past is changed, the future is changed. 10) http://www.online-literature.com/orwell/1984/ This website is simply a review of George Orwell’s 1984. One of the quotes on this website that I found especially interesting was, “he who controls the past, controls the future.” Double think interests me in this book and I think that this quote helps to describe the importance of double think.
1.What are the 3 party slogans and what do you suppose they mean?
-The three party slogans are war is peace, freedom is slavory, and ignorance is strength. I thiink that they try to prove to have the war going on is keeping peace in their city. I think that freedom is slavory means that if you are controlled you are gion to get more out of life.
2.Where does Winston work? why is it important?how does he feel about his job and why?
-Winston works at the Ministry of Truth and it is important because he made whatever the government/ministry said true and basicly deleted the past that everyone knew. He feels that his job is useful to the party but he would like to know the truth about what happened in the past.
3.Why is it important for the party to have a class of proles and what function do they sever?
-I think it is important for the party to have paroles because it shows that the ministry has control over people and how much power the ministry has. I think that the function of the paroles is to show that the people working for the ministry, that life can be worse than what they have. Also, I predict that they could possibly try to over throw the ministry
4.why is it important that the history schoolbook be changed? and to find the truth where would you go?
-it is improtant to change the history in the books because you have to make what the ministry actually said true and anything that controdicts the ministry gets changed. To find the truth you can go and look at the records that you are changing before they get thrown down in the memory hole. Also, they change the book to convince children at a young age that the ministry has done good for london.
5.Who does winston offer a drink to and why?
- Winston offers a drink to the old man with blue eyes. he offered him this drink to try and get his past out of him. Winston also does this to try and see how london was before "big brother" took over.
6.Why is the object winston buys symbolic and why is the color important?
- The object winston buys is a paper weight. The paper wieght is clear. The paper wieght is a symbol of winston's way to connect to his past. I believe at some point in time in this book becasue the paper weight is clear and made out of glass it will break and show that winston will never really know his real past.
7.Would you want to be a party member or a parole and why?
- from what i have read i would want to be aprt of the parole party. i would want to be apart of the parole party becase it seems to me that they have more freedoms than the party members. i would deal with the fact that i would get bombed because i wiould still be able to think. i would be able to think and have a less chance of getting caught. also, i would be the majority of the population and with the right leader we could be the ones that over throw the big brother. that is why i'd want to be a parole.
8. why did winston have sex with a prostitute even though it was against the rules? would you have?
-I think winston had sex with the prostitute because sex is human nature. sex is a pleasure. he never had the pleasure to have sex with someone who wanted to do it just because the wanted to not becasue they had to. if i was winston i wiould have probably done the same thing. he is a thought criminal and if i lived in that time i would hope to be the same and to not be controlled. i would hope just like him i would try to find a campanion that would be a thought criminat with me.
9.what is some of the similarities and differences of today's world to "1984"?
-Some similarities are that we are at war but sometimes we do not actually know what is going on in the war. our government today is starting to get more and more powerful and is trying to take more control over the people in the country whis is the same as in "1984". also, some similarities would be that some of the people in our contry today want to have people in our convtry today want to have chips put into people so you can see where they are at at all atimes. also, some people want to just have bar codes on their wrist to have all their personal info. and all you do is have to scan it into anything. also, some similarties would be that some people do not believe that what has happened in the past has not happened and their are books saying it has not happened . those books are trying to rewrite some peoples past even though they believed or saw it happen. also in some cluters believe that sex is bad and is only used for reproduction like the ministry tries to instill in the people in "1984". some differences are that our government still lets us be free and in "1984" they have basicly stripped their people of alot of rights. today, in our society we get to say and think what we want. in the book they get told what to belive and they can not say what they want or think what they want becasue they could get vaporized. also, today, we get to marry for love and not just to reproduce. today, we get to have sex whenever we want and get to enjoy it and not think of it as gross and only used for reproducing. today, we don't bomb our won peopole just because they are poorer or not at smart as us. we also don't rewrite books to prove what our governemnt has said becomes true. we also get to eat whatever and whnever we want and we don't get rations that can be cut at anytime for no reason what so ever.
1.Why has Parsons so easily succombed to the zombification of society?
Parsons among others has succumb to big brother because their awareness of the outside world, if there is an outside world. If not, they are totally ignorant about what used to be.
2.What is Winstons job and why is it important for him to keep the establishment secure for big brother?
Winston basically changes the record books and keeps the establishment from being wrong, he changes wording to change the story and sometimes he completely makes a story up.
3. Describe the Parsons.
The Parsons are Winson's neighbors. Mr. Parsons happens to work with Winston at the Ministry of Truth. The Parson children scared Winston when he stops over one night because the accuse him of being a thought criminal. The children are junior spies because they spy on everyone, even thier own parents.
4. What role do the children play in the novel?
The children are very important to the government because they are brainwashed and brided into spying on everyone around them. The children even spy on their parents and wait for them to committ a thought crime and then be vaporized by the government.
5. Why will Syme eventually get vaporized?
Syme will get vaporized because Syme is too smart to be able to help the party. Big Brother believes all he could do is hurt it. He says things that would be better unsaid, he has read way too many books, and he goes to the Chestnut Tree Café, the hangout of artists.
6. Why does Winston buy that glass figure?
I think that Winston buys that glass figure because he is attracted to it because he subconsciously wants to think and feel for himself. The shopkeeper feels the same way and has much more opportunity to do so because he is a prole but he helps Winston do so when he gives him a tour and sells him that figure.
7. What message is Orwell trying to convey to the reader?
Orwell is trying to tell the reader that if we allow ourselves to become uninformed and unaware of what our government is doing then what is happening to Winston and the rest of the world in the book 1984 will happen to us. He is telling us that if we stop questioning things and stop standing up for ourselves when we know things aren’t right then eventually we will be killed for doing so. People are capable of doing extraordinary things, horrible, but extraordinary. We must always have a plan for stopping extraordinary horrible deeds and if we fail to do so the consequences could be so bad that even thinking our own thoughts that we can’t help but think will get us vaporized.
8. Why is Winston happy to hear that Julia is very sexually active?
Winston is happy because he now knows that he is not the only one who wants to rebel against the government. Winston doesn't have to fell like he is alone because he knows that Julia likes to rebel just as much as he does. Before he heard this from Julia, Winston thought that she may be a spy. However, after hearing that she has slept with many men he knows that he is not a spy. The fact that Winston is not alone in rebellion makes him very happy.
9: How should we prevent 1984 from happening to us now? A: I believe in order to stay away from being in a 1984 like scenario we need to know that power is important but not that important. We need to understand what is going on in our life’s and with our government and never just say well it does not concern me because it most certainly should concern you. We need to never back down from our beliefs whether it be religion our just your favorite sports team. We must be willing to take lives for our rights to say what we want or do what we want when we want to do it. Let us not forget all the times we have came close to 1984 actually happening we were the start of a nuclear war with Big Brother and the Soviet Union away from being like 1984. We more than likely would not be here right now if we would have blinked first or maybe we were a loss away in World War Two to Hitler and his Nazi Army we could have zero freedoms today as we would all be speaking German with Nazi propaganda all over this great land of ours. But some people continue to ask “Why would you ever elect Hitler?” and “We will never do that!” Well guess what people we are almost in the same state Germany was some many years ago they were in major debt and then a charismatic guy with a goofy looking mustache promised people basic needs and a better life with them getting out of debt by creating jobs and roads. I believe we are in a bigger debt than Germany was so many years ago. So to help prevent 1984 from actually happening to us we need to continue to vote for the right candidates for offices ones who don not want the job for the power or for the glory just the right person for the job and not one who is going to promise the things Hitler did but if anyone would have read his book they could have seen it coming from a mile away because any one could have. So my final piece of advice is that maybe we should take a long look at the past before any rationale judgments about anyone are made because it could happen to us if we let it.
This video is a musical video with pictures and animation, it basically outlines everything in the book with some comical input, at first it bashes President Bush and i dont necisarily agree with that but it has some humor.
He is a thin, intellectual, and frail 39 year old. He works for the Ministry of Truth, which is all lies, and rewrites history to what ever “big Brother” says. He writes in a dairy because he knows that its one thing that he can do to get away with. He likes Julia.
2 Who is Julia?
She is a beautiful dark haired girl that words in the Fiction Department at the Ministry of Truth. She enjoys having sex with many of the men in the Party including Winston and is planning on doing that a lot because its an easy way to commit a thought crime.
3 What is the Ministry of Truth?
The Ministry of Truth is the place where Winston works. He rewrites history to make it seem like “Big Brother” can predict the future. Every time he rewrites history he throws the real one in a memory hol, which is the incinerated.
4 What is this Brotherhood?
The Brotherhood is a special group of people that in a very secret underground society that tries to over throw the government. It is so secret that no one knows who is in it because they can not be talking about this group and they do not want to get caught by talking about it. They stand for what’s right, freedom, and choice.
5 Who does Winston start renting from, what is it, and why does he do it?
Winston Smith is renting a room from the shop keeper. He rents it because he is trying to escape form everyone else and to be away form the telescreens, and so he can write in his diary. But it turns out that it’s a nice convenient place for Julia and Winston to meet and be with each other to have “fun”. I think he does it so it wont be so bad because there is no one watching up there.
6 Why does Winston keep the diary?
He keeps it because it shows that he is a thought criminal. He can write what he thinks about and is to afraid to so out loud because he would be vaporized, so that means he is rebelling both mentally and emotionally. The diary is his home away from home, it’s the only place is can feel free to do what ever he wants.
7 What is “Big Brothers” slogan and what does it signify?
There are 3 different slogans. They are “WAR IS PEACE”, “FREEDOM IS SLAVERY”, and “IGNORANCE IS STRENGHT”. I think that the first one “war is peace” means that if there is only one person is power (aka Big Brother) and they can kill people then no one is going to rebel to an extreme. Then its “freedom is slavery” means that is you are FREE then you are a slave but in reality if you are free then you do not have people breathing down your neck like they do. Lastly there is “ignorance is strength” means that since every one is brain washed like zombies no one will have the intelligence to make a big rebellion.
8 Even though “Big Brother” is never seen in the novel, why do people follow all his demands then?
Well even though he is never seen the way the party and the police talk about him it is like he is basically god, what he says goes or happens so do not get on his bad side or you will not be here much longer. Big Brother is “supposable” this big tough guy that controls everyone and can “predict” the future. But he is the ruler of Oceania so he is all powerful. He is extremely important to this book because if he was not here then Winston would not have anything to really struggle with because it would be different then. Big Brother is everywhere…. Only because he is all posters(which happen to be on ALMOST EVERY wall), stamped on all there money(which most people that have jobs have money), and it is on the very large telescreens all the time.
9 What are the symbols in the novel?
The glass paperweight; the red-armed prole woman; the picture of St. Clement’s Church; the telescreens and the posters of Big Brother; the diary; and the phrase “the place where there is no darkness”
The glass paperweight is Winstons. He is trying to connect with the past so he can try to understand what went wrong with there way of life. The red-armed prole women is there hope to leave rise against the party and break them down to nothing. Also he is the sign that there is still hope. The picture of St. Clement’s Church is some of the past that is now gone because they did something wrong. Also it shows that the past was not like how it is now and it is possible to become separate and break free from “big Brother”. The Telescreens and all the posters of Big Brother are trying to say that you are always being watched, so do not do anything that could get you vaporized because you are more likely then to are going to get caught. The diary is to show that Winston can use his brain and become a thought criminal. The last one was the phrase “the place where there is no darkness”. I think that’s means that Winstons tendency to hide his fatalism with false hope because there is no darkness and turn outs not to be paradise but a prison cell.
10 http://www.online-literature.com/orwell/1984/
I thought that this was a good page because it listed some one the stuff that i did not get at first and it was nett that other people were asking questions on there and getting them answered by other people that have read it.
1.Who is Julia? Julia is the woman Winston is in love with. Julia is one of the only people he can trust that disagrees with the Party as Winston does. Julia is more concerned with making “love” and getting away with it rather than just making babies. His affair with her he sees as temporary. She has had previous affairs with other party members and has no intention to stop enjoying the joys of life.
2.Winston thinks Syme will become vaporized, why? Winston thinks he knows who and who will no be vaporized. He knows that if you know to much you will become vaporized. Also if they want to switch to Newspeak they will need to get rid of people who know Oldspeak. Syme also knows too much about the Big Brother Party and that will get you vaporized.
3.What is the irony of Julia’s career? Julia works for the Anti-Sex league. The anti-sex league is a league where they try to promote sex as a bad behavior and sinister rather then something that is pleasurable and natural to human life. This is ironic because Julia has had numerous affairs with Party members and all of her affairs have been for pleasure seeking.
4.What does Winston use as a security device on his diary and why? Winston using a piece of dust. He wants to use something that if someone moves or reads his diary he will be able to tell. At first he thinks about a piece of hair but thinks it will be too obvious so he uses some dust.
5.What is the irony of Winston’s career? Winston works in the Ministry of Truth. The ministry of truth is where they make up lies. They change articles, newspaper, songs, poems, text books, and dictionaries. Winston makes up the lies in his head and says them into a speakwrite. Winston wants to know the truth, but he makes up the untruth.
6.What does the Party think of sex? To the Party sex should be for making babies only. If you have sex and enjoy it then you are committing a Thoughcrime and if you are caught enjoying it you will most likely be vaporized. It is your duty to the party to make more babies. Big Brother doesn’t want people to be thinking so he disallows them to have pleasure.
7.What is the Party’s slogan and what does it mean? The Slogan of Big Brothers Party is “War is Peace, Freedom is Slavery, and Ignorance is Strength”. War is Peace, is saying that to stay peaceful we must be at war. In 1984 the 3 dictatorships were all perfectly self-sustained. They had enough resources and land area to where there was no need for real war. But if there was no danger of war and starvation in the peoples minds there would be no use of government in peoples mind. The Party depended on the idea of being at war to keep its strength. The wars were small wars just to prove they were at war. Freedom is Slavery, is saying that if you are enslaved then you are free. A person on there own is not very powerful, but if you are a large group the options are endless. The outer party is supposed to be more free then the paroles but sense they know more they are more closely watched. Each Party member has telescreens in there apartment and is tightly watched by the Thoughtpolice. The paroles are enslaved but they are free to do what they wish. They don’t have telescreens and they are not accused of thoughtcrimes. Ignorance is Strength is saying that the stupider you are the stronger you can be. The paroles are very ignorant but Winston believes that the paroles are the only hope they have against big brother. The paroles would have strength in numbers and be able to overthrow Big Brother. The problem is the paroles are too ignorant to know they are treated like trash. 8.How does Big Brother control his kingdom? B B uses the stragegy that “He who controls the past, controls the future”. If you can control the past then you can control the present. And if you can control the present then the future is all yours. What makes people believe things is proof and documentary. I personally didn’t witness the holocaust but I know it happened from reading about it and seeing the terrible graphic pictures of it. Big Brother would make it a thoughtcrime to possess any document, picture, buildings, filming or thinking about the holocaust and then you would be vaporized. If you don’t know about something then it didn’t happen in your mind. To know something you have to have read it or saw it on TV, and if you saw false information then it becomes true information.
9. Is it possible for USA to become like Oceania? Explain? The United States is a country built on not having a major government control. 13 colonies split away from the British Empire to gain independence. They didn’t like the idea of how British officials could come into there house at any given time, unannounced and search it. They also didn’t like how they lacked elected representation in the law making so they didn’t find the laws to hold much value. This is very similar to what the Thoughtpolice do to Party members. Except if you were under the rule of Big Brother and you didn’t obey the laws and refused entry of a Thoughtpolice officer you would become vaporized and forgotten. After they won the revolutionary war they created the American Declaration of Independence. To guard against Big Brother controlling American lives the people made the Constitution. The Constitution is designed to have enough government control to be a strong country but the government is regulated enough by the American citizens to not have total power. A major thing we do as Americans that keeps us as a non constricted society is vote. Voting, even though not enough people do it, will keep the government officials “for the people, by the people”. United States has 3 branches, (executive branch, legislative branch, and judicial branch) that regulate each other so no single branch can gain total power. A lot of people think that the President of the United States has almighty power, but in reality he is only as powerful as the Legislative branch allows him to be. I think that with our law system and government system America has now, that it is very unlikely for someone to have total power over Americans. Some one would have to overthrow the entire US government. They would have to have an army of there own. They would have to take down any satellites that are not controlled by them. They would spy on people’s telephone calls, cell phone calls, text messages, e-mails, mail, and internet usage. They would pretty much have to put cameras where people live. In all I don’t think that some one could take total control of America, maybe another government could take over, but one person could not do it. Also most of the adults I have told im reading 1984 say they have read the novel, this is another reason why it us unlikely that Big Brother will take over.
10. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWvHbOoG3tI
It is interesting how many times the 1984 Mac commercial appears on youtube. Many of the commercials are a twisted version. They are a Borac Obama tv commercial. It is all the same scenes but in the beginning instead of B B’s voice it is Hilary Clintons voice. All the people are zombieing out and staring at the screen and instead of a mans face it is Hilary’s. The attractive woman runs in and throws the sludge hammer into the screen and her face falls to pieces. And up scrolls the words “ On January 14th, The Democratic primary will begin. And you’ll see why 2008 won’t be like “1984””, then it says borracobama.com. You can’t even tell what the commercial is for. It is interesting because they are comparing Hilary Clinton to Big Brother.
sorry about the late post. I dont have interenet access at my house and i went to the library and it was packed. So i read a bunch instead. But better late then never. Thanks! have a nice day
1.) Why does Winston believe the proles are more human? A: Unlike the rest of the population, the proles are allowed to exchange the gift of love. Proles devotedly love without causing suspicion or receiving intolerable cruelty. They are permitted to cradle their own human instincts; to practice free thought, loyalty, “good sex”, blinking, snoring, crying, laughing, quality food, etc. Winston becomes aware that the proles are not impoverished, but are the true owners of higher living.
2.) What is the only thing left effective in Oceania? How? A: Oceania does not allow personal freedoms, such as free thought, free speech, free actions and impulses, etc. The only way to separate the people and their freedoms is by means of the Thought Police. The dreaded Thought Police filfull the government’s aims to quieting the people. If the people refuse to be quiet, they are vaporized. Without the Thought Police, and their co-parasitic telescreens, fear and disloyalty would be nonexistent along with the system of government.
3.) Why is Winston and Julia’s sanctuary so valuable? A: Physically, the walls of the room conceal the two from the outside world. It secludes them in a place where they can be truly free – without telescreens, Thought Police, demands, stress, etc. Like the world’s most prized artifact, it is sacred for its rarity and fragility. Tragically, the reasons for value is their curse…fragile things are easily broken.
4.) What “terrible thing” does the upper party members do to lower party members? A: Through theory and practice, the Inner/Outer Party and Big Brother slaughter almost all natural impulses. To kill the natural impulse to attempt running through water – it is difficult to travel anywhere, requires more stress and effort, and restricts any interaction between runners. Figuratively, emptiness consumes all people. With this sort of life-void, the government steps in, offering to “cure” their sickness with their synthetics. They prescribe drugs of hate and blind patriotism, which further degrades members and rots their minds. They become even more inhumane then death. But to die requires an impulse and emotions – being a patriot does not.
5.) Describe Winston’s procedures to acquire Goldstein’s book. A: First, Winston must purposefully misprint a word while at work, and then ask for a repeat. The following day, he will return to work, but without a briefcase. On the street, a man will approach Winston, touch his arm and say, “I think you have dropped your briefcase”. The new briefcase contains “the book”; Winston is given 14 days before he returns it.
6.) Describe five rituals that take place during Hate Week. A: During Hate Week, the military parades through every street like manual toy soldiers. The new “Hate Song” has been crafted for all to harmonize in a stylish fashion (in barking rhythms like drums). Fresh rumors and faux photos begin their common circulation routes. Winston works longer hours to embellish past events to coordinate with future quotes for Hate Week speeches. Also, a new poster is erected. It is a picture of a Eurasian soldier pointing the muzzle of his gun seemingly straight at you. Winston describes the experience as though the muzzle could find you anywhere. Hate Week is a glorious holiday of blind patriotism…similar to a beloved, old-fashioned holiday.
7.) What is DoubleThink and how does it influence the 1984 society? A: DoubleThink is the heart of Ingsoc (English socialism). It is a governmental method of to gain control of everyone in the 98 percent of the population. To doublethink is to believe that two opposing figures have identical meanings. Through the power of DoubleThink, Ingsoc manipulates history and obvious facts into fiction, one example being the supposed, “increase” of chocolate rations from 30 grams to 20 grams. The government was ingenious (cruel) in creating the DoubleThink. If the people accept black and white versions of anyone figure, fact, person, etc, then they will be acceptant of everything. The people will be completely satisfied (brainwashed) and obey everything inquired of them (in other words forced to do). But, it is completely unacceptable to be completely acceptable with life – it is perfect human nature to be curious and desire and ultimately pursue, like Lincoln 6’s character in, “The Island”. These things keep life - the economy, academics, courtship and families, careers, whatever – interesting and balanced. Pursuing and obtaining true happiness, known through the principles of a merit-demerit system, is the reason our country succeeds! Desire and curiosity promote lifetime learning and free thought. But, the 1984 government raped free thought.
8.) Give one example of hidden sources of love in the novel, and how they reflect/relate to the 1984 social condition. A: Love seems to have a direct association with women in the novel. The lady singing outside Mr. Charrington’s window is one example. Her appearance is offensive and her voice is crude. She is possibly the condemned lone parent of dozen or more children. But, Winston discovers a deeper beauty in her, a deeper beauty that requires an eye of understanding and compassion (the eyes of love). The government is not understanding and compassionate; why should they be? If the people are merely tools in the governent’s heavenly scheme then emotions are meaningless and wasteful of precious time and energy. Winston looks down on her to realize this old woman, “blown up to monstrous dimensions by childbearing, then hardened, roughened by work till it was coarse like in the grain like an overripe turnip”, was absolutely beautiful. He proceeds to wonder why “the fruit be held inferior to the flower”. Why is it that a party member is beautiful when brainwashed, than the old hag that sings from the heart? Party member’s flowers are pleasing, but they yield no delicious fruits for the world to enjoy! Party members may look perfect, but they are empty people who live empty lives.
9.) React to the novel according to how far you have read. A: Honestly, 1984 is not my favorite novel, but it requires everyone’s immediate attention. 1984 is an active part of the past and present society. The novel challenges the reader in many ways. It requires readers to understand the history of 1984 (during 1948) and to reflect and react to the present. In understanding this novel, I feel I have the power and responsibility to take action or at least pass it on. In understanding this novel, I can’t escape feeling incredibly blessed for our current conditions, yet completely upset and terribly disheartened. Mostly disheartened. I can’t believe what people can tolerate every day. Citizens in 1984 were forced to tolerate their own itches or twitches. Basic human needs and the methods of communication (later explained) are aborted as if the government makes the decision. They are not to be compromised. Without them, we would become sleepwalkers in someone else’s dream. But, to compare our current standard of living and methods of communication to Orwells era of 1948 is unrealistic. Since the 1940’s, America has been that hardened, monstrous, maternal figure that nurtures every free idea to successfully produce the world’s finest innovations. A few innovations of communication include satellites, computers, cellular phones, text messaging, Facebook and MySpace. All are kin to free speech (without it, would we truly be improving ourselves or a mere nuisance in the government’s plans?) To kill the right to communicate as we do today is like quicksand beneath Lady Liberty herself. It is frightening to believe that with these technological advancements of communication, the government can twist the situation into an invasion of privacy. If Orwell’s predictions become reality, Can the government strip our commodities and turn them against us? They would be in the satellites (radios/programs/etc.), text messaging (if even allowed), televisions, emails, blogsites, etc. Many of the freedoms we have today would no longer be freedoms – they would no longer be memories, either.
10.) With these instructions, visit the following website to select and discuss a quote by George Orwell: a. Go to www.cybernation.com b. Scroll down and click the “Victory” category. c. Select “Ultimate Success Quotation Center”. d. Select “Search for Your Favorite quotations”. e. In the search box, type “George Orwell”. f. Search the topics and select one to discuss.
A: I chose the #16 quote on adulthood: “Past of the reason for the ugliness of adults, in a child’s eyes, is that the child is usually looking upwards, and few faces are at their best when seen from below”. Winston seems to be the last “child” in 1984. Winston resembles a child in that children are not (quite) molded into society and still follow personal judgments of their environment. Children, however unlike Winston, can be easily won and education to social belief and practice. Winston is constantly questioning the “adults”. He quickly finds, however, that the neck becomes strained when “looking upwards” persistently for long periods of time…
1) What does the pink coral glass piece represent? -The pink coral glass represents Winston’s freedom (the chance to one day be free.) When he first obtains the paperweight, it is about the same time as when he starts seeing Julia. Also while having the paperweight he gets up the verve to speak to O’Brien to see if he is part of the brotherhood. But then when he is caught by the thought police, the pink coral glass is shattered showing that he no longer has his freedom.
2) Winston is a very smart man why does he not question more why there are no telescreens in the upstairs of Mr. Charrington’s store. -Winston is a so surprised that there are none and quickly sees this as an opportunity of a place to go and not get caught by the thought police. He is overwhelmed of this possibility that he forgets that it might be a trap.
3) Why is it so hard for Winston to get answers out of the old man at the bar? -The old man probably thinks that Winston is a thought police, and even thought he is fairly old and has lived a long life he doesn’t want to be vaporized. The man never says anything off of the general changes throughout his time, like how the beer tasted different. This is to insure that he does not caught if Winston is a thought police member.
4) How is Winston able to be so open to O’Brien about why Julia and hime are there visiting O’Brien? -Winston and Julia are so passionate about going against the party that they are willing to risk everything and getting caught just so they can possibly join the Brotherhood. It also helps them to be so open knowing that O’Brien is able to turn the telescreens off when ever he choose to do so.
5) Why does Winston start dating Julia? -Winston starts dating Julia because he wants a way out of Big Brother’s society and he knows that if he starts an affair with her, he will more then likely get caught by the thought police. Then he will be vaporized and then will not have to endure the unhappiness of being controlled by Big Brother.
6) Why does Mr. Charrington wait so long to bust Julia and Winston? -Mr. Charrington waits so long to bust Julia and Winston because he does not want to give away that he is in the thought police. Also by watching them for such a long time he will be able to see exactly what people of the society are doing to break the rules and then will know what to look for next time with other people are committing crimes.
7) How does Winston go from hating Julia to loving her so quickly? -Winston hates Julia because he thinks she is spying on him. He even says he wants to smash her head in with out even know her very well. But then when he finds out that she is not a spy but rather loves him he changes his feelings slightly. Then when Winston and Julia start having sex and connecting on a different level, Winston falls in love with her. I do not think that in a normal society they would have fallen in love. I think the only reason why they did was because she was someone that also repented the Big Brother and committed through crimes, so it was a similarity that they have together.
8) Was Winston actually wanting to be caught by the thought police with how many crimes he committed or was those acts just coming from his natural instinct? -I believe that Winston truly did want to be caught, even if he would not admit it. He knew that he was very unhappy but did not know how to escape from it. So his mind made him sleep with the prostitute, and buy the journal and write down his thoughts. Because then he would sooner or later get caught. Then it was not happening fast enough so he went further by ‘dating’ Julia. At that time he started realizing that here might be a secret party that was against the Big Brother. But then it was to late he had fallen in love and was unable to stop so that he would not get caught and be vaporized.
9) What are the differences and similarities between a communist society and the Big Brother society? -A communist society is run by one single party/leader, as is the Big Brother society. In the Big Brother society the people are completely brain washed to think the way the party wants them too. They also follow every single direction that the Big Brother tells them too; they have no mind of their own. The communist party is not that extreme, the people are able to have their own thoughts, but the government does control some aspects of their lives. Like communist parties control all the money issues of that society such as how much you can make or how much you can charge for an item at the store. In the Big Brother society all the people are watched by telescreens so they do not commit ‘thoughtcrimes.’ Thoughtcrimes are any thoughts, acts, or ideas that go against the party’s principles. But in a communist society they don not watch their people’s every move. Not only does the Big Brother party not allow thought of their own, they also do not allow people to choose their spouse or have sex unless it is specifically for the purpose of producing children for the party. This does no happen in a Communist society. Also the Big Brother has people change written documents such as textbooks and newspapers so that they do not conflict what really did take place. A form of punishment that the Big Brother party carries out is ‘vaporizing’ those that have committed huge crimes. Then they make it as thought that person did not ever exist. A Communist party does not do either of these things. I think that it would be fair to say that even thought a Communist party may not treat their people as well as they should, they do treat them much better then they could.
10) Go to http://www.spectacle.org/496/orwell.html and read the essay and decide what you think about what this person is saying. - I think this essay is interesting because the person is saying that George Orwell is wrong about writing the book 1948 even though this book was written because that is what Orwell thought. This person does not have to agree to what Orwell is saying it is his personal opinion.
1. Explain the 4 ministries. ----The government was divided into 4 ministries: the Ministry of Truth, the Ministry of Peace, the Ministry of Love, and the Ministry of Plenty. The Ministry of Truth concerned itself with news, entertainment, education, and the fine arts; the Ministry of Peace concerned itself with war; the Ministry of Love maintained law and order; and the Ministry of Plenty was responsible for economic affairs.
2. What is the 2 minute hate and how does it work? ----Almost every day there is a point in the day where you look at the telescreen and yell at it. This is called the 2-minute hate. Everyone stands around, looks at the screen, and practices hating the thing on the screen. This represents what Big Brother wants everyone to hate because he doesn’t like it and doesn’t want anyone else to either.
3. Who are the Parsons? What do their kids represent? ----Tom Parson is Winston's neighbor in which whom he works with. His children belong to scout-like organizations sponsored by the government. They are encouraged to betray their parents to the authorities if they see any disloyalty to the government. Mrs. Parsons lives in constant fear of her own children. When Tom's daughter hears him say "Down with Big Brother" in his sleep, she turns him in for Thought crime.
4. Explain the party slogan: “Who controls the past controls the future, who controls the present controls the past. ----This slogan is saying that Big Brother pretty much controls everything there is to control. He has controlled the past just like he is trying to control the future. And as he is controlling the future, the past has already been controlled by him.
5. What is the purpose of the marriage in the state? ----The purpose of marriage is to have kids. They need more kids around to become more things. If you are married, you cannot separate or get divorced. But if you have kids are you are not married, it is not a big deal to separate.
6. Why does Winston feel that Syme will be vaporized? ----Winston says that Syme is way too smart. The party doesn’t want smart people because they will be able to think things out more easily, and maybe out smart the system.
7. Does Winston betray Julia? ----Yes, Winston betrays Julia. The only way to get out of this torture is to put someone else between him and the horror. "Do it to Julia," he screams in a final betrayal of himself. Winston is then released. Winston and Julia speak only sometimes when they see each other. The only thing they really have to say to each other is now they betrayed each other. I wish Julia and Winston could have been together in the end. Winston didn’t care for any other girl like he did for her. He always thought that girls were bad influences on him and all they tried to do was haunt him with their prettiness and sexuality. He hated how women would come off to him.
8. Why does Winston buy a diary? ----Winston wants something to put all his feelings inside of. He needs something to rebel everything he believes in and what he doesn’t believe in. He thinks and put all his thoughts into this special diary. He received his diary from Charrington (thought police). Everyone needs something to keep a journal of all your feelings in. Winston could get vaporized for having this ‘diary’ but feels that he needs one, and no one can take it away from him.
9. What happens in Room 101 and how does this "cure" Winston? ----Winston is taken to Room 101. O'Brien says that the room 101 is the worst thing in the world. For each person it is his own personal hell. For some it is death by fire or burial alive. For Winston it is a cage containing two rats, with a fixture like a fencing mask attached, into which the face of the victim is strapped. Then there is a lever that opens the cage, so that the rats can get to the face. O'Brien is approaching nearer with the cage, and Winston gets the bad smell of the rats. This cures Winston. He thinks to himself that one day, he is going to get killed for thinking the way he does. He realizes that he can’t go on like this anymore and must believe in Big Brother and his ways.
10. http://www.gerenser.com/1984/analysis.html ----This website gives you the incite on the novel. It gives you a quick summary of the important events of the book, describes the three main sections of 1984, takes a look at the novel's noteworthy characters, compares and contrasts the proles and the Party, and defines a few of Orwell's Newspeak words.
1. What is “The Brotherhood” and who is involved in it? The Brotherhood is a group of people that don’t agree with what Big Brother has to say. After much thought, Julia and Winston visit O’Brien, one of the Brotherhood leaders. O’Brien tells them that nobody REALLY knows how many members there are, but that each person will have less that a dozen other contacts; this way, when they get caught they can’t possibly take down the entire Brotherhood at once. 2. Who is Mr. Charrington and why is he important? At this point in the novel, Mr. Charrington is a man that owns the antique shop where Winston got his paper weight. Winston is aware that Mr. Charrington knows of the past, but is not certain exactly how much he knows. It is a possibility that Mr. Charrington could be Goldstein himself. O’Brien told Winston that they have surgeons who can completely change facial structure. If this is true, it is also possible that Goldstein still lives in Oceania but has a completely different identity. 3. What does the paperweight that Winston bought signify? The paper weight that Winston bought from Mr. Charrington represents life as it used to be. Its pure beauty is something that is not ever seen in Oceania anymore. Only Brotherhood members think that there is beauty in things from the olden day life. 4. Who is your favorite character and why? At this point in 1984, Julia is my favorite character. Oftentimes men are the leading force behind power and rebellion. The fact that Julia is a woman and that she has tricked so many people makes her one of the characters in the book. 5. What does it mean to be completely vaporized? When someone is vaporized, it means they no long are in existence. It is sort of like dying, except you are vaporized by somebody else, and it is completely against your will. When someone is vaporized their life was never there. Any mention of them in yearbooks, books, or any other written form are completely erased and rewritten. There are actually people in Oceania whose job is to rewrite history. 6. Who is Katherine and what happened to her? Katherine is Winston’s (ex) wife. Technically they are still married, but she left him. Divorce in Oceania is looked down upon, so she just up and left him. Katherine was they type of prole that completely obeyed everything Ingsoc told her to. She even called sex, “The duty of the party”. 7. When you see the three slogans of the party, do you think that it is possible that our world could potentially be that close minded? WAR IS PEACE FREEDOM IS SLAVERY IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH. These three slogans of the party are so opposite of everything we live for today. I don’t think that with the intelligence our country has as a whole we would ever let a dictatorship take over; we have some of the brightest minds in the world, certainly we could come up with much better ways to govern our people. Our country has been in many wars throughout the years, we know War is not peace and it never will be. Even if it’s not these exact slogans, we are far too knowledgeable to let anyone come in, take over, and destroy our world as we know it. Also, there are too many enemies to ever get all of us into three main lands. It is completely unrealistic. Even though the story is fiction, it still brings out this realistic terror that lies within each one of us. We all have fears about the future, some maybe not this drastic, but in 1984 he does an idyllic job bringing the fear in us….out of us. 8. What conclusions/predictions can you create for the last 100 pages of the novel? Now that the plot has been set up, we know that Julia and Winston will be together, and that there is in fact a Brotherhood. After meeting O’Brien, they wholly understand that it will be difficult to keep the Brotherhood a secret from everyone else. O’Brien tells them that they WILL get caught, no questions asked. When they get caught, horrible things will happen to them, but just in the knick of time a member from the Brotherhood will slip them a razor blade so they can end their life by themselves, without being tortured in horrible ways. It is also my prediction that Mr. Charrington or O’Brien is Goldstein, but their facial structure has been completely changed. If they are not Goldstein, I believe that they at least knew him when he was in charge or The Brotherhood. The end of the novel will be exciting, I hope that Julia and Winston stay together, even though somehow I know they won’t…that’s not the way life always is...picture perfect. 9. How do Winston and Julia meet? What does Julia give Winston? What happens after they become better acquainted? For a while, it seems as though Julia is in every place that Winston goes. Because Winston has deep thoughts about what he thinks about the party, he fears that Julia may be a member of the Thought Police. One day they were in an ally alone, and Smith contemplated whether or not to kill her! He really thought she was watching his every move for the purpose of somebody else. It wasn’t until one day they were walking and Julia “tripped”…Winston went to help her up and she quickly slipped a note into his hands. Later, once Winston reached the safety of his apartment, he opened it, not in front of the telescreen, however. When he opened it, it read, “I love you.”. What a twist! We go from thinking that this girl is a member of the one thing you don’t want to get caught by, to thinking that she is actually madly in love with him and has only been watching him because she wants to get to know him better! I’m pretty sure it wasn’t until weeks later when Winston finally approached her in a completely surrounded area in the lunch room. He had previously tried, but every time somebody else would sit down right before he would. They talked for a while, and Julia told him to meet her in the forest. She gave him exact directions, like she had done it millions of times before. Another couple weeks later, they met, and had sex, not “the duty of the party”. For the first time, Winston had felt passion, and everything else you’re supposed to feel when you are at that point. They continue to meet in random places, each time falling more in love with each other. Finally, they rent out a little room above the antique shop that Mr. Charrington owns and meet there on a regular basis. 10. I read 1984 around the year 1964, when the title still seemed very much in the future. I remember New Year's Eve, 1983, when the book was very much on peoples minds because suddenly, if would actually be 1984.
During the 1950s, and 1960s the Cold War, Communism, Khrushchev banging his shoe on a table in the U.N. shouting "We will bury you", and frequent drills in preparation for atomic war, made the fear of a "Big Brother" very real. I do not mean to imply that such fears are now a thing of the past, but I think they were more vivid in those decades. -Sitaram, December, 2004
-The website I found was basically a discussion of other books similar to 1984…ones with a dystopia instead of a utopia. I thought the novel was released in 1984, but according to Sitaram, he read it in 1964, 20 years earlier. Even though people back then didn’t always think about the future, there was definitely still fear when it came closer to the year 1984.
Take-Home Quiz Katie Paauw Period 5 1.What did Winston realize at the Two Minute Hate? -Winston realized that he hated Big Brother. At the Two Minute Hate Winston knew he hated Big Brother even before it started. He looked into O’Brien’s eyes and saw the same loathing. Winston looked down and realized he has written “DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER” several times in he diary. He committed a thought crime.
2.What kind of person is O’Brien? -O’Brien is a member of the Inner Party and is a holder of some post that is so important that Winston has no idea. When I read about what O’Brien looks like I could picture a kind of scary man. He is large, with a thick neck and coarse. His face is humorous and brutal.
3.What is “the book”? - Goldstein is the author of “the book”. It is a book without a title. People just referred to it as just “the book”. It wasn’t talked about much. “but one knew of suck things only through vague rumors”. (pg 16) It was known as a terrible book, a compendium of all the heresies. The was Orwell talks about “the book” makes me think of atheists and the bible.
4.Who is Julia? - Julia is Winston’s lover. She is also the only person Winston can be sure hates the Party. She also rebels against it. Julia is concerned with enjoying sex and making plans to avoid getting caught by the party.
5.Who is Syme? - Syme works with Winston at the Ministry of Truth. He specializes in language and is creating a Newspeak dictionary. Winston thinks that Syme is too intelligent to be in the Party’s favor. Syme is an intelligent and outgoing man.
6.What is the government of Oceania like? - Oceania’s government is one that creates a hellish, miserable existence for its “citizens”. It depicts society as it should not be. Like dystopia, it usually is critical of existing society and contains implicit warnings. The government is dystopian.
7.What is going on between Winston and Julia? - Julia gave Winston a note that says, “I Love You!” She tells him her name and they begin a covert affair. They are always on the lookout for signs of Party monitoring also known as the Thought Police. They rent a room about the secondhand store in the parole district where he bought his diary. Winston is sure that they will be caught and punished sooner or later. Julia is just optimistic about it. As their relationship progresses Winston’s hatred for the Party grows more and more intense. Finally Winston receives what he has been waiting for, a message from O’Brien. Winston and Julia go to O’Brien’s apartment. O’Brien confesses that he hates the Party too. He convinces them to join the Brotherhood and gives Winston a copy of Emmanuel Goldstein’s book. Which is the manifesto of the Brotherhood. Winston was reading the book to Julia and suddenly, soldiers barged in and sized them.
8.Why are Mrs. Parsons’ kids upset? -Winston visits Mrs. Parsons and discovers her kids think that he is a traitor and a thought criminal. Her kids run around Winston calling him that and he gets nervous and wonders how they know. When Winston was over there Mrs. Parsons tells him that her kids are disappointed because they cannot go see the hanging. Mrs. Parsons says they are acting the way they are because they are disappointed about the hangings. The kids ran around chanting, “Want to see the hanging”! The hangings happen about once a month because of the Eurasian prisoners that are guilty of war crimes. As Winston was leaving he felt something hit the back of his neck. He turned around and saw Mrs. Parsons dragging her son back to the doorway who had a catapult.
9.How is Winston’s life different then ours? - Winston has a very different life then we do. In America we have many opportunities to live the life we want to. Winston didn’t have this he was forced to live the life he did not want to. He know that he did not like Big Brother and that was shown when he wrote “DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER” in his diary. He can not let anyone know about his hate for Big Brother or the Thought Police will come after him and put him in prison or vaporize him. Winston is eventually caught and sent to prison and sees O’Brien there. Winston is convinced to love Big Brother. In America we do not have anything like this and we are thankful for it.
10. Go to Youtube.com and type in 1984 and figure out the site’s mission. - This sites mission is to show people what the Two Minute Hate is really like. Also to show clips of the movie 1984. It is different from reading what it is like. When I watched these clips it made what I read just seem like words. It showed me how bad it actually was.
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111 comments:
1) Who is Julia and how can she be related to Winston?
A: Julia is a woman who works at the Anti-Sex League and is Winston's "commrade". They've had many meetings where they make love and talk of a changed world where they live the way they want. She is similar to Winston in that they both despise the government and think for temselves (both thought criminals). They both talk of Big Brother's flaws and how the government is a joke.
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2) Why is Goldstein's face shown on the "Two Minutes Hate" and why does everyone despise him?
A: Goldstein's face is shown because he is an individual that goes against everything that Big Brother stands for. He represents free thinking and open-mindedness. His "book" encourages party members to think for themselves and not be turned into a zombie.
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3) What is ironic about Julia's job and how she acts when she's around Winston?
A: Julia works at the Anti-Sex League, trying to eliminate "badsex" and encourage "goodsex". She also is part of the division designed to make "pornosec" for the paroles. Yet, when she's with Winston, she disobeys her own rules and makes passionate love to him. She is a part of the thing she is trying to eliminate at work.
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4) Who are the Parson's and what do they represent?
A: The Parson's are Winston's neighbors and are the most brainwashed family he knows. Winstion believes if he's not careful their children could turn him in for thought crimes. The Parson's children even threaten and harass Winston, calling him a thought criminal and accusing him of crimes with no true evidence (other than his journal).
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5) Why was Syme vaporized and why doesn't O'Brien mention his name?
A: Syme was vaporized because he knew too much and was too smart for Big Brother. He was dumbing down society and cutting ideas by cutting words and his job working at Newspeak. O'Brien doesn't mention his name because he knows that if he's to say his name after he's been vaporized, he too will become vaporized.
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6) How does the slogan, "War is Peace, Freedom is Slavery, Ignorance is Strength" relate to the U.S.?
A: The Big Brother slogan is the exact opposite of what the U.S. stands for. America strives for peace without war if possible, while Big Brother encourages fighting and war. America abolished slavery long ago to ensure everyone's freedom, but Big Brother needs slavery to keep power. Finally, Big Brother runs on arrogance and ignorance to ensure his power, while America doesn't.
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7) Why does Big Brother not allow anyone to show any emotion?
A: Big Brother doesn't allow anyone to show any emotion because it represents individuality. In order to run a successful military dictatorship, Big Brother can't have anyone thinking for themself. That would only cause fallbacks toward his master plan. Big Brother can be related to Hitler in that in a way, 1984 is creating a sort of Final Solution, because he wants everyone to be the same and not have any diversity whatsoever. Just as Hitler wanted blonde hair and blue eyes, Big Bother wants blue overalls and no feelings or emotions. He wants to make them feel inhumane and want to worship him to get out of their "Hell-Hole".
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8) Why does Winston keep a diary? How does it function as a literary device?
A: Winston keeps a diary because it's his own way of rebelling toward society and Big Brother. He's fighting back mentally and emotionally by making journal entries. He's also becomming a thought criminal by writing his own thoughts down on paper and not throwing them away in the memory hole. He's remembering how his life used to be before Big Brother and comparing it to his present situation. The diary is Winston's own way of escaping from his nightmare life and one of the only reasons keeping him alive. The journal itself is a symbol. It represents Winston's personal way of avoiding "zombification". The diary also is representing an allegory, because it keeps the plot moving throughout the beginning of the novel. It initiates the conflicts both internally and exernally. It's a burden because he could get vaporized for it, yet it also serves as Winstion's true emotions thoughout his life.
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9) If Big Brother brainwashes everyone to think waht he believes, how are some party members able to think for themselves? Give examples of different characters and what they do to keep from being brainwashed.
A: There are certain rebels within the party that are able to think for themselves simply because they practice it daily. They've found loop-holes in Big Brother's empire and are taking advantage of those mistakes to still be somewhat humane, while still acting like a zombie. Julia for example, pretents to hate Goldstein and "The book" with all her might, but when she's not around an officer, telescreen, or a microphone, she transforms into a passionate, love-struck whore. She strives to feel true love of many different men within the party. She purchases items from the blackmarket and constantly insults the government. O'Brien is another party member who is able to think for himself. He's acknowledged as a thought criminal when he is caught winking at Winston at the Ministry of Truth. He understands how Winstion suffers and believes he's now part of it and understands now what bad things Big Brother is bringing down on them. The most obvious thought ciminal out of the whole party is Winston. He is constantly thinking for himself everywhere within his mind, and so long as they stay in his head and never come out of his mouth or out on paper he will be fine. Although, that's Winston's problem. He cannot keep all his thoughts and ideas inside bundled up. He needs to get them out somehow, so he keeps a journal. Highly illegal and very dangerous, Winston knows this, but keeps on doing it because it's his only way of keeping himself alive. In a way Winston is reliving the past by his recalled memories and how it used to be in Oceania, before Big Brother took over. He aslo openly resents Big Brother by speaking about it to Julia whenever they meet-up. After they make passionate love, they talk of how the world should be and what to do to stop dystopia from worsening.
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10) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYectV3ubP8
-Describe who/what the woman stands for and also cover the overall message of the commercial.
A: The woman in the commercial represents Goldstein and freethinking and individualily. Knowice how her clothes are different from everyone elses. She's showing resentment towards Big Brother and she's obviously doing something about it. The overall message of the commercial is to get people to realize what not to be like and how to prevent dystopia from happening.
Impressive, Erik. Thank you for your astute work. Also impressive that you do the exact opposite of procrastination, getting tasks like this one done far in advance of the due date/time. Keep reading 1984 as closely as you are; a close, careful, critical reading will pay off, I promise.
1. Why does Winston write in his diary and could he be punished for it?
Winston writes in his diary as a way of rebelling against Big Brother and the Party and what they stand for. He could be punished for this because he is committing a thought crime. He could be sent to either a forced labor camp or he could be vaporized.
2. As Winston is stretching in the morning he starts to day dream. What different subjects does he think of?
As Winston is stretching he thinks of his childhood, which he remembers little about. He thinks he doesn’t know much about it because there is no documentation. He also thinks about Oceania’s relationship with the other major countries in the world.
3. Where does Winston work and what does he do there?
Winston works at the Ministry of Truth. He works with a “speakwrite”, a machine that writes as you talk into it. He takes old documents that contradict what Big Brother and the Party say and changes them into true statements or create new people to say them.
4. Who is the only group of people that could overcome the Party according to Winston?
Winston believes that the only group that could overcome the Party is the Proles. He believes that they could overcome the Party because they could come up with the strength and the man power to take over the Party. The Proles make up eighty-five percent of the population.
5. Describe the woman who slips Winston the note?
The woman who slips Winston the “I Love You” note is a dark haired girl and she also has her arm in a sling. Prior to being given the note Winston thought that she was a political spy, spying on Winston and his actions.
6. Why does Winston rent the room above Mr. Charrington’s shop?
Winston rents the room above Mr. Charrington’s shop to have a safe place to have an affair with Julia, the dark haired girl in a sling, at. He also likes the room because it reminds him of what a room would have been like before Big Brother.
7. Describe the members of the Parsons family.
Mr. Parsons works with Winston at the Ministry of Truth. Mrs. Parsons needed help with her plumbing one night while her husband was away. Their children are members of the Junior Spies which is an organization of children who monitor adults for disloyalty to the Party. The two children accuse Winston of thoughtcrime while he is there working on the plumbing. The children are also angry at their mother, who is afraid of being turned into the Thought Police by her children, for not letting them go and see the public hanging of Eastasian prisoners in the park that evening.
8. Compare and Contrast Winston’s and Julia’s hate for the Party.
Winston and Julia both hate the Party and what it stands for. They both do not like being controlled and on constant surveillance by the Party. Winston and Julia are different however in the degree of which they want to rebel against the party. Winston want to find out the truth about the secret underground society called the Brotherhood. He also wants to know the truth about Emmanuel Goldstein’s existence. Winston also wants to get his hands on the copy of the book that Emmanuel Goldstein wrote outlining the Brotherhoods oppositions to the Party. Julia however rebels by want minute things. She wants to feel like a sexy woman and likes the feeling of outsmarting the Party.
9. Analyze the different themes in this novel.
The first theme in this book is the theme of the dangers of a totalitarianism government. This book was written to warn the people of the Americas and Western Europe of what has and was happening in Russia. Orwell had witnessed first hand of the communism occurring there and how technology was used to oppress the citizens of the Soviet Union. In the book Orwell created the perfect totalitarianism government that controls every aspect of life and if you oppose the Party by even having a disloyal thought you will be vaporized. The Party uses technology to catch you being disloyal. Some forms of technology used are the telescreens and hidden microphones all of which are around the city and monitor your every thought and movement. The book uses its main character, Winston Smith, to be the main stand against totalitarianism. He commits thoughtcrimes and even has an affair with a younger woman.
The second theme is the manipulation of psychological thought. In the book the telescreens blast out constant propaganda telling you how great the Party is, and what to believe. The telescreens also shoot out constant lies to cover up any contradicting evidence against what the Party has said in the past. Winston works at the Ministry of Truth where he takes old articles, pamphlets, photos, and videos and changes them into lies that do not contradict what Big Brother has said. The citizen’s of Oceania also must remain on good behavior. They are reminded constantly that “Big Brother Is Watching You.” Even if they look like they are thinking about something for twenty seconds they could be detained and questioned. Brainwashing starts at the lowest levels with children. They are taught to question everything and everyone including their parents. The citizen’s of Oceania are also sexual suppressed in that the only reason for sex is to create a new Party member. With all this built up frustration the Party hold Two Minutes Hate where you just yell at telescreens that show pictures of Emmauel Goldstein, the enemy of the Party.
10. In 1984, George Orwell created a whole vocabulary of words concerning totalitarian control that have since passed into our common vocabulary. More importantly, he has portrayed a chillingly credible dystopia. In our deeply anxious world, the seeds of unthinking conformity are everywhere in evidence; and Big Brother is always looking for his chance. (Daniel Hintzsche for amazon.com )
1) What is the government of Oceania like?
Oceania is a sort of dictatorship that is run by Big Brother. Big Brother and the Inner Party control everything the Outer Party does by keeping a watch on everything that goes on with the telescreens. No one is allowed to think for themselves, and if they get caught having an opinion about something, they become vaporized. It is a hellish dystopian.
2) Based on what you know, will Parsons ever be vaporized?
Parsons is a simple may with boyish figures. He enjoys working for Big Brother, and loves how his kids are growing up to become great spies. He is totally brainwashed by the beliefs of the party. He will probably never be vaporized because he follows the rules, and isn’t capable of committing Thought Crimes.
3) What does Julia do that starts developing the plot?
Julia was approaching Winston, and suddenly fell. He helped her up and that is when she slipped him a note. The note said, “I LOVE YOU.” This causes Winston to do a total 360 on his feeling for her. They start meeting and talking secretly which really develops the plot.
4) What kind of person is Syme?
Syme is an extremely intelligent person who loves the idea of Newspeak. He is loyal to the party, but not to his comrades because if he noticed someone going against the wishes of the party, Syme would turn them in. The fact the Syme is so intelligent could be the key to his death.
5) What is the point to learning that Winston is/was married?
Finding out that Winston was married to Katharine lets us know what it’s like for party members to me married. Marriages for party members are not based on love. They are based on the needs of the Party. There should be no joy in marriage, especially when it comes to sex.
6) For whom or what is Winston writing his diary?
When Winston first writes in his diary, he wasn’t sure if he was writing it for someone in the past or the future. He wants to tell people his thoughts about things, and what life is like, but he didn’t know whom to tell. Finally he decided to write his diary for O’Brien.
7) Why does Winston decide to keep a diary?
By keeping a diary, Winston is rebelling mentally, emotionally, and physically. He is a thought criminal. Winston needs to do something to control his thoughts so he writes in his diary. Writing helps him to vent his feelings about the Party and also helps him to reflect on his life and his existence in this world. He is continually wondering if life had always been this way, with Big Brother controlling everything. The dairy gives Winston a way to control and channel his thoughts by writing them down. This helps to avoid revealing himself to the Thought Police and other spies. The diary is a metaphor to Winston’s free thinking which is his way to avoid becoming zombified like the majority of the other party members. Keeping a diary is what is saving Winston’s existence.
8) How are both Winston’s and Julia’s jobs ironic?
Winston works at the Ministry of Truth. His job is to change the past to make it seem like the truth, but the fact is that he is replacing the truth with lies. Big Brother is to always be right about everything. In order for this to occur, the people at the Ministry of Truth are constantly creating lies and cover-up stories which turn into facts of the past. The irony of this is that the Ministry of Truth makes up lies. Julia is very active in the Anti-Sex League but she tends to be “a rebel below the belt.” The Anti-Sex League is constantly preaching about how sex is bad and how it should only be a duty to the party. Julia plays her part very well, but she has been with many Party members in the past.
9) In what ways do Winston, Julia, and O’Brien escape from the constant watch of the Party?
The first Thought Crime we learn about in the book is when Winston starts keeping his diary. He was able to buy the diary because he went to a Proletarian store where there were no telescreens. When he started to write in it, he went into a room in which the telescreen only could watch part of, so he would hide in the corner and express his thoughts. When Julia came along, she use her knowledge of the land that she picked up on during the community hikes. With her experience, she knows that if you are planning on meeting up with someone, you must take different paths. She knew of the clearing surrounded by trees, where there were no microphones or anyone watching, and multiple ways to get there. She mapped out a trail for Winston to follow, and she took a different one. It is hard for the telescreens to keep track of everyone when the telescreens aren’t everywhere. Winston and Julia are very clever when it comes to cheating the system, and they know what they can and can’t do. For instance, the clearing they went to could only be used that one time, and then maybe once more in the future. If the used it frequently, they would be caught. The two are able to meet and talk when there are huge gatherings of people, and they are able to have interval conversations as they pass by each other. They also are able to hook up in Mr. Charrington’s shop because he has no telescreens. His shop is almost like Winston and Julia’s home together. They meet there a several times, but they are able to remain safe because each time they go there they arrive at different times, and go by a different route each time. Now O’Brien is a member of the Inner Party. Inner Party members have more privileges than anyone else. When O’Brien first approaches Winston, he does it right in front of a telescreen and talks to Winston about the new edition of the Newspeak dictionary, which keeps the conversation casual and safe. Winston picks up to O’Brien’s signals and they are able to set up their first meeting together. At O’Brien’s home, he is able to turn off his telescreen. This is where the Brotherhood is introduced. There are many ways to cheat the system, and the Brotherhood is going to find a way to defeat Big Brother through the flaws of the Party, and the sacrifices made by the Brotherhood members.
10) http://www.gerenser.com/1984/
This website is a good one to go to if you want to learn more about 1984. The site gives an analysis, which gives a synopsis, character assessments, and examples of symbolism. This site also offers a study guide and has a message board. The message board is used so people can share their thoughts and opinions, and they can also ask questions about the novel. It’s a great website that can be used to travel this novel thoroughly.
Intriguing as usual, Nate. You definitely get this tough book.
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Erudite and exceptional as always, Leann.
1) What is ironic about Winston’s job and what he believes in?
A: He takes history and rewrites it to say exactly what Big Brother had predicted would happen in any given situation. All history was palimpsest, scraped clean and rein scribed exactly as often as was necessary. In no case would it have been possible, once the deed was done to prove that any falsification had taken place. This is ironic with what Winston believes in because he is a thought criminal and he wants to go against Big Brother and find evidence hard evidence to tell the proles that the government is lying to them to get a rebellion going.
2) Why is the diary important to Winston?
A: He’s a thought criminal. He’s rebelling mentally and emotionally. He’s remembering and reflecting on how life was/is, reflecting on existence. The diary is his only escape from this world. The diary is the main way Winston stays alive- he’s able to channel his thoughts into the diary to avoid revealing himself as a thought criminal.
3) Why is the photograph of Jones, Aaronson, and Rutherford important?
A: It was a half-page torn out of the Times of about ten years earlier-the top half of the page, so that it included the date-and it contained a photograph of he delegates at some Party function in New York. Prominent in the middle of the group were Jones, Aaronson, and Rutherford. There was no mistaking them; in any case their names were in the caption at the bottom. The point was that at both trials all three men had confessed that on that date they had been on Eurasian soil. They had flown from a secret airfield in Canada to a rendezvous somewhere in Siberia, and had conferred with members of the Eurasian General Staff, to whom they had betrayed important military secrets. This piece of hard evidence was enough to blow the party to atoms, if in some way it could have been published to the world and its significance made known.
4) What is one belief Winston keeps about the proles?
A: If there was hope, it must lie in the proles, because only there, in those swarming disregarded masses, eighty-five per cent of the population of Oceania, could the force to destroy the party ever be generated. If only the proles could somehow become conscious of their own strength, would have no need to conspire. They needed only to rise up and shake themselves like a horse shaking off flies. If they chose they could blow the Party to pieces tomorrow morning.
5) Who is the girl that is following Winston around and why is she important?
A: The girl that is following Winston around is Julia. She is so very important to the whole novel because she is the one that allows Winston to commit thought crimes against the Party. She is the one that Winston loses him self in when they are together having sex. She is his escape from the world that he hates so much.
6) Why do parents fear there own children?
A: It was almost normal for people over thirty to be frightened of their own children. And with good reason, for hardly a week passed in which the Times did not carry a paragraph describing how some eavesdropping little sneak-“child hero” was the phrase generally used- had overheard some compromising remark and denounced his parents to the Though Police.
7) What is a way that Orwell shows us we will not have privacy if a Big Brother came into power?
A: A big one he shows to us is all the Telescreens that are all around the town and in your homes. When some one tells you people are watching you all the time even when you are at your house were people are supposed to have the most privacy that would make me feel like I never would truly have privacy of any kind at all. You would have to watch every little thing you did to make sure you did not go against the Party and you would be in fear at all times because if you make a mistake of any kind you could be vaporized.
8) What is Orwell trying to tell us to do if a 1984 would happen to us?
A: He is strongly telling us to rebel against the government if they every try and take complete control over its people. The people should rebel before the government has complete control. The people have to keep a close eye on the laws that are being pasted because they could come back to hurt you if you do not know what laws your government is passing. He is telling us to never lose are mind. In the scene that we have to remember every one is made uniquely and differently. If you are able to keep your mind and a scene of what is good and bad or morally right or morally wrong the government could never take complete control of its people.
9) What would have to happen to day for people to blindly follow what the government tells us? How is government as a whole like Big Brother? What do the American people have to do to stop the government from getting to much power?
A: Truly but very sadly not much. Do not misunderstand me but after the attacks on the world trade centers the United States government found ways to have the American people blindly follow and trust them. The government put into law the Patriot Act. All it really did was take more rights away from the great people to the United States. If for any reason at all the government thinks you have something to do with terrorism even if you have nothing to do with it the government has been given lots more power to get your phone taped. The United States government can listen to your conversations if they think you are a terrorist with out going through the courts to get a warrant. They have been given a short cut to getting around the freedoms America stands for. You may say I am not a good American citizen but I am. If you let the government have to ability to listen to any conversation they feel they have to because they say it deals with terrorism where do you set the line and tell the government enough is enough and they can no longer take more freedoms away from us. That is how are government is like Big Brother they want more and more power to do what they want to with it and will all ways want more and more power. I do not want my government to make any more laws limiting my rights as an American citizen. It is very simple with what the American people have to do to stop letting the government get more power stand up to them and say enough is enough. If this becomes a big decisions in elections and the American people only vote for the people that will not limit are rights any more that is how the American voice will be heard.
10) http://readers.penguin.co.uk/nf/Document/DocumentDisplay/0,,P000100000032,00.html
Although we haven’t yet got telescreens we do have an expansion of CCTV. Our Internet use, e-mails and phone calls can all be monitored. Loyalty and credit cards allow our movements to be tracked and our spending habits to be analysed.
A: It is so true what this person is saying. The government or other people can track us through are movements when we are on the Internet, e-mail and phone calls. They can not see us directly but they can find out what we are up to. The government can also track us when we use are credit card. Really the government could find any one in the whole U.S. when every they want to.
1. Why is Syme’s appearance in the novel important to Winston and the message of the novel?
Syme is one of the people who are slowly erasing the old language into newspeak. He is important because he shows that even people who do exactly what they are supposed to also can be vaporized. He knows too much about the inner workings of the party, and he is eventually vaporized because of it around the time the new edition of the dictionary is coming out.
2. Why is important to Winston that he buys useless things from the past?
Winston is one of the few people that see the value in the old things. They are from a time that didn’t have an overpowering government and a time when people had actual freedom. He sees that these little trinkets are windows to the past and are helping him to answer questions he has of the future, like, “was the past really worse then the present?”
3. What is the Brotherhood and what does it stand for?
The brotherhood is a secret underground society that aims to overthrow the government. The brotherhood knows that they exist, but they have no way of knowing how many members they have or have any way of contacting each other. They stand for freedom and choice. They have become the embodiment of all the people who want change in the party.
4. What is significant about the two minutes of hate?
The two minutes of hate are a way to brainwash people. It numbs people to actual hate, and also makes enemies of the party enemies of the people by exposing certain figures repeatedly to people during the hate session. It is also a way for people to get their hate out. During the two minutes hate, it allows people to openly get their frustrations out and makes for a safer party.
5. Explain why Julia is such an interesting character? (Ex. She is a thought criminal but she works for the government).
She is a freedom addict. She does things someone in her position would never be expected to do. She frequently volunteers her time to the party, doing things such as the junior anti sex league. But it’s only a cover-up. Underneath all the party activities she is expressing her freedoms. She has become interested in Winston because, like her, she could tell that he was a rebel. I always thought that she was setting him up.
6. What does Winston start renting from the shop keeper and why?
Winston starts renting the room above the shop. At first, he thought it would be a good place to just be away from the party and the telescreens, but now it’s because of his affair with Julia also. They first started having their affair in hiding places, but now they have a regular place to meet where they can be with each other and now worry about what other people may see them doing.
7. What is significant about Winston’s meeting with O’Brien?
O’Brien proves the existence of the Brotherhood. Up until then, Winston wasn’t even sure if anyone else existed that felt the same way as he and Julia did. Now, O’Brien will start giving Winston and Julia instructions on what to do to overthrow the party. This is a real turning point for Winston. It has given him new purpose. He will now be able to act on what he’s been thinking for along time now, and he may even die doing it, but is perfectly willing to as long as it means the destruction of the party. I think it will be hard for anyone to do anything to worth while right away because the Brotherhood is so spread out. It is going to take some time for all these actions to add up, but when they finally to amount to something, it will mean the empowerment of the people and the disarmament of the party. Winston agrees to do anything for the party because he knows that to make any difference its going to take some drastic measures.
8. Why did Winston’s relationship with his first wife not work out?
Winston didn’t like his first wife. I may go as far to say as he hated her. She did everything to serve the party. He hated the fact that every faucet of her being was geared towards the benefit of the party. She would volunteer their time to serving Big Brother in some way. I think if Winston had stayed with her that he eventually would have been turned in as a thought criminal. Even the sex they had was for the party. It was an activity, something to do, not something to do for pleasure. If she had maybe wanted to do something for fun, or just because, then maybe it would have worked. But in the long run, neither of them could accomplish what they wanted when they were with each other.
9. What are some things that the government does to make people act the way they want.
The government has complete control over everyone. They have ways of making you scared to think. They have the Thought Police. What’s scarier then someone policing your mind? How can they even tell what it is that you’re thinking? Really, they could just arrest you and kill you, even if you completely loyal in thought and deed to the party. Another thing they’re good at is brainwashing. Two minutes of hate. This is a tool used to numb and brainwash everyone. During the two minutes of hate, images of things, such as Goldstein and the Eastasia/Eurasian(depending on when you look at who they are fighting) soldiers and leaders, so that the people become numb to feeling that they are people, and see them as inhumane monsters that they want to tear apart if they had the chance. The two minutes of hate is also a way to actively let people release their anger. Any act of hate towards anyone on the street for no reason would be a hate crime, but once a day one can let out their anger, and in so doing, is venting and preventing a later outbreak. People in this novel have a lot to be mad about. The fact that the government tries to control everyone is a big one, and two minutes of hate allows them to keep people in check. Another thing they’ve done is convince the children it’s good to rat their parents out. Who better to get inside someone’s home then someone who actually live there? Plus, children are easily influenced with promises of huge rewards when they do turn their parents in. Children are a great tool to use because they are easily influenced, and once they are convinced in the ways of the party, it will be easier to control them when they become older. They will be better party members.
10. http://summarycentral.tripod.com/1984.htm
This is a website that gives a great summary of the novel. It talks about the terrifying future of George Orwell fantasies, and also gives detailed character synapses. By the way, I was reading about the characters, and I read Mr. Charrington’s description, and it ruined the book for me, so now I’m really angry!
Critical, thorough, and aware, Luke. Well done, as always.
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Sorry, Jason. But you can still enjoy it, right? You can still find significant meaning, right? You don't know all the details, surely. Even though I knew the outcome of Schindler's List I thoroughly enjoyed it and learned a lot from the film.
Q1. What is the atmosphere like in the novel 1984?
A1. The atmosphere in the novel is one of fear and unawareness. The citizens of the novel live in a state of unhappiness and have very little freedom of their own. When one reads the novel, it is depicted as a large gray world, one with little color to represent happiness.
Q2. Describe the children of the novel.
A2. The children of the novel are terrors, they are trained in school to watch their parents for suspicious activity and report them to the government. Mrs. Parsons is afraid of her children who are always quoting slogans of the party. She is afraid she will be turned into the government.
Q3. Who are Syme and Mr. Parsons?
A3. Syme and Mr. Parsons are “friends” of Winston, but in reality one is not allowed to have friends, they are more of acquaintances. Syme is a philologist who specializes in Newspeak. He is later vaporized for his intelligence. Mr. Parsons is a brainwashed follower, an ideal member of the party.
Q4. At first glance Julia represents the ideal party member. How is she portrayed as the novel progresses?
A4. Julia falls in love with Winston, for realizing he hates the party. She is a very good “actor,” she follows the rules of the party in public and participates in activities outside of work. In reality she hates the party more than Winston and wants to take the party down.
Q5. What is the party slogan and what is the significance of it?
A5. The slogan is WAR IS PEACE. FREEDOM IS SLAVERY. IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH. The significance of the slogan is that it is irony in itself, the inner party makes the quote seem important but in reality the quote is a contradiction in itself as the quote is opposite of our perception.
Q6. What is the ideal behavior of the party members?
A6. An Ideal member of the party is one who is brainwashed and will follow the words of Big Brother, no matter what. They are suggested to engage in community activities for the good of the party. One is also supposed to only have sex to reproduce, not for pleasure.
Q7. In one’s opinion why was a character like Winston chosen to be the protagonist of the story?
A7. Winston was chosen for many reasons to be the main character of the novel 1984. Winston is the type of character many people would call an anti-hero, a person who is not good looking or charming or even having any wonderful traits. Winston was chosen for this reason. Winston was also chosen to be the character to have thoughts against Big Brother and the Inner Party, even though Orwell could have made anyone have thoughts against Big Brother he choose Winston. He was chosen for this reason also because of the fact he is different from the majority of the population, different enough to stick out and discover what is truly happening with Big Brother and the Inner Party.
Q8. What are the ministries and what do they do? What ministry does Winston work at?
A8. There are four ministries and each of them have specific jobs that must be completed. The first ministry is the Ministry of Truth which handles news, entertainment, education and the fine arts. This is where Winston works at, where his job is to “fix” articles and make them “true.” The second ministry is the Ministry of Peace which handles war. The third ministry is the Ministry of Love which maintains law and order. The Ministry of Love is the most frightening of the four according to Winston. The final ministry is the Ministry of Plenty which handles economic affairs. Each of the ministries are named completely opposite for what they do.
Q9. George Orwell wrote 1984 to warn the world of what can happen if the government takes to much control. What are some examples of countries that are similar to the structure of 1984? How can a government become like this and how can we prevent it?
A9. Throughout the years there have been many regions that were like 1984’s government or have been very similar. No country has ever been as extreme as changing information to control the population to their liking, but countries such as Germany and Russia were a dictatorship at one time. Germany became control after Hitler came into power. This happened because the country was too far into debt to pay and they needed someone who “promised” to help them. Hitler promised to bring the country out of debt so they people followed him blindly without using reason. Russia became a communist country when Stalin came into office. When a country’s government becomes corrupt as has happened in the past or even in the book, it is hard to change as people are afraid of being killed for standing up. There are two major reasons a country can become controlled such as in 1984. The first reason is military force. If a military becomes to powerful without any power prevention system, they will easily be able to overthrow a government. The second is false promise. This is like how Hitler promised to take Germany out of debt. A government can be prevented from becoming to powerful. The biggest thing that can prevent a government from becoming to powerful is the people, only if the people have a say in the government. The people are the ones who vote for leaders of our nation so if we don’t vote for someone who is corrupt that is a prevention method. A method in the government of the United States is the veto. The veto is a major key in keeping the president from seizing to much power. The veto allows any law to be overthrown with the majority of the vote. The current system of the United States government is built around ideal of having the people as the head of the nation, but having the government act out the roles. With our system and America being the peace keepers of the world, I find it hard to believe we ever need to worry about a government such as the one in 1984 ever happening.
Q10. http://www.mondopolitico.com/library/1984/1984.htm
A10. This website goes into the discussion of how citizens of today are willing to give up freedoms to remain safe. It uses the example of the Twin Towers to express their opinions. They also bring up the idea of how 1984 was the first book to show a society where war is freedom.
1. Where does Winston work? What does he do?
A: Winston works in the Ministry of Truth department. He re-writes articles, or rather re-writes history, for the Times to ensure that Big Brother is never wrong. For example, if Big Brother were to say that the soldiers of Oceania were going to earn a victory in Eurasia but in reality they were defeated, Winston would re-write the article and say that Oceania troops would lose a battle in Eurasia, but fought with great valor.
2. Who is Julia? Initially, how does Winston feel about her?
A: Julia is a girl that work at the Ministry of Truth in the Fiction Department. Winston hates her from the minute he sees her. Winston describes her as having “thick dark hair, a freckled face, and swift, athletic movements.” She also wears a scarlet sash around her waist, which signifies her membership in the Junior Anti-Sex League. Winston dislikes most women, but he especially hates the young and pretty ones, like Julia.
3. Who is always the object of hate during the Two Minute Hate?
A: The program of the Two Minute Hate varies from day to day, but everyday Emmanuel Goldstein is the principal figure. Goldstein is the “Enemy of the People” who was once a leading figure of the Party, almost on the same level as Big Brother. However, Goldstein soon engaged in counterrevolutionary activities and was condemned to death, but somehow mysteriously escaped and disappeared. All subsequent crimes against the Party spring directly out of his teachings.
4. How are Winston and Julia thoughtcriminals?
A: Winston is a thoughtcriminal by writing a diary. Free thinking is not allowed under Big Brother and is punishable by death or 25 years in a forced labor camp. Julia is a thoughtcrminal by having promiscuous sex with many men. What is ironic about Julia’s activities is that she is a member of the Junior Anti-Sex League. The two commit thoughtcrimes together by having sex numerous times together. Both of them are certain that death or vaporization is not far off for them as a result of their actions.
5. Winston made a prediction about O’Brien. What was his prediction and was he correct?
A: During the Two Minute Hate, Winston made eye contact with O’Brien. For a split second, Winston could sense by the look in O’Brien’s eye that he feels the same about the government as Winston does. Later, we find out that O’Brien does in fact oppose the government and is a prominent member of the Brotherhood, the leading opposition group.
6. Describe Winston’s marriage.
A: Winston and his wife Katherine had split 11 years ago after only being together for 15 months. In his mind, he nicknamed her “the human sound track” because she was incapable of thinking on her own. He would have been able to put up living with her if it wasn’t for the sex. Katherine hated having sex, yet continued to engage in the activity so that they could produce a child, “their duty to the Party” as she described it.
7. Describe the differences in Winston’s feelings towards Julia.
A: Initially, Winston says that he had disliked Julia from the moment he saw her. Winston hated most women, especially ones like Julia who are young and pretty. Winston admits to hating even the sight of Julia and wanting two rape her and murder her afterwards. Only two weeks prior to the beginning of their relationship, Winston wanted to smash her head in with a cobblestone because he thought she was affiliated with the Thought Police and was going to turn him in. However, once he finds out she is an opponent to the Party, he begins to feel affection for her. Before they are about to make love, Julia mentioned that she has done it “scores of times.” Winston wishes that it had been hundreds or thousands of times because he finds that corruption and impurity turn him on. Winston even tells Julia that “the more men you’ve had, the more I love you.” Winston thought of their love-making as a “blow struck against the Party. It was a political act.”
8. How are children the most important/influential members of the Party?
A: Children are a very important key to the running of the Party. Young children are very impressionable, and therefore are the easiest to brainwash. The idea of using children as a political ally was even used by Hitler. The Hitler Youth was basically a Nazi-Boy Scout troop. Children, being brainwashed by the doctrines of the Nazi Party, often turned in their parents for being opponents of the Nazi Party. It is not uncommon for children to turn in their own parents for thoughtcrimes against the Party because they have been conditioned to report any such crimes. Mr. Parson’s even brags about his children’s tendency to seek out thoughtcriminals and turn them in. Winston finds this ironic because he is certain that the Parsons’ children will eventually one day turn their parents in for thoughtcrimes.
9. Is Socialism good in theory?
A: Is Socialism good in theory? In an earlier blog I had made the statement that Socialism is in fact good in theory. However, after doing some research on the topic, I am not quite so sure about my assessment anymore. Isn’t it strange though, that for something that has been discredited economically, many people believe that it would work theoretically.
Socialism promises an overabundance of goods to its people, therefore making sharing unnecessary. If this were the case, in 1984 people would not have to worry about the chocolate rations being lessened. Socialism also promised to subordinate the individual to society while liberating himself to be fully free of the necessity to make a living. Leon Trotsky, a leader of the Russian Bolshevik Revolution, said that a “Communist man will become immeasurably stronger, wiser, and subtler.” He also said, however, that “In a country where the sole employer is the state, opposition means death by slow starvation. The old principle: who does not work shall not eat, has been replaced by a new one: who does not obey shall not eat.”
Socialism, also in theory promises to bring an end to inequality. However, that is not able to happen either. As Karl Marx said, Socialism would promise only to fill “each according to his needs.” But as we all know, everyone has different needs, so what may be equal to someone, isn’t equal to another. Which brings up another flaw in Socialist theory; an individual’s needs are determined and satisfied by the state. So, what the state may feel is completely satisfied, the individual may not feel the same.
After reading up on the ins-and-outs of Socialism, I do not believe that it can work even in theory. To me, capitalism is the only way anything can work, realistically or theoretically. Capitalism has essentially already achieved material equality, while Socialism has not. Capitalism lets the individual establish their own needs and what is needed to fill those needs, while in Socialism it is pre-determined.
10. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcS0NzoSJcU&feature=related
This is a video on YouTube with footage of protestors in Tiananmen Square and other images of war. The music is that of Anti-Flag’s “Welcome to 1984”. The lyrics of the song suggest that the world that Orwell had predicted has indeed come true and that he is adding fresh ink to the page from the grave. The lyrics also say that armies of peace are delivering death to make the world a better place and that if we do not change our ways we will all be heading straight to hell…a somewhat interesting take on the events going on in our world.
1. Who is Winston and of what importance is he?
- Winston is the main character of George Orwell’s novel 1984. He is a member of the Party and works at the Ministry of Truth where he changes history to be in favor of Big Brother. He is also a prominent Thought- Criminal because he has began to keep a journal in which he logs all of his hatred for the world he lives in and free thinking independence into.
2. Who is Big Brother and what does he control?
- Big Brother is a grand looking man who has a strong face and a heroic mustache and is the glorious leader of the Party and ruler of Oceania. He always right and never wrong even if he is. His face is everywhere on posters, TV’s, buildings, statues, etc. He is always watching the citizens of Oceania to make sure they are living the way he wants them to and if someone defies him they are vaporized and made an “ unperson”
3. Why are parents scared of their children?
- Parents are scared of their children because Big Brother and the Party have brainwashed the children the same way Hitler did with the children of Germany in WWII. The children are bribed with candy and toys if they can catch their parents committing “Thought Crimes”. The parents are then vaporized.
4. Who is Goldstein?
-Goldstein is a man that is hated by all people in Oceania and is told to be the reason why things are so bad. He is a former high-ranking Party member who was declared a traitor by Big Brother and has been used as a scapegoat ever since. He has been described as having a Jewish face, which is ironic because Hitler used the Jewish people as reason for Germany’s problems during WWII.
5. Why do people choose to buy Telesreeens?
- People buy telescreens because they want to prove their loyalty to Big Brother. If you have a telescreen then that means you have nothing to hide and therefore won’t be investigated as closely by the Thought-Police. Winston wants to buy an antique shop because it does not have a telescreen and will make it easy for him to write in his journal.
6. How has Winston committed Thought Crime so far?
-Winston is guilty of thought crime because of a number of things. Fist he commits it by starting to write in a journal at his home. He then writes about how much he hates being a mindless zombie who does everything he is told out of fear of being vaporized. Also he thinks for himself while in public and has urges of a natural human being, which is also a thought crime punishable by vaporization.
7. What message is Orwell trying to convey to the reader?
- Orwell is trying to tell the reader that if we allow ourselves to become uninformed and unaware of what our government is doing then what is happening to Winston and the rest of the world in the book 1984 will happen to us. He is telling us that if we stop questioning things and stop standing up for ourselves when we know things aren’t right then eventually we will be killed for doing so. People are capable of doing extraordinary things, horrible, but extraordinary. We must always have a plan for stopping extraordinary horrible deeds and if we fail to do so the consequences could be so bad that even thinking our own thoughts that we can’t help but think will get us vaporized.
8. What do the words “War is Peace, Freedom is Slavery, and Ignorance is Strength” mean?
-“War is Peace” can be interpreted, as without war there can be no peace. If a person thinks about it all throughout the history of Man there has been war. Peace is the opposite to war just like day is to the night. If it is not day then it is night and if someone is not at war then they are at peace. “Freedom is Slavery” means that in order to be free and safe then you must be treated as a slave. The people of Oceania have given up their rights of privacy for security and are there for watched, punished, and treated like objects and not people just as slaves are. “Ignorance is Strength” to be ignorant is to deny your own faults and is not something associated with strength. I believe that the Party thinks that by denying everything that is wrong with Oceania and saying that everything is great and that they are strong will make people believe they are.
9. What should we do now to prevent what is happening in 1984 from happening to us?
-I think in order to remain free-thinking individuals we need to always question what the ones in political power do. We need to always understand what is going on and never get to the point where we don’t care as long as things get done. We need to never surrender our rights as humans and as U.S. citizens and should never have to back down from any other human being no matter what. We must be willing to die for our right to say what we want when we want to and to never be silenced. We must never forget all the times we have came close to this happening and we must never stop teaching the future generations because someday it will be up to them to guard our individuality. The Holocaust, the Kurds, Burma, Somalia, etc. are all just little tastes of what can happen if the deadly virus of evil intention finds its way into the minds of those in power. When we are told to sit down, someone must find the courage to stay standing and others must be willing to join them. It can almost be said that the quote below was written for the book 1984.
“Our greatest fear is not that we are inadequate, but that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us.
We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, handsome, talented and fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small does not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God within us.
It is not just in some; it is in everyone.
And, as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
- Marianne Williamson
10. www.readers.penguin.co.uk
- On this website a book club is thinking about reading the book 1984 even though most of the members have already read it when they were in high school. They were going to read it because they wanted to see if it affected them differently now that they are mature adults and have lived in this world longer and have been through more experiences with politics and government. It is interesting because someone from the group says this “We were all surprised how relevant it is as a commentary on current society rather than just a dystopian vision of the future. This made the book even more compelling.” This statement tells me that they believe that much of the book 1984 has happened or is beginning to happen to our world in some form or another.
1) Explain the irony of the Ministry of Truth.
The irony of the Ministry of Truth is they are really all about lies. They take what has been said or what has happened in the past and change it so that it looks like Big Brother can predict the future. They change history so that Big Brother can look like a god to the Party members. And makes it harder for anyone to question Big Brother’s ideas or actions.
2) What does Winston think of Syme?
Syme is a “comrade” of Winston and works in the Research Department. He is considered to be philologist and loves the language of Newspeak. Winston thinks that Syme knows too much for his own good. Winston knows that someday Syme will disappear for knowledge of different subjects. Then later we find out that Winston’s prediction turns out to be true. Syme becomes on of those people who have been vaporized and no longer exist in history.
3) What is the point of the two minutes of hate?
The point of the two minutes of hate is to create hatred towards any certain person or nation that Big Brother does not find suiting. The Party members are being trained to hate. As Julia demonstrates, people act extremely violent. Going as far as throwing things at the telescreen and screaming at the top of their lungs. The main person that Big Brother does not find suiting is Emmanuel Goldstein and can be found in every two minutes of hate.
4) Who is Mr. Charrington and does he do to add to the plot?
Mr. Charrington is the prole shop owner, from whom Winston buys his diary. Mr. Charrington looks like he is of the age of sixty. Winston and Mr. Charrington discuss various items the shop has lying around and Mr. Charrington even shows Winston the upstairs of the shop. Here is a big room that has a kitchen, bed, and a sitting area. This is where Mr. Charrington lived with his wife. She is now dead. Mr. Charrington adds to the plot because his room above the shop is were Winston and Julia come to commit their thoughtcrimes.
5) What is the purpose of the thought police and vaporization?
The purpose of the thought police is to create fear in the Party members and to act as a controlling power in what people think about or how they act. They are hidden through out the Party, which makes people really think about what they are going to say. The Party members know that if they say the wrong thing to the wrong person they could be looking at death or a force-labor camp. Vaporization is another tactic that creates fear in the Party members. None of the Party members want to be vaporized. If a person is vaporized they are completely wiped out of history. It is as though that person never existed.
6) What are Winston’s thoughts about keeping a diary?
Winston thinks that keeping a diary is something that he can do for future generation, so they can read about the truth of the Party. He knows that even just owning the diary can get him twenty-five years in a forced-labor camp or even get him killed. Winston does not care about the results of his actions as long his thoughts get out and that they possibly can end the Party. His diary can also be seen as a way to help him express himself. Also, it can prevent him from saying something, which he does not want to be heard, in his sleep that a telescreen will pick up and possibly get him into even more trouble.
7) What are Winston’s thoughts about his mother & sister? How does Julia react to his feelings?
Winston thoughts about his mother and sister are ones of guilt. In his age he realizes how bad he treated them before they disappeared or possibly got them murdered. But he also knows that they died to keep the past from coming back. They knew too much, while Winston was still young enough to be brain washed in the Big Brother’s teachings. When Winston tries to express his feelings about this subject to Julia, she acts like she does not care. She has gotten to the point where some deep feelings another person is trying to express do not really matter. She does not really care how Winston feels about this subject and only wants to get some more sleep.
8) What is the significance of O’ Brain’s note?
O’ Brain give Winston a note that contains O’Brian’s address. The reason for the note is for Winston to come and pick up the newest edition of Newspeak dictionary. Right away Winston gets the idea that O’ Brain is part of the Brotherhood and going to ask Winston to join. Winston becomes very nervous about this subject and questions whether he should really go to O’ Brains house. In the end Winston and Julia go to O’ Brain’s house. Together they find out that O’ Brain is part of the Brotherhood. To their surprise, they are asked to join the Brotherhood. This answers Winston’s question about the existence of the Brotherhood. They are both really excited to be part of the Brotherhood and to be helping to the cause.
9) Explain Winston’s thoughts of Julia up to this point and explain parts of their relationship.
When we are first introduced to Julia, Winston talks strongly against he. He tells us that he hates all women, especially the pretty ones. Winston tells us that he believes that she is even more dangerous than any other women he knows or sees. Winston hates her so much that he has dreams about raping her, just because she is part of the Junior Anti-Sex League. He thinks this because he knows it would be degrading to her. Then one night Winston is walking around in proles area and he runs into Julia. At this moment his hatred becomes so great that a thinks about going up to her and smashing her head in with the glass paper weight that he just bought. To our surprise Julia comes up to Winston one day at work, fakes an injury, and gives Winston a note. Winston is hesitant to open the note, but when he finally does he finds out that Julia loves him. Winston is surprise about the note but wants to talk to Julia even more. Once he gets the chance, they decide to meet up in a forested area that Julia knows very well. At this point Winston’s view of Julia changes from hatred to love. Together they find out their love for each other and decide to have a secret relationship. They tell each other that they do not care about the results of their actions towards each other, as long as they are together. In this scene we find out that Julia has slept with many men even though she is part of the Junior Anti-Sex League. And this makes her even more appealing to Winston. Over the next couple of months they become very close and also exhaust all of Julia’s secret hiding spots. Winston decides to ask Mr. Charrington if he can rent out his upstairs room has a hiding spot for the two of them to meet up at. Mr. Charrington agrees and his extra room turns into a new spot for the couple. It here were the two spend many evenings and exchange many black-market items. They also spend time here talking about their live and beliefs.
10) http://www.netcharles.com/orwell/articles/1984-background-info.htm
At this website they really tell you what is going on in the book and gives you examples or definitions to something you may not understand in the book. It really gives you background to why Orwell wrote the book and some his main points about the book. The website even go as far as telling you how Orwell changed some very important quotes into meaningful quotes in the book. And shows you how far Orwell went to tie this book into real life and what was or could happen in the future.
• What person is Big Brother most like in history?
I think that Big Brother would be the most like Hitler. I think this because Big Brother killed everyone that plans to or is rebelling against him and Hitler killed everyone that is different from his view of a perfect person. Big Brother is forming a society that if you don’t obey what he tells you to do than you are the different one and should be vaporized for it.
• Why is it illegal to keep a diary?
It is illegal because writing in a diary takes thought and Big Brother forbids thought. BB doesn’t want thought because than people would start to see that they could have a better life without him. Those people could start a rebellion against him.
• Who is Winston’s diary for?
Winston’s diary was for the future at first then once he know of thought he know that O’Brien was against the party too he started writing it for him. I think that Winston is writing the diary for himself, so he has something to look back on to see how much the past has changed.
• Why is everyone conditioned to hate Goldstein?
Everyone hates Goldstein because he was a part of the group trying to overthrow BB. Goldstein was also a part of the party. Goldstein was vaporized for going against the party. Goldstein is used in the two minutes hate, for an example of what kind of people to hate and turn in to BB.
• Who is Comrade Ogilvy?
Comrade Ogilvy is a person that Winston made up. Ogilvy was made up to cover up a speech about an unperson. Winston made up the life of Ogilvy as if he had been a model citizen for everyone to look up to.
• Why is the hope of over throwing Big Brother in the proles?
The hope is in the proles because they are the only ones not under constant watch of BB. The proles don’t have telescreens in every room watching and listening to every thing that goes on. The proles are the only ones that are not brainwashed by BB.
• How has Big Brother brainwashed an entire society?
Oceana was in a recession and was looking for a leader to get them out of it. When Big Brother took over he started a revolution against free thinking. After he won the revolution he told everyone that life would be better this way because they would always be taken care of. The kids that didn’t know the time before the revolution are the ones that are truly brainwashed because they think that BB is always right even if he says two plus two equals five. The Parson’s kids are a great example of this because they think that Winston is a thought criminal and they threaten to vaporize him. The kids also think that the hanging is a great way to spend an afternoon.
• Could 1984 happen today in any country?
I think that 1984 would most likely happen in a third world country because the people in those countries are already clueless to what the government is doing. A leader like Big Brother could easily be put in control and brainwash the top officials that know more of what goes on than the common person or prole as they are called in 1984. The world police as America is known as would step in and overthrow a dictator like BB like they did in Iraq. I think that the world needs a police that keeps the government in other countries in check, I do not think that it has to be America but we are the only ones brave enough to stand up to a dictator that has stricken fear into the world. I do not think 1984 could happen completely in America. The security cameras are like the telescreens that watch our every move. It would not completely happen because the people have a right to speech out against the government. The president can also be impeached if he does something like what BB is doing to Oceana. When the constitution was written it was intended to prevent any one person from gaining too much power to control the entire nation by himself. This book also could not happen because the world would never split into three countries that are constantly fighting each other. I think that 1984 is closest to resembling North Korea. North Korea is a communist country that is threatening the world with its nuclear warheads. I think that Hitler depicted the book when he controlled who was to have a baby and who was to be killed. I think that this would not happen today because we have to many laws protecting against it or is having the laws making us like 1984.
www.orwelltoday.com
“When asked whether employees should assume everything they do inside the office is being monitored, privacy lawyer David Fraser says: "It's not bad advice, even though it may sound a bit paranoid." Workers should be aware that some of the office technologies they use and even carry on their person could easily become tools of Big Brother. So let's get paranoid.”
This website talks about how security cameras are used to spy on American citizens. It also talks about how everyday things can be used to track your every move. A company car equipped with a GPS can help you find your destination but the company can also track the car and tell where you are at any given time.
1.)What does Julia’s note say that she gave to Winston?
-Julia is the sexy brunette woman that Winston despised/fantasized about. He hated her because he knew he could not have her, and she was so beautiful that he found himself constantly thinking about her. Winston felt there was something about her. He found her spying on him and accused her of being part of the Thought Police. When she ran into him and handed him note it read, “I love you.”
2.)Who is Mr. Charrington, and what does he provide to Julia and Winston?
-Mr. Charrington is a prole who owns a store with miscellaneous items. He is a widower who seems very lonely and opens up to the strangers that come into his store. He does not have a telescreen because he cannot afford one. What he provides is his wife’s old room where there is no telescreens and they can live for a couple of hours in private.
3.)Where do Winston and Julia meet for the first time?
-Winston and Julia first meet with each other in a secret place that Julia knew about. It is located in the woods and has short vegetation, which insures that their wont be any microphones, so they can speak in private. They are also in a place where they could hear the rustle of the plants if someone was to come near.
4.)Why was Syme vaporized?
-Syme was in charge of the Newspeak dictionary making sure that people wont have to use their brains as much as possible. He came up with words like ungood, plusungood, to mean bad and really bad. The reason Syme was vaporized was for the pure fact that he knew too much and had too many of his own ideas.
5.)What was Winston’s first reaction when entering the O’Brien household?
-Winston had always suspected O’Brien as being a thought criminal from the first time he made eye contact with him. Even though he had a strong feeling the O’Brien was thought criminal he was very nervous about meeting with him and regretted even going there because, he did not want to be vaporized.
6.)Why was Winston so selfish when he was younger?
-When Winston was younger he lived with his mother and his infant sister. When his father disappeared, his mother seemed to be going through depression. When Winston’s father was around he was used to getting more attention than he did with his mother, but ever since his father left they went into poverty and his mother was not the same person she once was. So when it came down to food Winston wanted it all even though he saw how his mother and sister were starving.
7.)Why don’t the proles bane together and rebel against Big Brother?
-The proles are the people that are the average people that are not part of the Inner Party or the Outer Party. The proles are not even required to have a telescreen. With these freedoms you would think they would be able to gather their own thoughts, and realize that Big Brother is a corrupt system. Winston even notes that if they want to rebel against the brotherhood it must be with the proles. The main reason the proles do not rebel is because Big Brother keeps them unaware of what things that are going on. Brig Brother also provides the proles with enough things to keep them happy so they would have no reason to rebel.
8.)How do the Parson’s children act, and how is that significant?
-Winston works with the father of the Parson children, and when he went over to their house the children attacked him saying he was a thought criminal. They pretended to shoot him, and vaporize him. Instead of playing cops and robbers they played Thought Police and thought criminals. The Parson’s daughter was out on a hike and saw a person out in the woods. She thought this was strange, because this stranger had foreign shoes on. She then proceeded to follow him and then turn him into the Thought Police. The actions of the Parson children are significant, because it shows how Big Brother has brain washed the children to be completely faithful to him. The children represent the next generation, who do not have their own thought process or their own free will, but only do things that Big Bother wants them to do. Children even turn in their parents if they over hear them having their own thoughts, or disagreeing with Big Brother. These children experience no emotion what so ever.
9.)What are the questions that O’Brien asks Winston and Julia, and how do they respond?
-When Winston and Julia go to visit O’Brien they are very skeptical on what O’Brien needs, and why he wanted them to visit. O’Brien initially tells Winston that he wanted him to come over to his house to pick up the tenth addition of Newspeak, because if Winston works in the Ministry of Truth he should use the latest way of speaking. When Winston and Julia arrive at O’Brien’s house they are greeted by his Asian servant then directed to the room where O’Brien is. O’Brien greets Winston and Julia and then turns the telescreen off. They begin by having every day conversation, and then Winston begins to tell O’Brien everything that was on his mind. He tells O’Brien that him and Julia are thought criminals and that if O’Brien knows of a rebellion against Big Brother, him and Julia would like to join. O’ Brien then tells Winston that there is a rebellion, but no one knows who else is in it and that it could range from only hundreds people to maybe thousands of people. He goes on by saying that no one talks about the rebellion and that they randomly get messages from anonymous people that tell them what they need to do. O’Brien than begins to ask Winston and Julia a set of questions about certain situations they may find themselves in and see if they can handle them. Some of the questions were, “You are prepared to give your lives (187),” “You are prepared to commit murder (187),” “To commit acts of sabotage which may cause the death of hundreds of innocent people (188)?” Winston and Julia bother reply yes to all the questions with no hesitation. The only question that Julia instantly responded no to was, “You are prepared, the two of you, to separate and never see one another again (188)?” Since Winston really wanted to be a part of the rebellion he hesitated at this question but then later answered no. They both answered no to this question because prior to meeting with O’Brien they both had discussed that no matter what they would stay together. Despite Winston and Julia’s response of saying no to that one question, O’Brien still accepted them into the rebellion
10.)“A recent study showed that thanks to Fox News and other Minitrue news sources, most Americans believe untrue things about the war in Iraq.” Studentsfororwell.org
-This website is interesting to me because it presents the facts that our world is slowly turning into that of how it is in 1984. It states how us Americans are slowly losing our freedoms, and that since we do not keep informed and do not stay involved with our politics that our government is slowly taking over. The quote I chose I found particularily interesting because I believe it is 100% true. Our media feels that it is not good news unless it is bad news, especiall in the case of the Iraq War. All they talk about is how people are getting killed and how we are torturing prisoners, basically negative things. They should start focusing on the positive things, such as our soldiers building new schools, providing homes, and providing the Iraq people with employment. All they focus on is the negatives, which most of the time are not even true. Our country needs to choose for themeselves what they want to believe in, and not rely soly on the media.
1) Who did Winston find out likes him, how did he find out?
*Winston found out that Julia likes him. He found out when Julia acted like she fell and was hurt. She had a sling on her arm, and she fell on her arm so she looked like she was in extreme pain. Winston gave her his hand to help her get up and when Winston gave her a hand to help her up, Julia handed him a note that said “I love you.”
2) Why are the Parson’s kids important to the story?
*The nine year old boy and seven year old girl act like they are spies at their young age. When Winston went to their house to fix their sink, the kids told Winston to put his hands up. They could tell that Winston wasn’t true to the Party. Someday the kids would probably tell on their own parents for not being faithful.
3) Who is Syme and hwy is he significant?
*Syme is a philogist who works in the Research Department. He is a specialist in Newspeak. As Winston was having lunch with Syme, Winston knew that someday Syme would be vaporized. Not to long later, Syme disappeared and it was as if Syme never existed.
4) Why is the Party supposed to hate Goldstein?
*The truth of why the Party is supposed to hate Goldstein is because he represents good things, and Big Brother doesn’t want good things to exist. Goldstein is a Jew who traitor because he wanted freedom and peace for Oceania. He was a very clever man.
5) How is it that Julia has not been caught of being a thought criminal?
*Julia acts like she is very true to the Party when she is being watched. She attends anti-sex league meetings, helps with posters for the Party, and helps prepare things for Hate Week. It is mainly Julia’s body that goes against the Party. She doesn’t remember what it was like before the Revolution. Her mind is filled with things that Big Brother tell her. She doesn’t pay attention to how Big Brother changes things.
6) Who is Mr. Charrington? Is he a thought criminal?
*He is the owner of an antique store. He lets Winston and Julia use the upstairs of his store to make love. He doesn’t have a telescreen in his store because he couldn’t afford one, and plus he said there was no need for one. He is a thought criminal. First he is because he allows Winston and Julia to go against the Party in his building. He doesn’t turn them in as thought criminals. Another reason is because he says old rhymes that existed before the Revolution. He remembers and talks about the past.
7) How is this book a dystopia?
*Dystopia depicts society as it should not be. This book has things happen that are completely the opposite of what would happen in a perfect life. The three slogans are great examples of dystopia: War is Peace, Freedom is Slavery, and Ignorance is Strength. In a utopian world, those things mean opposite, where here, they equal the same meaning. Peace, freedom, and strength is what we like. It is a comfort knowing that we have those things. When they are matched with the bad words, it is complete opposite of what we like. Humans like to have privacy. In the book they don’t have any privacy hardly anywhere, creating a dystopia. Every step they take, they are being watched, which is a horrible feeling not being able to act freely.
8) Why is Winston happy to find out that Julia has slept with many men?
*There are two main reasons of why he is happy to find this out. The first one is because then it means Julia is very much against the Party. He likes rebels because he is one. People are not supposed to sleep together, and because she does it often it makes him love her even more. Another reason of why Winston is happy that she had slept with many men is because then it means there are lots of other men who do no like Big Brother If there are lots of people against Big Brother, then there is a chance for all of them to get together and rebel to create a normal society again. Winston felt so lucky to meet Julia, but he knows their relationship can’t last forever.
9) Is it possible for the U.S. to become like Oceania? Explain. Would you rebel or give in to the government?
*It is possible for the U.S to change into a dystopia instead of the utopia we have now. I sure hope it will never happen, and I will do everything to stop it from happening, but anything is possible. Americans need to not let the government get too much power. We need a strong government in order for America to stay civil, but we can’t let them take it to the extreme. In my opinion the government is taking more control as time goes on. It seems like they’re always adding new rules and things that we need to do. Our society has become stricter, not being able to move as freely as we used to. Americans are being watched a lot more than we used to be. The reason we are being watched is to keep us safe, but we can’t let the government take it too far and take advantage of us. Because there are many crimes committed, we need the governments help to keep everybody safe. It seems like there are more policeman now days. Whenever there are police around, I feel like I can’t act like myself. I feel like I can’t act like myself, feeling like I don’t always have privacy. I think it is great to have policemen to prevent crime, we just can’t let them take away our freedom. Technology has taken away our privacy. There have been many new things invented to spy on people without them knowing. There are hidden cameras many places throughout America. Technology keeps increasing, which is good in some cases, but someday it could take over us, taking away our freedoms. As far as rebelling or giving into the government, I think I would just go with the government. I would be way to scared of being caught. It would be hard to give myself up and die for the generations to come, because I would never see any change. If I would rebel, it probably wouldn’t make much of a difference because I would get caught anyway. My opinion may change if I would have to life that horrible life, I hopefully will never know.
10) http://www.newspeak.com/1984.htm: This website was interesting because it told a lot a bout the book, but it was short. It told all of the main points in the book in a short essay. The main points were Newspeak, telescreens, Winston’s job, and being a thought criminal. The bad thing is that it told me the ending, and I didn’t want to find out some of the information it said before I read the entire book.
1. In this novel, what does the diary represent?
The diary that he bought from a prole shop represents his unconformity. It isn’t illegal to have the book, but whatever he has written in it, if I discovered, would label him as a thought criminal. It makes Winston feel like a rebel to have a book such as that.
2. When Winston begins to write in the diary, what does it bring to the plot of the story?
It brings about the end of his conformity. It represents his individuality. Up to this point, the plot of the story has been very dull, much like Winston’s life has been. Now, with the diary in his possession, his life becomes more risky and unpredictable.
3. Who is Syme and what does he represent?
Syme is one of Winston’s “comrades”, and Syme’s job is to constantly review and modify the newspeak dictionary. He vanishes mid-story because he knows too much about newspeak and where their language is heading, towards total conformity. He represents how fragile life can be in this story.
4. What is the significance of the Two-Minutes Hate?
The two minutes hate is a way to keep all of the people in that area under control. It is a way to brainwash them all to think the same way. It also allows them to let their angers and frustrations out. This helps their government because it allows them all to channel their frustrations in one direction, rather than multiple directions, so they are all brainwashed.
5. Who is Julia, and why is she intriguing to Winston?
Julia is intriguing to Winston because she is so beautiful but so hard to get. She is a member of the Junior Anti-Sex League, which annoys Winston because he thinks that she is too beautiful to be a part of that group.
6. What does the note that Julia hands to Winston represent?
The note is a symbol of “other life,” if you will. It shows Winston that he isn’t the only one who is different. It also brings to him the realization that there are other people who think like he does, that the “brotherhood” might actually exist. It gives him hope, but also fear because he doesn’t know if she might be a spy or not.
7. What event in the novel is the “point of no return”?
The event in the novel where both Winston and Julia realize that there is no turning back is when they both go, simultaneously, to O’Brien’s flat. Winston realizes how risky this is because under normal conditions, no normal party member would ever see any other party member’s residences. Also, it was especially ridiculous to go to an inner party member’s residence. The normal party members hardly saw the fraction of the town in which they lived because they never had any actual business there. Winston realizes that he also could have possibly made an enormous mistake by even daring to show up. He doubts his assumption that O’Brien was a thought criminal like himself. The absolute peak of the event is when he admits to O’Brien exactly why he is there and what his purpose is.
8. What evidence is there that Julia might not be aiming at the same goals as Winston is?
Julia is represented as a rebel against the Junior Anti-Sex League only from the “waist down.” She is a hypocrite because she is a member of the JASL, and she has slept with so many party members and other men. Every day, she protests, marches, speaks, and acts upon the exact opposite of what she wants to do. Also, it is pretty evident that she isn’t as interested as Winston is about the entire government of Oceania and the government and ideals of Goldstein’s book. When Winston tries to get her to pay attention to what he is reading her she falls asleep. Winston tells her that they both need to read the book in order to become a member of the “brotherhood”, but she takes care of herself first by falling asleep.
9. In what ways does the book agree and disagree with the world today?
The book disagrees with the world today and how Orwell wrote it in many ways. He predicted it way too early. He predicted that it would happen in 1984, but the world of today, in 2008 is nothing like that. I think that it will not ever be like that. He also predicted that the government would have total control of the people. He is wrong in that I think that the world today, or at least the United States, is more free than it was in the fifties. More people have more options, whether it be voting, jobs, or just life in general. Today we have suffrage for women, we don’t have racism to the degree that it was in the fifties, and there are many more jobs than there were then. At that time, women were nurses, teachers, or housewives. Today, a woman could probably hold the exact same job as a man, no matter what job. Another way that the book disagrees with today’s world is that now, we aren’t prosecuted for thought crimes. We have a pretty broad range of what we can do and what we cannot do. Even though some people think that our freedom of speech is too limited, it will never affect our freedom of thought. I believe that we will always be able to think whatever we want to. On the other hand, there are parts in the book where it may agree with the world and what it is like. For example, we are constantly changing who we are at war with. We are always at war with somebody, there isn’t ever any peace. In the book, the enemy can change in a heartbeat. That isn’t very realistic in today’s world, but over a few years we may be in a “dispute” with an entirely different country that used to be an ally.
10. http://members.tripod.com/~SummaryCentral/1984.htm
This website gives us a general run down of the events, characters, and plot in the book 1984. IT also gives us some quotes from the book, and some specific symbols and themes (or “Dominant Philosophy”) in the book. This website is a very vague representation of the book. It doesn’t go into much detail about the book. It is really very general. Being that it is just a search engine, I can understand why. It didn’t really help me understand the book because everything that it said I already knew, except for some of the quotes which give away the ending to a certain degree.
1)Who is O’Brien and how is he important in the novel?
O’Brien is a member of the inner party. He is a thought criminal just like Winston believed. O’Brien works in the records department in the Ministry of Truth. O’Brian is important in the novel because he is a thought criminal along with Winston and is part of the brotherhood. He gives Winston a copy of Goldstein’s book.
2)Who is Julia?
Julia is a thought criminal just like Winston. She loves Winston and comes up with plans on how and when they are going to meet. Julia loves to have sex with Winston anywhere she can. Julia is a very intelligent, beautiful and sneaky girl.
3)Who is Syme and why does he disappear?
Syme was Winston’s friend that worked in the Research Department. He was a specialist in Newspeak. Syme’s job was to destroy words in the dictionary so their were less words and only one word for each meaning. Syme was vaporized because he was too smart and spoke to plainly and clearly.
4)Why is Winston so secretive in writing in his diary?
Winston is so cautious writing in his diary because he is rebelling against society and Big Brother. It is against the rules to have a diary because having a diary means being a thought criminal. If the Thought Police caught him he would be vaporized.
5)What does Winston do at his job?
Winston works at the Ministry of Truth. He speaks into this microphone and it writes what he speaks. Winston changes history to make sure that the Party and Big Brother were and always will be right. Winston can make someone that doesn’t even exist, exist.
6)What is the Two Minutes of Hate?
It’s a gathering when all the Party members join together and bash on Goldstein. Goldstein’s picture is up on the screen because he goes against what Big Brother stands for. He represents individuality and freedom to think for yourself. He even has a book out that represents what he stand for and Big Brother does not like this.
7)Who is Mr. Charrington and how is he different than what you think he is?
Mr. Charrington is an old man who runs a secondhand store in the prole district. He is kind and encouraging especially to Winston. He rents Winston his upstairs room that has no telescreen. He seems to support Winston’s rebellion against the Party. He is different that what we think of him because he is actually a member of the Thought Police. He actually does have a telescreen behind one of the pictures in Winston’s room. The book makes us believe that Mr. Charrington is just this laid back nice guy but in reality he is one of the bad guys trying to catch thought criminals like Winston and Julia.
8)What happened to Winston and Julia when they got caught?
Winston and Julia were separated. Winston was taken to a prison of some sort. When he was there he found out a lot of other people that were thought criminals too. He met O’Brien in there and as well as Ampleforth (some guy he knew from the Party), and Parsons. There were regular prisoners all in this jail cell they were kept in. There were drug peddlers, thieves, bandits, drunks, and prostitutes. Winston just sat and waited to see what was going to happen to him. He was very hungry and when he wasn’t hungry he was extremely nervous. He never really thought about Julia that often if at all.
9)What are the three groups of the party and how can you get into those parties?
There is the Inner Party, the Outer Party, and the Proles. The Inner Party is right below Big Brother on the chain. After the Inner Party comes the Outer Party. Below the Outer Party are the proles. The Inner Party is limited to six million people which is less than two percent of the population of Oceania. They are called the brain of the state where as the Outer Party is called the hands. The Proles are called the dumb masses and are 85% of the population. They are not a permanent or necessary part of the Party. To get into these three groups is not hereditary. The child of the Inner Party parents is not normally born in to the Inner Party. To get into either branch of the party is by examination at the age of 16. There is no racial discrimination, or any marked domination of one province by another. Jews, Negroes, South Americans of pure Indian blood are to be found in the highest ranks of the Party. Between the Inner Party and the Outer Party there is a certain amount of interchange, but only as much as will ensure that weaklings are excluded from the Inner Party and that ambitious member of the Outer Party are made harmless by allowing the to rise. Proletarians, in practice, are not allowed to graduate into the Party. The party does not aim at transmitting power to its own children, as such. And if there were no other way of keeping the ablest people at the top, it would be perfectly prepared to recruit an entire new generation from the ranks of the proletariat. Once a Party you are always a Party member until you die. They don’t want someone knowing all their secrets to live in the normal world and go leaking all the information they know. Being a Party member means that you live under the eye of the Thought Police from the time you were born to the time you are dead.
10)http://www.online-literature.com/orwell/1984/
When you go to this website it’s kind of interesting because there is a preview of what the book is about. Also there is a forum that people can write things about the book. One person said that it confused him so much and that he can read college books but this book is so much harder.
1984 Quiz
1. Where did Winston get the diary and what could happen if he is caught with it?
Winston purchased his book from a second hand store in an unknown quarter of the Proles district. If Winston were to be caught with the diary he could be punished severely or be vaporized because of the content in it. In the diary are entries talking about Winston’s life and his anger towards Big Brother. This is an extreme hate crime since it is speaking out against the government.
2. Who is Julia?
Julia is a member of the Fiction Department and is Winston’s “girlfriend.” At first she isn’t liked by Winston as he hated many women including Julia. She then writes him a note and gives it to him. On the note is a single sentence that says “I LOVE YOU.” Julia is also some what promiscuous and brags about how many party members she has slept with.
3. How is finding out Winston’s past marriage important to the book?
It is important to know that Winston was married so that we can find out what it’s like for members of the party to be married. The relationships especially romantic ones are sort of like those from the movie The Island. Marriages are not supposed to be based off of love but by the needs of the party. Winston’s marriage also shows that sex is not supposed to be to the liking since that would be against party policies.
4. What are the Junior Spies and how are they important to the Party?
The Junior Spies are made up of children. Their mission is to watch over the adults and others to make sure that no one is thinking outside of the box or rebelling against Big Brother. Parents are often afraid of their children since they can’t express their feelings about the government and can not discipline them or they might be turned in. If the Junior Spies collect any information against Big Brother or the Party they turn it in to the Thought Police.
5. Who is Emmanuel Goldstein and why is he disliked by the Party members?
Emmanuel Goldstein is a former leader of the party. He is also Jewish. The Party members do not like him as he was kicked out of the Party. They also view him as being dangerous and a threat to the country of Oceania and its government. The party and Big Brother are also not sure where Goldstein is. They believe that he is hiding in a secret section of Oceania or happened to make it to a different country.
6. What is the Party’s objective for the Two Minute Hate?
Big Brother has a sort of gathering every day. At this gathering, Party members and what not will meet together and watch a series of hateful things on a telescreen. At these sessions, party members will profess serious hate and rage towards things that are being shown. Every day, Emmanuel Goldstein is shown in the Two Minute Hate. The Party also uses this to brainwash the members into being loyal to only Big Brother and his Party.
7. How do children play a major role in the book and to Big Brother?
Through out the book children are on constant watch over their parents and other adults. Their goal is to be the eyes and ears of Big Brother. If they see or overhear something that is against the government they will turn them in. Children also important in other ways. The younger the person is, the easier it is to brainwash them. If you teach them something when their young (such as Big Brother training them to be loyal) the better off they’ll be when their older. The way I look at this is children are leaders of the future. If you train them how you want them to be, brainwash them, and teach them to hate your opponents, chances are they will carry on you views and ideas.
8. Why are telescreens important to both Big Brother and members of the Party?
As we read the book 1984, mentioning of telescreens is everywhere. Telescreens are two way monitors that can be used to watch something, or for something to watch you (sort of like a computer hooked up with a webcam). Big Brother likes to have telescreens put up all over in the houses and buildings used by the members of the Party. This allows the Party to closely monitor the movements and thoughts of the members. The members of the Party want to have telescreens in their houses or buildings for various reasons. The first reason is that if they have one, Big Brother will not watch them as much as some one who doesn’t. It also shows that they are loyal to the Party and makes them seem like a better citizen.
9. Do you think the United States could become a 1984 in the future?
Right now the country of the United States is living in a government of Democracy. The people are in power of what goes on. In order to live in a country such as that of Oceania in 1984 would require a government to be Nazism, Fascist, Communist, Totalitarian, Anarchist, etc. As we look at our government and how lucky we are to live in such a great country, we would not think of this question. But since the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 I have began to think elsewise. More and more, our rights are starting to be taken away from us. The government especially the Democratic Party is trying to take away our 2nd Amendment rights which gives us the right to bear arms. Without 2nd Amendment we would be disarmed and defenseless such as the citizens of Germany in WWII when Hitler took away their right to bear arms. He then used this to his advantage and killed and enslaved millions of people. Another thing that is sort of Big Brotherish is the “Patriot” Act. The “Patriot” Act gives the American government the right to look at all of our personal information with out a search warrant. All of this includes our bank accounts and spending, tapping our phone calls, reading our email, hacking into our computers, etc. They use the excuse that this is to catch “terrorists” as their scapegoat when really it has done nothing except catch sex offenders. That is great and all, but I would rather have my rights back then to catch a handful of sex offenders. Secret defense agencies such as the CIA, NSA and FBI are also starting to become like the Thought Police or Big Brother. If suspect you of being a terrorist (like a person thinking outside of the box or attempting to over throw the government) they can arrest you and hold you for as long as they want. This means that they can just come into your house in the middle of the night, with our a search warrant, take you to a prison in a secret location, hold you prisoner, and never tell your family where you are for as long as they please. We are also going into another depression even though our government says we are not. They keep feeding us “BS” information and digging us a deeper hole for the economy. This would be a great time for a small time person to become a big rebellious leader. A great example of how this happened can be seen when we study Adolf Hitler and how he rose to power during Germany’s Depression. He blamed the Jewish population for Germany’s problems. A person could do the same in the United States and blame the Iraqi people for ours.
10. http://www.netcharles.com/orwell/articles/1984-background-info.htm
This website is excellent and very interesting to finding more information on the topic of 1984. On the website you can read about George Orwell and how he wrote the book. It is sort of like a webpage dedicated to Orwell and at the same time has tons of information about the characters, important things and summaries of the chapters. The page also uses references that Orwell used to relate to the characters and things happening in the book such as Hitler/Stalin to Big Brother and all sorts of other things.
1. Describe the Parson’s family and what they symbolize?
The Parson’s family symbolizes what is right and wrong with the Party. Mr. Parson’s, like Winston, is a man who presumably is from the old days free from the Party. He does his best to conform and keep himself alive and lives mainly off of fear like everyone else. The product of the Party is then symbolized in their child, who does not fear the party because he is part of the Party. He has no reason to fear thought crimes because he has been trained not to commit them. He is a machine doing Big Brother’s bidding, which involves abandoning his own family.
2. What do Winston and Julia stand for?
The two lovers are like quicksand. They were caught in a relationship that they knew would eventually kill them, and yet they stood together until the end sinking into the grip of the Party. They were willing to risk everything for a shot at love and something more meaningful than Party slogans and propaganda. They inspire people to hold on to their ideals even if the entire world is against them.
3. How does the Ministry of Truth confirm the Party’s power?
They can change anything they want to, and they will let you and everyone you know see it. They have so effectively brainwashed the population that they will believe anything that the Party tells them to. People are hypnotized and act oblivious to the fact that anything in history can be rewritten if the Party wants it that way. The Ministry of Truth continuously makes its changes as the real truth is lost in the dark holes.
4. Explain the Party slogan.
This again shows the blatant lies brought on by the Party in order to get people to listen and cooperate. “War is Peace”? It makes no sense and is entirely backwards. “Freedom is Slavery” basically tells people that being a slave to the Party is what will keep you free. “Ignorance is Strength” tells people that stupidity equals strength. Even as outright and campaigned lies, people fully believe them and follow them to their deaths.
5. What role does sex play in 1984?
Sex is viewed as a chore and a duty in the eyes of the Party. It is neither to be enjoyed, nor practiced for pleasure. It is a way that the Party is controlling human emotion and desire so that they cannot create loyalties to people besides Big Brother. However, this form of suppression can also be used as a weapon. Winston and Julia have sex and love it for each other and as a form of defiance to the Party.
6. What does Room 101 accomplish?
Room 101 is the great equalizer. No one can brave it no matter how strong their relationships are with other people or how great their purpose may be. It shows that there is no escape from the Party, and that trying to buck the Party ideals will only end in disaster and abuse. Everyone has fears, and Room 101 makes those fears more real than they should ever be. It teaches people to be afraid of the Party and to become another machine working mindlessly towards the goals of Big Brother.
7. What significance do Goldstein and The Brotherhood have for the book?
Goldstein and The Brotherhood are Winston’s chance for getting out of oppression. In a seemingly caged world, they were the hole in the fence that Winston could escape through. However, because it was O’Brien who gave the book to Winston, and because it was O’Brien who cheated him, Goldstein and The Brotherhood come to symbolize false hopes. The book was used only as a lure to bait in anyone with the slightest mistrust in the Party, and eliminate them before they could cause any serious trouble. It would be like someone coming up to you with a Bible in hand and telling you the whole thing was made up and that you were a fool for believing it. There is no hope in Oceania. No chance of liberation or any form of freedom. They are stuck in a world of complete control and any uprising is quickly extinguished.
8. What do the proles represent?
One way we can look at the proles is a reflection to American culture. We are the ultra powerful masses, and yet we get up, go to work, go to the bar, repeat. We would like to think that we are self aware and capable of changing the world, however when given the opportunity we choose not to. In the last presidential election, more people voted for American Idol than for any of the candidates combined. The grim reality is that we have little motivation, and remain fairly calm as long as we are not too disturbed. We take pleasure in stupid things, not in positive advances. Where will we stand in the future? Will we remember how we brought about world peace or ended mass famine? Or will we remember Britney Spears’ downward spiral? Like the old prole in the bar that Winston talks to, we are going down the road of useless information. Look at the proles and mock them. You are only looking in a mirror.
9. What are the modern day connections from 1984?
Lately it seems like 1984 has been more like a history book than a novel. Orwell’s look into the future has come frighteningly close to what is all around us. Look at the CNN website any time of the day. What propaganda do you see? Our troops are doing an excellent job of cleaning up insurgents and it looks like democracy will be in place within months! We’ve been hearing that same old song for the past five years now. Even so, we continue to believe it because we continue to believe that our country is the best sheriff to police the world. The government can tap your phones without you knowing and there is no legal action you can take in retaliation (all in the name of national security). Ironically in London (a.k.a. Oceania), you cannot go anywhere in public without being seen by their CCTV system. No matter where you go, you are being watched, and like Big Brother, they can find you and accuse you if you do anything viewed as suspicious. Orwell would roll over in his grave if he knew that his futuristic fiction had come true.
We believe what we are told to believe, and we do it in a fairly efficient way. We are the ones who created the government, and yet the government has come to control us. Like proles, we do not care what the government does, as only about half of us voted in the last election. We are forfeiting our right to be humans, and continually refuse to think for ourselves. All the while, we are giving more and more power to those who are already there. What are we going to do about it? From the looks of it, not too much. We uneasily accept the advances brought on by our world, and jump in line with everyone else. After all, we love Big Brother.
10. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6h3G-lMZxjo
I found several videos linking this years election to the Apple commercial created in 1984. The creators of these videos were smart. They used something that many people were familiar with in order to show their feelings. By linking Hilary Clinton to the controlling idea of Big Brother, it causes you to question whether or not voting for her would be a good idea based on knowledge of what you have learned from the book.
Eric Dieren
1) Where does Winston work and why is it ironic?
Winston works for the Ministry of Truth, where they use machines to write for them as they speak. He uses old information or documents that go against what Big Brother has said and then change them to something else or someone else so it looks as if Big Brother is always the good guy telling the truth. It is ironic because it is the Ministry of Truth where they are making up lies.
2) According to Winston, the Proles are the only ones that could ever stop Big Brother, Why?
Winston believes that the Proles are the only ones that could put an end to the party because they make up most of the population. The Proles are the only people that are not brainwashed and have the strength to stop this dystopia.
3) What does Winston first think of Julia when he see’s her?
Winston first thinks that Julia is a part of the thought police. He thinks she is beautiful and he wants to rape her, and then beat her over the head with a cobblestone. He doesn’t believe that she is true by the look she has.
4) Why is the room above Mr. Charrington’s shop so significant?
The room above Mr. Charrington’s shop is significant because that is where he can go to relax and just get away from the party and the constant watch of the telescreens. It is also very significant because that is where he will spend most of his time with Julia, his lover and sex mate.
5) Why is Julia’s Job ironic?
Julia works for the anti-sex league. There she tries to eliminate the kind of sex that is bad and that the party doesn’t permit and tries to advocate sex that the party wants. This is very ironic because she has slept with countless men and now is making love to Winston.
6) Why does Winston put some dust on the cover of his diary?
Winston puts dust on his diary as a signal. He knows that writing in a diary is a thought crime and could possible be vaporized for it. The dust on the diary is a warning signal to him because if the dust is off the diary he knows that someone got into it and read it without him knowing.
7) Why does Winston keep a diary?
Winston keeps a diary because he is a thought criminal. Writing in his diary is a way of rebelling mentally and emotionally. He is remembering and reflection on how life is and on existence. By keeping up on writing in his diary, he is escaping from Big Brother and the rest of the zombified world that the call Oceania. By writing in his diary he is exposing himself to the thought police as a criminal of thinking on his own and of creating ideas outside of work. He doesn’t have endless time that he can write in the diary because the telescreens are watching him constantly. Because of the privacy that he doesn’t have he has to write in a corner where the telescreen can’t see or he has to write in the room above Mr. Charrington’s shop.
8) What is the Parson’s family like?
Mr. Parsons is a very loyal party member that works with Winston and the Ministry of Truth. Mrs. Parsons is scared of her kids who are members of the Junior Spies. The Junior Spies are another branch of the thought police that go around and turn in adults. The Parson kids are accusing Winston of thought crime when he goes over to help Mrs. Parsons with the plumbing. Her kids were mad at her because she didn’t let them go and see the public hanging of the prisoners of war. She is afraid of her kids turning her in while Mr. Parsons is very fond of them for doing good work and being loyal to the party.
9) Could 1984 ever happen in the United States of America? If it did, would you be like Winston or be a part of the inner party and conform?
I don’t think that this style of government or dictatorship would ever happen in the U.S. If this were to happen to any country in the world it would happen to a smaller, more poor country that already treats there citizens like crap. A more modern version of Big Brother and Oceania would be Saddam Hussein and Iraq. The reason I don’t think it will ever happen in the U.S. is because we have way too many laws that will not allow it. The laws like freedom of speech or freedom of religion protect us from getting brainwashed into not thinking and speaking for ourselves. From the beginning of our society we have made it possible so that if a President or leader gets out of line and does stuff we don’t like we will impeach them. If someone like Big Brother came in and tried to dictate what was going on and what was going to happen the U.S. government and citizens of the U.S. would get him out of office. I don’t believe that a dictatorship will ever happen in the United States because people like the rights they have for the most part and like the feeling of being able to have a say in things and vote for what they want or what they believe in. If this kind of government did come to the U.S., which I strongly doubt, I would be like Winston Smith and rebel as much as I could. I don’t think I would even want to live in the conditions that they are in. They are becoming completely zombified, they can’t even think without having to worry about getting caught by the thought police. I would do as much as I could to rebel whether it being destroying stuff owned by the government like “V for Vendetta” or doing what Winston and Julia do.
10) http://students.ou.edu/C/Kara.C.Chiodo-1/orwell.html
I like this link because it gives various links to other great websites. This website has links for bibliographies, biographies, texts, quotes, and pictures. The bibliographies are short but there is a couple of them for readers pleasure. There are a few essays your are able to enter as well, which is nice for some of the kids who like to express their thoughts about the book through essays.
Will Castle P.4
1. In Oceania what is the government like and how does it affect the citizens?
The government of Oceania is a hellish terrible place to live. The government rules everything from where you can work, to who you marry. The government creates a dystopia the most extreme opposite of a dream. Also the government is totally against the ideas and motives of America. The government is a form of communism. It affects the citizens because they are not allowed to think and the only knowledge they know is from the government.
2. What is the Two Minute Hate?
The two minute hate is a gathering of the “party” of Oceania to basically brainwash them all. On the screen they show Goldstein and they all must hate him because he represents free thinking which is forbidden. The main message of this and the hole book is, war is peace, freedom is slavery and ignorance is strength. The two minute hate can be related to the pecking party of Cook’s Nest.
3. What is Winston’s job and what does he do there?
Winston’s job is consisted of lying for Big Brother. Winston works at the “Ministry of Truth”. Which is where he fixes all of Big Brother’s mistakes and wrong predictions so it looks like Big Brother is always correct and never wrong.
4. Explain everything about the diary?
Winston keeps a secret diary, it is secret because if he is caught possessing a diary he could be killed for it. The diary is a way of rebelling mentally and physically towards the government, society and Big Brother. The diary also helps get the plot moving in the story and starts the internal and external conflicts.
5. What does Winston do to his diary after writing in it?
Winston is very careful about his diary being secret and not being found. If the diary is confiscated he could be vaporized or sent to a labor camp. Winston finds healing in writing in the diary and is one of the most precious things in his life. After writing in the diary he places a speckle of dust on the cover of his diary so he will know if anyone touched his diary.
6. Explain everything about Julia?
Julia is the dark haired girl who has been following Winston around the hole time. Winston even thought about killing her because at first he thought she was a spy. The first contact between each other was a note Julia sent Winston saying “I love you”. Ever since the note Julia and Winston meet up with each other and discuss thoughts. Julia is apart of the anti-sex league which is ironic because she and Winston have sex all the time. She even said she has performed sexual acts with well over 100 other people just like Winston.
7. Tell about the Parsons family and everything they stand for?
The Parsons family is a complex family to understand. Winston met Mr. Parson at work a while back because he works at the Ministry of Truth with him. They have one boy and one girl, the ages are not given but I believe they are around seven or eight. The children are also spies that belong to the junior spy organization. The job of its members is to oversee their parents and any other adults and make sure they are not corrupt and turn against Big Brother. Mrs. Parson asked Winston for some mechanical help one night while her husband was away. While Winston is working on helping Mrs. Parson out with a sink problem Winston is accused of thought crime and is shot with toy guns. Mrs. Parson apologizes to Winston but Winston is wondering why anyone, even young kids would think of something like that. I think the kids might of attacked Winston because they were upset at their mother for not letting them see the hanging of a thought criminal.
8. What does Big Brother act like, and why he does it, and how does it affect the party members?
Big brother is the complete opposite of America and democracy. Big brother acts like mean parents that keep there kids from doing anything outside of the house. B.B. is concerned of individuality so he doesn’t allow any members of the party to show emotion, to talk to others or do whatever they want to do. Just like Hitler in Nazi Germany Big Brother can not allow free thinking or else it will ruin his plan. What big brother is doing is just like how Hitler developed such a strong dictatorship which was run by his military. Big Brother is the current Hitler in “1984” and wants to changer everyone they way he wants them to be. It affects the party members in numerous ways. Like they don’t know what is going on so they can sometimes feel lost or alone. Or they can actually think for themselves secretively and realize they are being controlled and try to do something about it. Which is what Winston is trying to do.
9. How could a government gain such total power and what are the steps they would need to take? Also give examples of past governments like this.
I believe it would be very difficult for a government or even a government ran by someone with military background to gain total power like Big Brother has. In order to do this you must take total control over everything and everyone. The first step I would take if I was going to control a country would be to brain wash everyone. Brain was the citizens and clear all of there memory banks. I would also brain wash them with overwhelming information about the government and how good they are and how much better it will become. The second thing I would do to the citizens is to erase all prior knowledge about how it use to be. That would mean to take all books and destroy them if they had any information about the past. It would even mean to take school books and history books and destroy them also. Another way of putting this is to lie to everyone about everything. Another item I would address is to take total control of the citizens. You would have to go so far as to assigning them a place to live, and not letting them make decisions for themselves. You would also have to make them perform a job that you want them to do. That job could even be something that would benefit you as the government, like how Winston’s job is to erase all previous history and alter images. After you do all of that you can force a curfew law, which will keep them from going out late at night and rebelling against the government. Than if they do violate the curfew law you could punish them accordingly. The last thing I would instate to contain the threat of thought criminals is to hire spies. Spies would work tremendously because the ordinary citizens are not smart to start off with and they would not even recognize the spies because they would be undercover. An example of one of these governments and rulers would be Nazi Germany in the late 1930’s through the 40’s. Here is a quote from a classic movie “Tommy Boy” that pertains to this topic greatly. “What the American public doesn’t know is what make them the American public”.
10. http://media.www.dailytrojan.com/media/storage/paper679/news/2005/01/20/Opinions/2005-Is.Reminiscent.Of.Orwells.1984-836138.shtml
This website shows similarities from the novel “1984” and the currents government system in place. In 2005 George Bush is quoted “I just want you to know that, when we talk about war, we're really talking about peace”. Which is just like the modo of Big Brother, war is peace. I thought it was interesting that this book can relate to many things and in some ways I think this book has actually came true.
1. Why does Winston Smith think Syme will eventually get vaporized?
-Winston Smith thinks Syme will get vaporized because anyone can see Syme’s fate. You see Syme is too intelligent to be in the party’s favor. He says things that would have been better unsaid, he has read too many books, and he frequents the Chestnut Tree Café, haunt of painters and musicians.
2. Why is the name “The Ministry of Truth” ironic?
- It is Winston’s job to go and find information in books, plays, newspaper, magazines, etc and change the history so it makes Big Brother look good. Every word in the history books, even the things that on accepted without question, was pure fantasy. The past is to be erased and the lies became the truth
.
3. According to the party what was it like before the revolution?
-Before the Revolution the proles had been hideously oppressed by the capitalists. They were starved and flogged. Women were forced to work in the coal mines and children were sold into the factories at the age of six. If it weren’t for BB they would still be in the state of bondage.
4. Who is Katharine and why is she important to the plot?
-Katharine is Winston Smith’s wife. She is a tall, faired-haired girl, with a noble face. To embrace her was like embracing a jointed wooden image. She is a lifeless zombie when then have sex. She has two phases for intercourse: “making a baby” and “our duty to the Party”. She is important to the plot because she is the uppity of a Oceania citizen. She has not a thought in her head that was not a slogan, and there is no imbecility, absolutely none, that she is not capable of swallowing if the Pary handed it out to her. “ The Human sound track”.
5. What is a two minute hate?
- A two minute hate occurs daily. It is a way to express their hatred toward anything they hate, mostly capitalists. The man that appears the telescreen is Goldstein. Goldstein is hated and despised by others. One lady shouts “Swine”. Winston says, “The horrible thing about the Two Minutes Hate was not that one was obliged to act apart, but that it was impossible to avoid joining in”. That reminds me of Nazi Germany. If you can’t beat em’ join em’.
6. Who is Goldstein and why is he hated so much?
-Goldstein was the renegade and backslider who once, long ago, had been on of the leading figures of the Party, almost on a level with Big Brother himself, and then had engaged in counterrevolutionary activities. He was condemned to death, and had mysteriously escaped and disappeared. He has a lean Jewish face. Orwell probably did that on purpose because the Nazis hated the Jews. He is hated by the party because the is a traitor; he stands for everything the party hates: free thinking, individualism, and rebellion.
7. Why and how do children become easily convinced?
- If it isn’t the telescreens it is your children. Another year, two years, and they would be watching Mrs. Parsons night and day for symptoms of unorthodoxy. The Parson children adore the Party and everything connected with it. It is almost normal for people over thirty to be frightened of their own children. Children make excellent spies because they easily convinced. These children don’t take in consideration of what they are actually doing just as long as they get something out of it. Since the children’s brain isn’t fully developed it may be easier to brain wash them. In Nazi Germany Hitler promised the children all the chocolate they could eat if they turned their parents in for disobeying the Nazis. Big Brother is everything they need and want.
8. How did Hitler and Stalin come into power?
-When George Orwell wrote 1984 in 1945, he was responding to the dictators of WW II. He saw first hand what a totalitarian and communist environment does to people’s morals. After World War I, the country of Germany was in economic depression. The marc had barely any value. Then a man named Adolph Hitler came along and gave them hope. As the years went on he started to give speeches in local beer halls. He was a good public speaker and people began to buy into his theories. What he did was found a scapegoat for all of Germany’s problems. He claimed that the Jews are responsible for the loss of the war and the depression. He eventually gained up and Army (Nazis) and overthrew the government. Germany believed in him because he turned the country around even if it was morally wrong. I believe that is how big brother became powerful. He gave the citizens hope after the bomb/revolution. Stalin came into power because he promised the Soviet Union a strong economy and army. Communism is really a good idea but it doesn’t work at all. If someone doesn’t pull their weight it all goes to hell.
9. What does the party do to maintain the power and control?
-George Orwell wrote this political novel to warn the readers the dangers of a Totalitarian government. 1984 portrays the perfect totalitarian society where the party monitors and controls everything you do from in your room to even your thoughts. It was Orwell’s duty to sound the alarm to the western countries and show them that if you allow you government to run your life this is what it will be like. The party uses several techniques to control its citizens such as: psychological brain washing, physical control, control of the history and information, and the technology. The citizens are constantly reminded that “BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU”. That has to manipulate their mind to the fullest. The party tries to diminish the independent thought. Each room is equipped with a giant telescreen that bombards the citizens with propaganda designed to make the failures of the party to appear to be triumphant. The party has destroyed the family structure by ordering the children into the junior spy leagues. The party manipulates the citizens through physiological techniques but the party also forces its member to partake in morning exercises and then go on to work long grueling hours in the Ministries.
By controlling the minds of their victims with physical fitness, they are able to control the reality convincing the subjects that 2+2=5. Winston’s job at the Ministry of truth is to control the past. That way the Party can control the present. The proles are not allowed to keep any records of their past because the Party want them to have fuzzy memories. If they read the new altered information they will become perfectly willing to believe what the Party has printed. The party is able to monitor the citizens almost all the time through telescreens and hidden microphones. 1984 shows that technology can be life saving and good but can also ruin our lives from its evil attributes.
10. Students for an Orwellian Society.
- I found this site very interesting. These “students” highlight the similarities to Oceania and the U.S. George Bush once said: “I just want you to know that, when we talk about war, we're really talking about peace.” That quote belongs proves that War is Peace. Sometimes I think our government can become the party. Donald Rumsfeild puts it the best, “In order to fight terrorism, was cause it”.
1. What is ironic about Winston and Julia's relationship?
A: Before Winston actually knew Julia he hated her and lusted for her at the same time. He had odd and violent visions and thoughts about killing her but of sleeping with her as well. He was disgusted that she was a member of the Anti-Sex League. He thought she was just another beautiful, young, attractive, woman that was just a brainwashed zombie.
2. Why does Winston fear Julia towards the beginning of the novel?
A: Winston thinks Julia is a member an spy of the Thought Police. She seems to be where he is too often to be coincidence and takes too many glances at him. When he's walking in the prole district and Julia looks him right in the face and right then he's certain that she's a spy and plots to kill her immediately. With her numerous appearances he's also certain he will be vaporized soon.
3. Who is O'Brien and how does Winston know he's a thought criminal too?
A: O'Brien is in the Inner Party. He and Winston made eye contact for a brief moment during a hate session and that was all it took to convince Winston that O'Brien was a thought criminal too. Later Winston meets with O'Brien who is a member of The Brotherhood which Winston and Julia join.
4. What are hate sessions and how do Winston and Julia feel about them?
A: Hate sessions are directed toward Emmanuel Goldstein an enemy of Big Brother, leader of The Brotherhood, and author of THE BOOK. Hate sessions are usually two minutes long. During this time the people seem to go mad with rage. Winston and Julia think the sessions are ridiculous but pretend to be mad and hateful because of Big Brother's ever watchful spies.
5. Why is Winston and Julia's love forbidden? Any form of love that's not directed toward Big Brother is forbidden. To love someone is to be thinking for oneself and committing a thoughtcrime. Big Brother is trying to create a country entirely loyal to him. To achieve this the people become less and less human with little human emotion except anger and hate toward Goldstein.
6. Why is Mr. Carrington important to the plot and why can't the picture in the upper bedroom be moved?
A: Mr. Carrington is a secret member of the Thought Police. He only tells Winston the picture can't be moved. There is a telescreen behind it which the two lovers cannot know about. When Winston finished reading the book out loud to Julia the Thought Police came lead by Carrington who is now undisguised.
7. How does Big Brother maintain control?
A: Big Brother has control of the mind. The Inner Party has developed a method of torture so horrible that they are able to convince anyone of anything no matter what. Big Brother has been in power long enough he can do no wrong. The people are so brainwashed they accept the altering of history without question. Big Brother is wrong about many things but Party members, like Winston, "correct" Big Brother's mistakes so he is right about everything making him both all-knowing and all-powerful. The Party is watched constantly with the ever watchful eye of the Thought Police. If someone creates any suspicions or becomes too smart for their own good they are vaporized. As far as everyone else is concerned they never existed.
8. Why are Winston's memories important?
A: Winston's memories are what kept him "sane" and an individual for so long. He remembers his mother and sister. His feelings and memories of them remind Winston of how life used to be and how is could be if the proles revolted. Deep inside I think Winston knows the world he lives in isn't how it used to be nor how it should be. His memories show Winston the truth of the past. They provide him with proof that the government is corrupt and can be defied. Even after Winston is released from the Ministry of Love he has memories of his childhood. Sadly, he thinks of them as false. However, they are still there which must count as something.
9. What are the motives of the government and how is Winston affected in the Ministry of Love?
A: While Winston is in the Ministry of Love he is tortured by O'Brien but also understands the government even though it leads to his mental deterioration. The government's goal is to achieve total control physically but mentally too. O'Brien informs Winston that the method of the Party far exceeds that of the Inquisition, Nazi's, and U.S.S.R. The Party wants to obtain infinite power over everything. If the Party can control every mind that matters then they have power over all else. Its belief is that once minds are totally controlled they can make the world into whatever they want it to be. In the Ministry of Love, Winston is tortured but he still keeps his general beliefs and his hate for Big Brother deep inside. He doesn't betray Julia until he enters room 101. In this room he is face to face with his deepest fear. In his horror he finally breaks and betrays Julia by screaming out to torture her instead. In his heart he does truly believe it and want it. In doing this he allows himself to be convinced that the Party is right. Winston does resist for awhile and knows that no one can possibly control the universe or the force of gravity, but he, like so many others, ends up to be brainwashed. He begins to love O'Brien because he stops the pain and apparently cares not that O'Brien is the one causing the pain. Over a period of time Winston believes 2+2=5 and everything else O'Brien tells him. Ultimately Winston loses his human feelings and becomes a true "Party member". He dismissed his memories as false and comes to love Big Brother. In this conclusion George Orwell creates a masterpiece that should not be forgotten or taken lightly. We can learn many things from this book and hopefully our end will not be the same as Winston's or Oceania.
10. www.gerenser.com/1984/
A: This is an informational website that has a good analysis of the book. The analysis goes in-depth about the book and the characters. It also has questions throughout the book that are very helpful. It also has a message board that people can comment on.
1. Who is Julia and why is she important to the book?
A. Julia is Winston’s “lover” if I say so myself. They are each other’s significant other because Winston has a wife and they can’t get legally separated so they can only be lovers right now. She is important to the book because she gives Winston something to live for instead of getting caught doing something careless and then vaporized and become an unperson. Julia becomes his only reason for living and eventually part of the reason he joins the brotherhood.
2. Who is Mr. Charrington and why is he important to the book?
A. He is a man that is a prole and owns an antique shop that no longer has any use because the government has destroyed most things that were old and that they want everybody to believe is false. So there for he is a man with a safe haven for Winston and Julia to have their love affair without being caught or too scared of being caught because he isn’t watched by the government and has a shop that has no importance. A.K.A. perfect.
3. What is the importance of Syme’s vaporization?
A. It shows how much control the government has over its people and how much they know about their citizens. Because even Winston predicts he will be vaporized way before it actually happens. It shows how the government can find the people that make a difference and could be a threat to the government and they find them and weed them out before they ever become anything without a chance, and Syme is the one shown that has to be eliminated.
4. Why does Winston want to join the brotherhood so badly?
A. I believe the reason why he wants to join so bad is because he needs a reason to live, and he has a reason somewhere inside him that says life can be better and it has to be better or else he wouldn’t mind being vaporized. Julia is the person that gets him to realize that there is something better in life and that he really wants to make a difference and then gets enough courage to actually go talk to O’brien.
5. Why does Winston feel the need to buy the diary?
A. He believes that he needs to show the future how the past was if he can. He wants to believe that the whole past can’t be erased completely and he wants people in the future to realize that life is getting worse and not better and if it is better maybe his book can become part of history as a warning as how to never let life be again.
6. Why don’t the proles rise up against the government?
A. I believe that the reason why the proles haven’t risen up against the government is because they have been turned into animals. The government weeds out any smart, individual thinking, leader among them. They have no way of grouping together under one single leader. Just like in that book we read back middle school where they made everybody equal by frying their thoughts and average was good. Well this government is doing the same thing but just in a different way, they kill off the smart people and leave the average and plus the random rocket bombs that kill people probably doesn’t help the situation because the government could just target one meeting place if the proles did meet and kill off everybody that is uprising.
7. Why does Winston find it appealing that Julia has been with many men instead of just a few?
A. This is very odd to me because I would never have been happy with a woman that’s been with many men, but he finds it appealing because he now knows there is other people out there committing thought crimes just like him and he is not alone in his fight against the government. He feels security in the fact that she has and it makes him love her even more. This shows how much the times have changed with the people in this book.
8. Does Big Brother exist?
A. I don’t believe he does, I think that the government has created this figure as a figure to make the subjects of Oceania worship him as a sort of godly figure for them to worship and feel protected by and it’s a form of brainwashing tool the government uses to unify them for a cause of the government. I think the government is run by a small section of the inner party and they just kill everybody that gets in on the real government.
9. Does Goldstein exist?
a. I think he does exist. But I have two theories about him. I think he was once part of the inner party and was the only one with a conscience and decided to get out and survived. He enlightens the people of Oceania and wants them to rise up against the government. Or he is a tool of the government to find out the people who are trying to rise up against the government so they can be exterminated and the government is impenetrable and has control over everything. And this program has will go on forever and always find out who is against them and who’s with them and will always be in control.
10. What role do the Parson’s kids have in the story?
a. It shows how brainwashed everybody is in the year of 1984. The government even has more control over the kids than the parents do. There is no such thing as a family anymore, it’s just the family of Oceania and what is best for it. The kids have no problem turning their parents in to be killed and have no problem ever seeing them again. They don’t even get rewards for finding out the “traitors” they do it just because they believe they’re doing the right thing for the government. That is the scariest part of the book is that there is no such thing as family anymore, no confidentiality, no trust, just Ingsoc.
1. What is Winston’s job, what does his job entail, and does he like it?
Winston works at the Ministry of Truth. At the Ministry of Truth old documents come to him and he speaks into a machine that writes for him. When the documents come to him he rewrites history to make it seem like Big Brother is telling the truth even though whatever he writes is a lie.
2. What is the two minute hate, and what is its purpose to Oceania?
The two minute hate is a big gathering of people at a specific time of the day where they practice hating someone, usually Goldstein. It is important to the citizens of Oceania because it teaches them to hate someone for no reason further zombiefying them into the citizens Oceania needs to continue there government of ultimate control.
3. Who is O’Brian and why is he important to Winston?
O’Brian is a member of the Inner party and works in the same building as Winston. He is important to Winston because Winston believes he is a thought criminal like himself. He, in a sense, gives Winston hope that there are others out there who question their government and how they control everything.
4. What are the Parsonses?
The Parsonses are a family who live in the same apartment complex as Winston. Unlike Winston, the Parsonses are totally brain washed and have conformed to Big Brothers style of government. Tom, the dad is a fat, brain washed idiot, and the wife lives in hell trying to keep control of their kids who run wild accusing people of thought crimes and are members of the Spies organization for kids.
5. Why does Winston put dust on his diary when he leaves?
Winston puts a speck of dust on his diary before he leaves because if it is moved, he will know. It is illegal to keep any personal belongings, especially a diary that Big Brother does not issue out. It is illegal to even own a diary yet alone have one; if he is caught with one he will be vaporized. So he wants to know when he will die in a sense.
6. What is the significance of Winston’s dream of O’Brian?
The significance of the dream where O’Brian says to him “we shall meet in a place where there is no darkness” is very important to Winston. This dream further convinces Winston that O’Brian is a thought criminal and further gives him hope that he is not alone in is free thinking state of mind.
7.Why are the telescreens important to Big Brothers government?
The telescreens are very important to Big Brothers style of government. In a world where with the amount of people it is not possible to keep an eye on everybody the telescreens do just that. In the Inner, and Outer party districts a telescreen is everywhere. The keep an eye on everybody to make sure that no one is a free thinking person. When you sleep he is watching, when he bath he is watching, When you eat, go out, go to work, when you work, Big Brother is always watching. He is always keeping a watch out to make sure that the citizens of Oceania are still brain washed citizens. The telescreens also help the thought police catch the free thinking citizens or the revolting citizens, so Oceana stays under total control.
8.What are the ministries and why are their names so ironic?
There are four ministries, the Ministry of Truth, the Ministry of Love, the Ministry of Plenty, and the Ministry of Peace. At the Ministry of Truth the workers take old documents of history and change them to whatever Big Brother decides. Essentially they are making up lies at the Ministry of Truth. At the Ministry of Love they take all free thinking thought criminals and lock them up and torture them to get names of other thought criminals. They are torturing people at the Ministry of Love. AT the Ministry of Plenty there are handing out enough rations to barley live off of. They are slowly starving their citizens at a place called the Ministry of Plenty. At the Ministry of Peace they make wars, and weapons to help them out on their continuous warpath. War is not peace despite Oceania’s slogan.
9. Could this type of government ever happen in the U.S.? Also give examples of places that are like this government.
I don’t believe this type of government could ever happen in the U.S. Ever since the beginning of our country we have prided ourselves with our free we are. We have way to many laws, like freedom of speech, or freedom of press. When communism happens anywhere else we go help out that country to help make them a democracy. We basically police the world. We also elect our presidents and they don’t even have total control. All the control is split up between the people, the senate, the House of Representatives and the President. The U.S. also has a law where if we don’t like the president we can impeach them and get them out of office, so if a person like Big Brother were even elected into office we could have him impeached and out of there and elect a new president in. Another reason whey this couldn’t work is because America is full of free thinking individuals, we have the most diversity out of anywhere in the world. If a leader was elected and tried to change our government, our citizens would revolt. Also for this to happen all of the other world powers would already have to be taken over otherwise they would step in and help us out. Democracy is the leading government in the world and the countries who are democratic would like to keep at that way, and will do whatever needs to be done. Despite the U.S. and other free countries, countries around the globe do have a less extreme type of government. North Korea is a perfect example. Their leader rules with terror and has almost complete control. They don’t let people in and they don’t let people out. Before Saddam Hussein was taken out of power their government was like Oceania’s. Saddam ruled his country with fear and killed many people if they did not conform to they way he wanted things.
10.http://www.gerenser.com/1984/
This is a great site of you don’t understand this book, or you just can’t have enough of it and want to know more. They have a story analysis that breaks down the story to help you better understand it. They also have an in-depth study guide so you can answer some questions to better learn about the book. This site also has a message board where you can log on and tell everybody how much you like this book, or how much you hate it.
Take Home Quiz
1. How would you explain the secret hiding place at the antique shop where Walton bought the Diary?
Answer: It is a little shabby room above the shop. There is a big bed that is made. There is no telescreen, so the room is considered secret. There is an old fashioned clock with a twelve hour face on the mantle piece. In the corner on a gateleg table, the glass paper weight which he had bought shimmered. There is a battered tin oilstove, a sauce pan and two cups provided by Mr. Charrington. The window was protected by a muslin curtain. This place is a great place for the two love birds to meet up. There was two entrances into the room there for they have a less of a chance of getting caught by the treacherous thought police.
2. What does Winston put on his diary? Why does Winston do this and why is it very important?
Answer: Winston is a very smart man when it comes to thinking upon covering up his thoughts. When he stores his diary he decided to put a small amount of dust sprinkled on top protecting his diary. He does this so that when he gets his diary out he knows if some one has been viewing it or found it. This is very important due to the fact that it is a crime to write the things he is more or less to own such an item. If the thought police would catch Winston it would mean a sure death for being a though criminal, and a burden to Big Brother.
3. Describe what Winston does at work, the name of where he works and why it is ironic?
Answer: Winston works at the Ministry of Truth. This is ironic because they do exactly the opposite of what you would gather from the name. They actually take the past and write what they want of the past. Winston’s job is to rewrite these articles or what ever they may change history in. He gets slips of paper in a code written form once he completes the task that he is instructed to do he sends these slips of paper down a memory hole which no one really knows where it leads but they ideally think that it leads to a big burning furnace.
4. Why was Winton’s meeting with the old man in the pub pointless, what did the old man complain about?
Answer: Winston has this high hope of getting wisdom from elders that could possibly remember more than he can from the past. Winston has constantly been battling his memory, as it seems to be that he can not remember the exact details and certainly can not remember the dates in which they occurred. He looks to seek an answer from the old man, but as Winston found out rather quickly that the old man had nothing to offer. The old man just went in loops and really detected nothing that had any importance or helpfulness for Winston. The old man complained of the beer sizes in the bar. He remembered that years ago the offered a size just perfect for him, which was a size in between what they offered in 1984.
5. How did Winston receive a note from Julia and what did it say? How did that go against the party?
Answer: Winston received a very important note one day, this was certainly no ordinary note that he had ever received before. Julia pretended to trip and fall so that Winston would come over to help the poor young lady out and get her off the floor. When Winston did this she slipped a rather small sheet of paper in his hand. Winston then got to where he could slip the paper in his pocket to read later. When he read this note it was three simple words that certainly have a strong meaning, “I love you.” This sort of act had to be played out due to the fact that a dating like sort was considered to be a thought crime. Sexual relations were not permitted at all, only for reproduction, which was even needed to be pleasurable. Winston is dumfounded by this note and tries his hardest to get by himself to find out more information about Julia.
6. When Winston and Julia go over to O’Brien’s house what do they discover?
Answer: Winston and Julia go over to his house to get a dictionary that is updated, or so they think that is what they are going for. When they arrive they discover that O’Brien can turn off his telescreen for about thirty minute intervals at a time. They then get told about the Brotherhood, which goes against the party and Big Brother. This is exactly up Winston’s idea of going against the norm. They get told how they will receive a copy of the Brotherhood book, which Winston will get in a brief case that looks similar to his. They get to drink wine while they were at his house. After the thirty minutes was up they were to leave at separate times. They leave there with a new sense of happiness that maybe someday if they don’t get caught they we be “set free.”
7. Describe the Brotherhood.
Answer: The brotherhood is made up of enemies of the Party. They are thought criminals and also are adulterers. The leader of the Brotherhood is Emmanuel Goldstein. With the brotherhood party you have to be able to give up several things if you get caught and give up things from getting caught. Some questions asked when introduced to the Brotherhood are as follows: You are prepared to give your lives? You are prepared to commit murder? To commit acts of sabotage which may cause the death of hundreds of innocent people? To betray your country to foreign powers? You are prepared to cheat, to forge, to blackmail, to corrupt the minds of children, to distribute habit forming drugs, to encourage prostitution, to disseminate venereal diseases to do anything which is likely to cause demoralization and waken the power of the party? You are prepared to lose your identity and live out the rest of your life as a waiter or a dock worker? You are prepared to commit suicide, if and when we order you to do so? You are prepared, to separate and never see your loved one again? It is necessary that O’Brian knows everything about everyone. They are to read the Brotherhood book that Winston will receive in a brief case that looks similar to his own. The are to read it and give it back when they are finished in two weeks. Brotherhood is like fighting in the dark, you are going against Big Brother who is mighty powerful. When some one completes the whole Brotherhood book they are considered true and full members of the Brotherhood.
8. What does Winston put in his diary?
Answer: The first thing Winston puts in his diary is the date of April 4th, 1984. He was not positive that this was the real date. He first wrote about movie flicks that he had saw. He wondered who he would be writing the diary for? For the future, for the un born. He had a troubled amount for being able to write anymore in the diary, for it was very illegal to be doing such an act. He continued writing and his first film contained from the night before, was about a war. One very good one of a ship full of refugees being bombed somewhere in the Mediterranean. The hoar story goes on from there as you can imagine and then the audience watching the film began to laugh, they found this very sad event as a funny and enjoyable comedy. They know no different it is one way they are brain washed. Another day Winston found himself writing in his diary again only this time we was writing in a reparative form. He constantly wrote DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER several times. Winston surly knows how much trouble he would be in if this diary was ever found by a party member, he would be dead for sure!
9. Describe the two min hate. Why do they do it? What do they do? How do certain characters react to it? How would you like to participate in such a thing? How do you think Americans would react to this sort of thing?
Answer: Everyone would gather around, there was absolutely no way of getting out of the two minute hate, you would be caught and would die for sure. When the two minute hate began this is what happened: A grinding screech, as of a monstrous machine running without oil, burst from the big telescreen at the end of the room. It was a noise that set one’s teeth on edge and bristled the hair at eh back of one’s neck. The hate had stated by now. The face of Emmanuel Goldstien, the Enemy of the People, had flashed onto the screen. There were hisses here and there among the audience. The little sandy-haired woman gave a squeak of mingled fear and disgust. Goldsiten was the renegade and backslider who once, log ago, had been one of the leading figures of the Party, almost on a level with Big Brother himself, and then had engaged in counterrevolutionary activities, had been condemned to death, and had mysteriously escaped and disappeared. The program of the Two Minutes Hate varied form day to day, but there was none in which Goldstien was not the principal figure. He was the primal traitor, the earliest defiler of the party, all treacheries, act of sabotage, here sides, deviations, sprang directly out of his teaching. Somewhere of other he was still alive and hatching his conspiracies: perhaps somewhere beyond the sea, under the protection of his foreign paymasters; perhaps even so it was occasionally rumored in some hiding place in Oceania itself. Winston could never see the face of Goldstein without a painful mixture of emotions. It was a lean Jewish face, with a great fuzzy aureole of white hair and a small goatee beard a cleaver face, and yet somehow inherently despicable, with a kind of enile silliness in the long thin nose near the end of which a pair of spectacles was perched. And all the while, lest one should be in any doubt as to the reality which Goldstein’s specious claptrap converted, behind his head on the telescreen there marched the endless columns of the Eurasian army-row after row of solid looking men with expressionless Asiatic faces, who swam up to the surface of the screen and vanished, to be replaced by others exactly similar. The dull, rhythmic tramp of the soldiers’ boots formed the background to Goldstein’s bleating voice. Before the Hate had proceeded for thirty seconds, uncontrollable exclamations of rage were breaking out form half the people in the room. In its second minute the Hate rose to a frenzy. People were leaping up and down in their places and shouting at the tops of their voices in an effort to drown the maddening bleating voice that came from the screen. The little sandy haired woman had turned bright pink, and her mouth was opening and shutting like that of a landed fish. O’Brien’s heavy face was flushed. The dark haired girl behind Winston had begun crying out Swine! Swine! Swine! and suddenly she picked up a heavy Newspeak dictionary and flung it at the screen. In a lucid moment Winston found that he was shouting with the others and kicking his heel violently against the rung of his chair. The horrible thing about the two minute hate was not that one was obliged to act a part, but that is was impossible to avoid joining in. Within thirty seconds any pretense was always unnecessary. The hate rose to its climax, then the telescreen showed Big Brother then faded into the Party’s slogan words: WAR IN PEACE FREEDOM IS SLAVORY IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH.
10. Web address and what you found interesting about it.
Answer: http://www.online-literature.com/orwell/1984/ This web site was a very informational web site. It helped me gather additional thoughts and words to describe the thought. The web site gives you a search option where you can type what you wish and it will search the entire book for your answer. This site also has a chapter summary of each chapter of 1984, which can help you better understand each and every chapter of the book. The website also contains some character descriptions and character quotes which is a helpful studying tool.
Take Home Quiz
1-. How do Winston and Julia compare?
Winston and Julia are a lot alike. They share the same views on how everything is ran. Big Brother is the one that they need to watch and try to destroy. They both do things that are expected of them and more. Julia volunteers in the Anti-Sex league so it will look good to others. She wants to follow the rules and be like everyone else, but really she is plotting a way to destroy him and how to get past the rules. Winston to is trying to understand how Big Brother is working and how they can bring him down.
2-.Why does Winston rent out the room from Mr. Charrington?
Winston rent the room out from Mr. Charrington to be able to get away with Julia. To have privacy and be able to make love to her without having to hide or sneak away in different places everytime. Mr. Charrington never says anything, but is sure to know what they use the room for. Mr. Charrington is a parole and not really going along with what Big Brother wants.
3-. Why does Syme get vaporized?
Syme is a very smart character. Too smart for his own good, which leads to his death. Syme is creating the Newspeak and he believes that it is a great thing. But Syme thinks to much about what could happen in the future. He likes the idea of creating new words and what Big Brother expects out of him and if he sees anyone not doing the same, he is sure to turn on them.
4-. How did Julia get the coffee, tea, and make-up and bring it to Winston. What problems could this have caused?
Julia took a big risk by getting the items from the Inner Party. If other people knew that she had these things, there would be more questioning about why the others dont get them either. If Big Brother even knew half of the things that she was able to get or do, she would be vaporized. Her and Winston together are going against Big Brother just by being in the room together and talking about ways to get past him.
5-. Why does Winston hate his wife?
Winston does not like his wife because she is trying to fit an image that Big Brother wants. She does everything by the book. There sex is not what we would call sex or love malking but what we would maybe call an awkward situation. He has no feelings for her. She goes by everything that she is told to do and nothing will get her to change her mind. She has been brainwashed to think that she should do what she is told to.
6-. What changed Winstons feelings about the girl following him?
Winston hated the girl that used to always follow him. He thought that she was a though police and knew what he had been doing. Up until he recieved the note that said "I LOVE YOU" he didn't know who the girl was. He finally figured out that Julia was the girl following him and the one that sent him the note. She was in love with him and that made him happy. He didn't know what to do when he recieved that note, but she was there to figure it out for him.
7-.Why are parents like the Parsons afraid of their children?
Parents should be afraid to do things around their children because children are easily pursuadable. It wouldn't take much for someone from the though police to approach them and ask them about their parents and what they have said of what they have done. Children would easily turn on their parents. If its something like candy or anything that they havent recieved in a long time, no doubt that they would tell. The Parsons children believe that they are thought police and act like them too. They for sure would tell on anyone that they over heard say something about big brother. You can not trust children in this book, mainly because they are not reliable and could easily make up something to get what they want.
8-.How did Big Brother come into control?
If Big Brother says something, then more then likely everyone in the party will believe it. Winston and the other people in the Inner party dont but alot do. He has control over them by making them think things and changing their world by removing things and putting different things in there place. Newspeak is an example. He is getting rid of the language that everyone knows and having them learn a totally new language. This language is his language that he has other people create for him. Big Brothers wants everything the way he wants it and will not let anyone get it its way. This is why so many people are vaporized, they try and think for themselves.
9-. Could the government ever take complete power like in the book "1984"?
I believe that people have their own opinions about things and that it would take a very long time before something like this happened. We choose our president based on what we like about him. He makes the laws in which we have to follow is the only down fall. He has the right no get rid of laws and make new ones just like that. But the US has to do is find someone that is geniue and someone they can trust fully to not let something like "1984" to happen. The government has power over the US, im not disagreeing with that, but we cant just let a single person take over what we believe in and what we believe is right. I believe that the people in the US have more power then we think. We can decide what we want and who we want to represent us. If the government had complete control, they we would not be able to vote for different laws and different people. We have choices and we get to choose what happens in the US. The president does have control over a lot but for a single person to take over like Big Brother did, well that would take a lot from a single person. So far our choices for presidents, well they havent been to strong of picks. We have had some good choices in the past, but what we need to do is prepare for the future and recognize what could happen if we dont speak up.
10-.http://www.gerenser.com/1984/
Good website if you want to get to know more about the plot and a summery of the book. Gives a bio about Orwell and his life. Also gives you questions that you are able to study from.
1. Who is Big Brother?
Big Brother is kind of like the president in this book. He is basically identical to a president accept for he has much more control over not only a nation, but over the whole world. Big Brother scares and rules over the entire world as if a terrible dictator would.
2. How does Big Brother rule and stay in power?
There are many ways that Big Brother keeps rule among world. One way is he brain washes all the common people (proles) in the world into believing that he is the only way that they will live, but also he keeps rule by the threat of death.
3. Who is Winston?
Winston is the main character in the book; he is what the book revolves around. Winston tells the book in third person, he kind of narrates it. As the book goes onward, Winston continues to be the center of attention as well as his significant other Julia.
4. What is Julia’s connection to Winston?
Julia is only a co-worker to Winston at the beginning of the book, but they don’t know or communicate with each other, until she hands him a note secretly when they accidently bump into each other at the Ministry of Truth where they both work.
5. What does Winston’s Job consist of?
Winston works at the Ministry of Truth where he takes previous articles that were published and makes them sound as if Big Brother is correct in his assumptions not just some of the time, but all the time. Winston’s job is very repetitive and he never does anything other than re-create articles.
6. What are some devices are used by Big Brother to monitor people?
Telescreens are the primary device used to monitor the people of the party, these telescreens are like a television, but they can see and hear everything that is said around them. Another device used are little microphones that are placed randomly and can’t be seen by people, but can hear what people are saying.
7. What does the cobblestone that Winston has symbolize?
This particular cobblestone that Winston bought the day he seen Julia in the street not only is used for a paper weight, but is used by Winston to commit thought crimes. First, the thought crime that was first committed was when he bought the cobblestone. He thought out of the ordinary to have wandered off and buy this thing. Next, the main source of the cobblestone is for Winston to imagine what life could be like. He has a dream in the book where his life is taking place inside the stone. I have not read very far in the book, but I think that this cobblestone will be more and more symbolic of how life used to be and how all of the inner party wants it to be.
8. Describe the room above Mr. Charrington’s shop and what significance it has to Winston and Julia?
This room is more or less becoming a home away from home for Winston. This place is a place where Winston and his lover Julia go to get nasty. Not only is this a place for them to get nasty, but it is a place of isolation from big brother and anyone that is part of the party. This room was quite disgusting for someone of our standards, but in their case, it was a place of paradise as they say in the book. This room was full of bugs and every time they returned to the room they notice that the bugs become greater and greater. Also, at one of their visits to the room they see a rat. This shows that even though the room is quite disgusting and uninviting to us, the two of them are desperate for alone time together.
9. Although Big Brother is very strict and punishing with people committing thought crimes, do you think that members of the inner party commit many thought crimes and strive for a democracy like that of our American government today?
The members of the inner party are much smarter than the reader gives them credit for. These people are in the inner party for a reason and that is to take care keep big brother on top of everything. If these people are smart they must have the ability to think for themselves. I think that these people are very guilty of committing many thought crimes. For example, Winston is what you could call an average member. He is not overly smart, nor is he stupid. Winston has the knowledge to think for himself and we find him thinking for himself quite frequently throughout the book. I think that every member of the party thinks for him/herself but they keep it concealed, and are more careful about it. Winston and Julia are very daring in acting the way they do up until the point where they get caught. They get caught up in loving each other and forget about the severity of Big Brother’s punishment. Although these are two examples of inner party members the reader could question whether acts of rebellion or thought crimes are committed a lot by the members. I think that there are many rebellious acts that happen throughout the inner party. If these acts are in fact happening, then these specific people are indeed longing for a “fairer” government or one that is like that of our government. The members do not know of any other place in the world having a government that is fair so maybe they don’t know exactly how it would be. Even though they don’t have anything to base their dreams on, they do wish for something less harsh than how Big Brother’s government. This longing for a better government could be categorized as a description of the brotherhood, but neither the party members nor the reader know exactly how big the brotherhood actually is. Maybe very few of the inner party members do actually know of the brotherhood, but maybe all of them have been recruited, and are in the brotherhood, the reader doesn’t know this specific question. My prediction for the end of the book is that not the proles will take over, but that the inner party will rebel and the proles will follow, sending Oceania into chaos and maybe ending up in a better style of government.
10. http://www.netcharles.com/orwell/articles/1984-background-info.htm
This website is very informative of Orwell’s goals in writing the book and tells a lot about the book. The site sums up the book and reviews everything so we understand what happened and it points out things that one may have missed. Also it shows how Orwell tried (and succeeded) in relating this book to our world and how the world could one day become, if we let it.
1. What is ironic about Winston and Julia's relationship?
A: When Winston first saw Julia, he hated her. He was scared she was the Thought police, but he also visualized himself having sex with her. That is ironic because Julia is part of the Anti-Sex League, which is, teens against sex.
2. Why is the name “The Ministry of Truth” ironic?
A: The Ministry of Truth is a very ironic name for the institution which Winston works at because they correct the past with things happening now. They also change the past so whatever Big Brother says is the truth, so they are basically making up lies.
3. According to Winston, the Proles are the only ones that could ever stop Big Brother, Why?
A: The Proles are the only ones who don’t have to obey everything Big Brother says and they aren’t brainwashed to believe everything the government has to say, so they have the strength to stop this dystopia.
4. What role does sex play in 1984?
A: In 1984, sex is just a chore. Members of the Party are supposed to have sex to try and create future Party members. They are not supposed to enjoy sex; they just have to do it.
5. What are the Junior Spies and how are they important to the Party?
A: They Junior Spies are the children. The children are basically programmed to spy on their parents and listen to their conversations. The children are designed to turn their parents in to the Thought Police to be vaporized.
6. What is the Two Minute Hate and why is it effective?
A: The Two Minute Hate is a gathering everyday that everyone must attend and at this gathering, hateful images are showed on a screen and everyone yells hateful things at the screen. It is used as a brainwashing mechanism so Big Brother can stay in complete control.
7. Who is Mr. Charrington and how is he different than what you think he is?
A: Mr. Charrington is the nice, old man that owns the secondhand store which Winston buys his journal in. Mr. Charrington seems like he supports Winston’s rebel against the Party because he rents his upstairs room to Winston and Julia. Mr. Charrington assures Winston that there is no telescreens in the room, but in fact there is one behind a painting and Mr. Charrington is actually a member of the Though Police.
8. Why is Winston happy to find out that Julia has slept with many men?
A: Winston is happy to find out that Julia has slept with many other men because now he feels like she wants to rebel against the government just like he does. Winston wants her to sleep with many men because he doesn’t want to think of her as “pure” or true to the Party.
9. Is it possible for the U.S. to become like Oceania? Explain. Would you rebel or give in to the government?
A: I don’t think the United States government will ever become like Oceania’s government because we have many “inner” party members that would not let that happen. The United States enjoys its privacy and enjoys relations with others too much to ever let our freedom become slavery. The United States has always wanted there citizens to be unique and different in their own ways. If the United States ever did become like Oceania, I would definitely rebel because, like many others, I enjoy my freedom and our ancestors did not waste their lives dying for this country just so we could change completely and enslave our own citizens. Our economy would suffer from not being able to interact with one another and the citizens would also be mad for not being able to enjoy their romantic lives and not being able to have sex with whom ever they please.
10. http://www.gerenser.com/1984/analysis.html
A: This website summarizes and discusses a person’s view on how Orwell created 1984. This person says how Big Brother resembles all the dictators of the world, such as, Joseph Stalin, Adolph Hitler, and Francisco Franco.
1) How would you describe the setting of this story?
The story is set as being in the future. Mostly everything is simple as far as clothing and homes. The point is to make everyone the same and to not have your own ideas. And if you do have your own ideas you would need to cover them up to make it seem like you really are just part of the mindless crowd. When I think of this story I think of a dull blue or a grey kind of like the cover of the book; real dull and boring, nothing out of the ordinary.
2) What are thought crimes?
A thought crime is a crime of basically having your own thoughts and not the thoughts that the big brother wants you to have. If you were to question why you do something or what was really going on with the “war” then that would be a thought crime. There are people set up to guard against this. They are called thought police. Those people look for people that seem to be in doubt of the system.
3) What role does the diary have?
The diary is a symbol of his rebellion from the system. He goes into a shop that he is not suppose to be in, being that he is a party member. And he buys a diary just out of a whim. When he first brings it home he starts to write in it. He really doesn’t write much in it about his life or his views he just basically wants a way to relieve stress; at least that’s how I interoperated it. But by using the diary it means and starts a revolt inside of him.
4) What is a hate session?
Winston talks about going to a session where everyone gathers to a tela-screen and they are shown pictures of people. Everyone in the room will start to yell and scream things at the screen. Winston describes it as being addictive as if he couldn’t help but be pulled into the action of the hate. This hating period is a way of brain washing the people further. In order to keep big brother in power he needs to make sure that everyone else that could ever be seen as a idle is squashed and learned to hate.
5) What does it mean to be vaporized?
People in this world will just all of a sudden be gone and no one ever sees them again. Winston says that they always come at night to do it. It is a way of getting rid of someone and making it seem as if that person had never existed in the first place. This happens to people that question or know too much. They are usually thought criminals. Winston is scared that this will happen to him.
7) What role does the young woman play in the book?
Winston sees a young lady and she is part of the anti sex league and he is interested in her. He becomes a bit upset because he knows that he could never have her because being with her would mean breaking all of the rules and plus she was part of the anti sex league so it would appear that she wouldn’t be into that anyways. He notices that she keeps watching him. He thinks that she is a member of the thought police so he becomes scared of her. He tries to avoid her but eventually they do meet and it turns out that she is the exact opposite of what she comes off to be. She is very much so into sex and having affairs. She is also not a thought police member. Her and Winston become an intimate couple, but of course they have to keep that hidden from everyone else.
10) http://hans.presto.tripod.com/isbn/1984.html
This web page is a suggestion page for good books. It has posters for the book, questions about the book, and a brief summary of the book. Off this site you could even get collectibles from the book. It is dedicated to showing you a little bit of everything. It’s just a way to let you better understand of get a little taste of the book.
Greg Beesley
Prd 7
1. Who is Julia?
A: Julia is a woman who works at the Anti-Sex League and is a thought criminal like Winston. They have had many meetings where they make love and talk of a changed world where they live the way they want. She is very similar to Winston because they both dislike the Big Brother and think for themselves.
2. Where does Winston work?
A: Winston works at the Ministry of Truth. He takes old documents that contradict what Big Brother and the Party says and changes them into true statements or creates new people to say them. Basically he works for a ministry that is said to be truthful but he is creating lies for the party.
3. What is the Two Minute Hate?
A: The Two Minute Hate is a meeting everyday that everyone is required to attend and yell at the screen. The screen has horrible images that people hate or have been told to hate by the party or been basically brainwashed by Big Brother.
4. Why will Syme eventually get vaporized?
A: Syme will get vaporized because Syme is too smart to be able to help the party. Big Brother believes all he could do is hurt it. He says things that would be better unsaid, he has read way too many books, and he goes to the Chestnut Tree Café, the hangout of artists.
5. Why does Winston rent the room above Mr. Charrington’s?
A: He rents the room above Mr. Charrington’s shop because that is where he can go to just kick it and relax. He also wants to get away from the Big Brothers constant watch of him on the telescreens because Charrington can not afford one. This is also where he brings Julia and O’Brian.
6. Who is Emmanuel Goldstein?
A: He is the former leader of the party. He also happens to be Jewish. The Party does not like him so he was kicked out of the Party. They view him as dangerous and a threat to Big Brother. No one knows where he is but they think he is still alive in hiding.
7. Why does Big Brother use kids as spies?
A: Through out the book children constantly spy on their parents and other adults because Big Brother promises them rooms full of chocolate and other wonderful things kids want. So if anything is said against the government Big Brother’s army of spies will turn them in. He uses kids because kids are easy to train they are already brainwashed from the beginning of the whole thing. Plus if you teach them now they become even more loyal as they grow up and are now your biggest followers with absolutely no chance of them wanting to revolt or start a riot against their Big Brother because when they were little Big Brother gave them a huge room full of candy just for being loyal to the party but my guess is that when their kids try to spy it would be the same thing.
8. Why is Winston turned on by Julia?
A: He is turned on by her for a couple of reasons. The first one being that Julia is very much against the Party. People are not supposed to sleep together, unless it is for Big Brother and they do it as an act against Big Brother. Another reason of why Winston is turned on is because she has slept with over hundreds of men. This excites him because now he knows he has a partner in his fight against Big Brother and his government. Plus it shows there are other people out there like Winston and Julia who do not like Big Brother maybe this could be the start of a revolution so it maybe on like Donkey Kong for Big Brother.
9: How should we prevent 1984 from happening to us now?
A: I believe in order to stay away from being in a 1984 like scenario we need to know that power is important but not that important. We need to understand what is going on in our life’s and with our government and never just say well it does not concern me because it most certainly should concern you. We need to never back down from our beliefs whether it be religion our just your favorite sports team. We must be willing to take lives for our rights to say what we want or do what we want when we want to do it. Let us not forget all the times we have came close to 1984 actually happening we were the start of a nuclear war with Big Brother and the Soviet Union away from being like 1984. We more than likely would not be here right now if we would have blinked first or maybe we were a loss away in World War Two to Hitler and his Nazi Army we could have zero freedoms today as we would all be speaking German with Nazi propaganda all over this great land of ours. But some people continue to ask “Why would you ever elect Hitler?” and “We will never do that!” Well guess what people we are almost in the same state Germany was some many years ago they were in major debt and then a charismatic guy with a goofy looking mustache promised people basic needs and a better life with them getting out of debt by creating jobs and roads. I believe we are in a bigger debt than Germany was so many years ago. So to help prevent 1984 from actually happening to us we need to continue to vote for the right candidates for offices ones who don not want the job for the power or for the glory just the right person for the job and not one who is going to promise the things Hitler did but if anyone would have read his book they could have seen it coming from a mile away because any one could have. So my final piece of advice is that maybe we should take a long look at the past before any rationale judgments about anyone are made because it could happen to us if we let it.
10. Internet based task
http://www.online-literature.com/orwell/1984/
I googled the numbers 1984 and with the exception for wikipedia websites this was the first site that came up and for very good reason it turned out to be a very wonderful and helpful site. This site had quizzes that you could take it had some blogs and forums that you could read to help you understand the book a lot better it really was a very wonderful site I will be going back to help me understand this book better.
1. Where does Winston work and what does he do?
Winston works at the Ministry of Truth. Winston works with a "speakwrite", which is a machine that writes as he talks into it. Winston finds old statements that contradict what the party says and changes them to ensure that the party is never wrong. This allows people to follow the party because they truely believe that the party is never wrong.
2. Describe the lady who passes a note to Winston.
The lady who passed the note to Winston was a dark haired girl who appeared very attractive to Winston. On the note that was passed was written "I love you". Winston first believes that the lady may be a spy, so Winston keeps a close eye on her and keeps his space.
3. Describe the Parsons.
The Parsons are Winson's neighbors. Mr. Parsons happens to work with Winston at the Ministry of Truth. The Parson children scared Winston when he stops over one night because the accuse him of being a thought criminal. The children are junior spies because they spy on everyone, even thier own parents.
4. Why is the Two Minute Hate important?
It is important for the party because they use it as a brainwashing device. The Two Minute Hate trains the people's mind to hate for no particular reason. Without the Two Minute Hate then the people may start to think for themselves instead of just doing what is asked of them.
5. How is Winston a thought criminal?
Winston is a thought criminal because the writes in his diary a lot. This is considered a thought crime because Winston thinks for himself and expresses himself on paper. Winston is also a thought criminal when he has an affair with Julia because he is exressing himself physically.
6. What role do the children play in the novel?
The children are very important to the government because they are brainwashed and brided into spying on everyone around them. The children even spy on their parents and wait for them to committ a thought crime and then be vaporized by the government.
7. Why does Winston keep a diary?
The main reason that Winston keeps a diary is because he is a thought criminal who wants to rebel against the government. The diary allows Winston to express himself in many different ways. This diary could also get Winston in trouble because if he expresses himself in the diary then he could be vaporized is caught by the thought police. The diary is also symbolic because it shows Winston's mental process as a thought criminal. The diary prevents also helps to prevent Winston from becoming brainwashed because he still thinks for himself and has an opinion about the government and its operation.
8. Why is Winston happy to hear that Julia is very sexually active?
Winston is happy because he now knows that he is not the only one who wants to rebel against the government. Winston doesn't have to fell like he is alone because he knows that Julia likes to rebel just as much as he does. Before he heard this from Julia, Winston thought that she may be a spy. However, after hearing that she has slept with many men he knows that he is not a spy. The fact that Winston is not alone in rebellion makes him very happy.
9. How is the government able to obtain this much control over society?
The situation described in this book is very similar to Hitler after World War 1. Both countries were in a recession at that time and needed someone to lead them throught the hard times of economic despession. Oceania turned to Brother for help just like Germany turned to Hilter. The people turned to these men because they were low on options and desperate for help. Brother probably started out with good intentions, just like Hitler until both started to gain some power. This power and authority led both of them to seek even more power, authority, and control over society. Since neither government had checks and balances in place, the power that Brother and Hilter had became almost alunlimited. When the power became almost unlimited is when Hitle and Brother's intentions turn from good to bad because they both probably thought that they could get away with almost anything. Many people from both countries soon became brainwashed into following the ways of Hitler and Brother. The only way that Hitler was stopped was through a physical war. Maybe that is the only way that Brother could be stopped. Another question that I wonder is whether this could happen in America. I think that the answer to that question is no because the checks and balances in our government wouldn't allow one person to obtain almost unlimited power. Instead, all of the power is split between many different people making it harder to control society like in Oceania. However, if the the wrong people are voted to represent the people in America then checks and balances may not be enforced maybe allowing one person to gain power. As long as America continues to vote for good politicians that represent them well then I think that we can avoid the situation the exists in Oceania.
10. http://www.newspeak.com/Newspeak.htm
This site debates whether or not we live in an Orwellian world. This site helped my to connect the book to our current situation in America. There a few interesting facts that are listed in the middle of the page that show how America could possible be turning into Oceania.
1 Who is Winston Smith?
Winston is a small man, age 39 and lives in London. He is part of the Outer Party and is unhappy with his life because of how Big Brother Controls them. He thinks a lot about the world and how things used to be when he was younger.
2 What is Winston’s job?
Winston works in the Records Department in the Ministry of Truth. He changes all records of the past that weren’t true from books, newspapers, and poems to make it so the party is always right. Once things are changed so the party was right all the old information is put in memory holes and destroyed forever.
3 Who is Big Brother?
He is the leader of Oceania, and in complete control of the party. They put his picture on posters and the party slogan that says “WAR IS PEACE FREEDOM IS SLAVERY IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH.” The posters are everywhere just like Big Brother is everywhere. They have telescreens everywhere so he can watch your every move.
4 How does Winston first meet Mr. Charrington?
Winston goes into a junk shop that is part of the black market. The shop is owned my Mr. Charrington. Winston finds a diary with a marble cover and buys it from the shop even thought it’s against the law. Mr. Charrington turns out to be part of the Inner Party and is a Thought Police.
5 Who are the proles?
The proles are the lowest class in the social hierarchy of Oceania. They live under low surveillance from the government. Most of them don’t have telescreens. In the novel he befriends Mr. Charrington who he thought was a prole. The proles make up about 85% of the population in Oceania.
6 What is room 101?
It’s a room at the Ministry of Love and it’s the final stage of torture and rehab. The room has the one thing that each person is afraid of or hates the most. When people go to room 101 they are very afraid and helpless.
7 What is George Orwell trying to tell us?
He writes this book as a warning to what man kind can become. Unless we stand up for what we believe in and be individuals the government or anyone will be able to control everything we do and say. At the beginning of the book the mood of the story is dull and hopeless. There is no excitement because of how Big Brother has created a world. The people in 1984 are controlled like robots. Orwell wants us to see that it can happen to us if we let it. I think he uses the term being “vaporized” because people actually did get vaporized. He brings things into the book about what we already know and think about. We always hear about the dictators and how they are so mean but he wants us to make sure we are not the ones being dictated. I think he wrote this book for the younger generations to understand why we can’t conform. Everyone must remain individuals and think for themselves.
8 What is the role of the proles in the book?
Orwell seems to imply that the proles are part of the society and have more freedom than the outer party has. As long as they don’t challenge the government they government doesn’t really mess with them. They don’t see the proles as having any value but what the proles don’t see is they make up the majority of the population and could over through the government if they wanted. The proles are not watched as closely as the Inner and Outer Parties. They don’t have to speak Newspeak and are permitted to do things that Party members can’t.
9 What are some examples that Big Brother has absolute power over Winston and everyone else in Oceania?
In the novel 1984 the whole book is centered on the abuse of Big Brothers power. Orwell makes it a point to exaggerate the governments’ power so we realize what could really happen. The goal of the Inner party is to have absolute control over the live of all the citizens of Oceania. They don’t want anyone to have the ability to think for themselves. They do this by having secret Thought Police to catch you if you commit a thought crime, such as writing in a diary like Winston Smith does. They also have the telescreens to monitor everything they do. Big Brother doesn’t want any emotion or feelings from the citizens so he can control them anyway he likes. They even belittle there vocabulary by cutting adjectives out of the dictionary, by doing this no one can be creative with there words. There are signs posted everywhere with a picture of Big Brother and Winston says that anywhere you are it seems the eyes are looking right at you. Also on the posters they have the party’s slogan, War is Peace, Freedom is Slavery and Ignorance is strength. The last part ignorance is strength means that if people are stupid and unaware of what is really happening then it will be in the governments favor. If people don’t know what is going on and what is happening to them, they will let it happen. Most the people in the novel are brainwashed by the government and will believe anything they tell them. They even believe the simplest math problem 2+2=5 because the government told them it is. Winston works in the Records Department where he changes records all day to make anything the government said right, so they will never be wrong. At the end of the book they even make Winston believe that 2+2=5 because they torture you until you believe it. They use unbearable methods to get you to confess anything they want and to brainwash you so you believe Big Brother.
10
I googled 1984 and it brought me to this site http://www.gerenser.com/1984/analysis.html#Anchor-symbolism. I clicked on the symbolism because that is what I need help understanding. I thought it was interesting that Orwell could right this book and use so many different things to symbolize what he really wanted to say. For example the nursery rhymes, I didn’t know they had any significance in the book I just thought it was something to add to the story.
1. Who is Julia?
--Julia is a twenty-six year old with short, thick, dark hair. She seems to just appear in the novel and remains a mystery to Winston for some time. She is a part of the Junior Anti-Sex League but it is later noted that she only does this for cover up, and that she indeed too hates the Party along with Winston.
2. Elaborate on the contents or the idea of the book that is forbidden.
--Goldstein, who is the center of hate in this novel, wrote this book. The book tells the truth about the Party and about Big Brother. Any copies that are made and given out are immediately tracked down by the Thought Police and destroyed. The title of the book is The Theory and Practice of Oligarchical Collectivism.
3. What is the significance of the glass paperweight that Winston finds in the junk shop?
--It is curved on one side and flat on the other. In the center is a piece of soft corral, which is surrounded by the glass that looks like soft rain. Winston buys it for it’s beauty and admires it. I think it might remind him of Julia, so that is why he purchases it. He feels that the glass is the sky and that the corral piece inside reflects himself and Julia living together in a carefree world.
4. Explain what Newspeak is.
--Newspeak is the language of Oceania. Newspeak helps officials prevent others from arguing about the “truth” because there are not too many words or phrases that they can say to defend themselves. The language continually becomes shorter and more precise, and words are eliminated on a daily basis. This is their way of making the world more simple and easier to understand.
5. Two minute hate seems to be a popular thing in this novel. Act as though you are a member of one of these hate sessions and describe what you would see around the room.
--The telescreen shines on the faces of hundreds of angry and furious people. It’s a daily routine; nothing out of the ordinary. Pictures, words, and sounds appear on the telescreen, and the people go crazy. Cuss words are shouted and things are being thrown all over the place. It’s total chaos. The main victim is Goldstein, with whom everybody despises. Everybody joins in when they see Goldstein’s face appear on the telescreen to show their hatred for the things he does and the lies he tells.
6. Explain who Big Brother is. What is his purpose in the novel?
--Big Brother is the leader of Oceania and the symbol of the party. Throughout the novel, his face appears almost everywhere and his voice is heard through loudspeakers daily. He has black hair, a black mustache, and dark eyes that are said to follow the members everywhere, everyday. He watches everyone and maintains “structure”, so to say. Some members, particularly Winston, begin to doubt his existence.
7. Why does Big Brother forbid showing emotion among the party members?
--Showing emotion is a crime in this novel. When showing emotion, a person expresses how they feel, and Big Brother wants everybody to feel the same, so to say, and be expressionless. This allows a person to develop individuality and rebel against conformity, which is what Big Brother does not want to happen. Everything is run by a set schedule, and conformity helps keep the routine under control and helps to avoid any problems. Big Brother sets the rules for the people and turns his lies into truths, and with people being able to show emotion and think for themselves, he fears he may be all figured out. He enjoys having people wrapped around his finger and brainwashed into the way he wants the world to be.
8. For what reasons does Winston decided to keep a diary?
--Winston keeps a diary because he feels he is the only sane person left in the world. There is nobody else to talk to that will understand how he feels about the structure of the world. By keeping this diary, Winston is rebelling against Big Brother’s rules physically along with mentally. There are so many thoughts running wild through Winston’s head and he doesn’t know what to do with them, because he is living in a world full of zombies who wouldn’t care what he had to say, none the less know what he was talking about. His diary allows him to let his thoughts and feelings out, in a somewhat safer manner. This diary helps Winston distinguish between the past and the present, and helps him foreshadow the future. He cherishes the diary as though it is his friend, and sees it as an item of hope for survival in this brainwashed and messed up world he lives in.
9. Explain the different ways that Big Brother keeps close watch on the citizens.
--Party members are constantly watching the citizens in hopes of catching some of them committing thought crimes or any sign of rebellion. This helps support the slogan “Big Brother is Watching You.” The telescreens are probably the most important means of surveillance. They are everywhere and always being monitored. The screens never turn off. Outer party members can dim the screen or turn the sounds low, but they are always on, and always watching. Senior members of the party have the ability to turn the screens off, but this is only for a short and limited amount of time. However, very few proles have telescreens, because they are looked upon as useless people who don’t pose a threat. There are also surveillance helicopters that fly around, peeking into windows to spy on the citizens and make sure everything is under control. Children are also used as a way of keeping close watch on the adults. Most adults are afraid of children because they have been trained to catch people doing crimes. They have been trained and encouraged to eavesdrop in order to find out who is following the rules and who is not. The Party members reward their children for their findings as if they are doing a good deed. All marriages are supervised in order to prevent sexual tension between people, and must be approved by a committee, who will deny the marriage if they feel there is any attraction between the couple. Sex is only permitted when making more party members, never for affection or pleasure. Attendance is vital also. The attendance at the Community Center is carefully monitored and party members should not be alone unless they are sleeping. Party members are forbidden to walk in the prole area, and if they are caught doing so, the police will question that person and check their papers. All letters sent out in the mail are opened and evaluated by the mail service. There is no privacy for any of the citizens and they are continually being watched. The only thing left that the party members are unable to monitor are the feelings that people feel inside, such as the affection that Julia and Winston feel toward one another.
10. http://www.corporate-aliens.com/articles/maintemplatedb.php?1984-in-the-21st-Century&art_id=71 (1984 in the 21st Century)
--This website explains the different types of surveillance used in our world today, and compares it to the novel, 1984. I never really thought about just how much surveillance we actually do have in our world, and after reading through this, it made me start to wonder about our future. Everyday technology is advancing and machines are taking over the world. Cameras are just about everywhere. In some ways this is good, because it’s always nice knowing that crime is being monitored and it helps reduced any problems. However, could this possibly ever turn out to be the miserable world that Winston was forced to live in during the year 1984? This novel and this website make me begin to wonder…
Take Home Quiz
1. What is Orwell trying to tell us about this novel?
He is telling us about the dystopia that is taking place in the novel 1984. He is basically telling us what could happen or what has already happened in the real world today. I think every author relates there novel to the real world in some way.
2. Who is Big Brother and what is he trying to do?
Big brother is the guy in the novel who is in control of the party; he is kind of like our president he is in control of the nation or the party. I think he is trying to take away everyone’s freedom away by not letting them think and commit thought crimes. I think he wants to rule the world kind of like what Hitler did with the Nazis.
3. What are the Paroles?
The Paroles are part of the party that controls everyone. They are kind of like the police of Brandon, they watch over all of the citizens and society to make sure that know one is committing thought crimes, or doing anything that they aren’t suppose to be doing.
4. What is two minute hate?
Two minute hate is where all the people sit and look at a screen and they yell at it and scream. Big brother has them do this so they all stay stupid and so they don’t figure out how to do anything.
5. What does it mean to be vaporized?
This means that if you do something wrong like commit a thought crime or don’t listen to big brother you will disappear for ever. This probably means that you will be killed. Big brother is kind of a dictator and if you don’t listen to him you will vanish.
6. Why are they not able to commit thought crimes?
The reason they can’t commit thought crimes is because this place is kind of like a dictatorship. Big brother is in charge and if he lets people think for themselves and discuss with others, they might be able to over throw him and that’s not what he wants so he just wants everyone to stay put.
7. Why should we read the novel 1984?
We read 1984 to better our understanding on what the world could turn into if we don’t think rationale. The book is about people being controlled by the government which is kind of like what happened in the past with World War II and the Nazis. To keep ourselves from turning into this kind of government we need to think for ourselves, and be thought criminals. I think 1984 is a lot like the past, and a lot of people were killed. The government has all the power to control you so people are afraid to think for themselves.
8. What is the setting and the tone of 1984?
I would say that the tone of 1984 is really dark because the government rules over all the people. The setting takes place back in the early 1900’s where they don’t have a lot of technology to watch over the citizens. The book is written from 1948 to the future which is 1984. Orwell says in the novel that there are telescreens watching there every move to keep the citizens from committing thought crimes. I think the reason for the telescreens is to mainly scare the people so they don’t talk. They could have cameras or telescreens that don’t work and it would still stop the citizens from talking because they are that intimidated by the government.
9. What is your thought of room 101?
I think room 101 is very scary to the citizens in the novel. Room 101 is like a torture place for the citizens, or that’s what they think. I would say now days our room 101 is probably like a jail but worse because you are tortured. We really don’t have anything that is as bad as room 101. We have the death penalty but that is a short easy death, you don’t have to sit there and be tortured. I think room 101 is the unknown because know one actually knows what happens in there. They don’t know what happens because know one ever returns. The society assumes that the people that go in there are tortured and killed but if know one returns back out of there how does anyone know what really happens they just make an assumption. I guess them thinking about what’s in room 101, and making up stuff that happens there is kind of like what we do in society today. Our boogy man when we are little is like there room 101, we just assume that the boogy man exists, and that he is a scary creature. I think the unknown to all of us is always scary and makes people think and make up things. I think in society because of the unknown it makes people act in funny ways, like the novel all the people are afraid to talk out or to make thought crimes because they know they will go to room 101 so that keeps them intimidated by the government. We don’t really know what is in room 101 at this time in the novel but I think the government just tells them about it to scare them, and there might not even be a room 101. I think the government just tells them that to keep them from talking out.
10. http://www.online-literature.com/orwell/1984/ What does the book relate to?
I think this book relates to the real world around the time of World War II. It talks about the three different parts and how Winston is unhealthy, Big brother is kind of treating them like Hitler did to the Jews.
1: What is the purpose of the Junior Anti-Sex League?
The purpose of the League is to try to abolish sex as a pleasurable act. They seek to demoralize people and convince them sex is wrong and an evil act.
2: What is Newspeak?
Newspeak is the language that is trying to replace English in Oceania’s culture. Newspeak seeks to eliminate any individual thought left in the masses, making the process of conformity much easier.
3: Who is Mr. Charington?
Charington is the owner of the antique shop. Since most antiques are contraband, the people who buy them are typically committing a thoughtcrime, and Charington is a disguised member of the thought police trying to catch his customers.
4: What is the purpose of the telescrenes?
The telescreens have two main purposes, to spread Big Brother’s mind numbing propaganda and to keep an ever-vigilant eye on his people, to watch out for any thoughtcrimes or signs of faltering loyalty.
5: Who is Winston? Is he the typical definition of a hero?
Winston Smith is the protagonist in the book who tries to rebel against Big Brother. Winston is not the definition of a hero; in fact he is an anti-hero. Winston is not strong, nor good-looking, he is the inverse of what you expect the protagonist to be.
6: What are the three slogans of the party and why are they ironic?
Ignorance is Strength, Love is Hate, Peace is War. These are extremely ironic because the words seem like complete antonyms, but in making the people believe them to be truth, the party maintains complete control over its people.
7: How does Orwell create false scenes of serenity with Julia and Winston?
Orwell uses very vivid imagery when he is describing Julia and Winston’s safehouses. The little grove by the stream seems calm and serene. The singing bird just adds another layer to that “safe” aspect that deceives them both. Inside of Charington’s shop, they seem to instantly fall into a place where there is no outside, there is no party. The telescreen is gone, the contrabands don’t matter, and Julia and Winston can enjoy themselves and each other without fear of repercussions. They seem in a perfect utopia, they get good coffee, can eat what they want, and yet something just seems too good. Orwell does a great job in foreshadowing that something may be wrong with the room while still making is seem like a paradise for Julia and Winston.
8: What details has Winston been trained to notice, and what things has he just been conditioned to ignore?
Winston Smith has been brainwashed. Something just didn’t quite line up though, the gears didn’t quite click, and Winston started learning things. Smith pays attention to anything that would seem out of the ordinary, even if it’s a small gleam of the eye that he seems in O’Brian, or the obvious deviance of someone like Julia. Winston doesn’t really notice appearance at the start of the novel, but not long into it he starts getting flashbacks, such as the one of the prostitute he found. The newfound details are typically about how the people look, the whore, Julia, the woman hanging clothes, O’Brian, everything about their appearance now catches Winston’s eye. Winston also is trained to notice how important social rank and class is within the party and even outside of it.
9: Is Goldstein a real person, or is it an idea? And if he is an idea, was it created by the rebels or by the Party?
Goldstein is not a person, at least, not anymore. The Goldstein that people yell and swear at during the Two Minutes Hate is not the Goldstein of the past, it is an idea, another way to further brainwash the people. By making Goldstein immortal, the party is giving the people another enemy, besides the one they are “at war” with. The party is bringing the fact that there is a rebellion out in the open to scare people away from trying to join it or rebel themselves. If the common people see that there is a direct target of hate, one of evil, they will not want to become one of that man’s ranks. The party makes Goldstein seem tangible, however, because it is far easier to despise something you can see, something you can store an image of. In some aspects, the party IS the rebellion, the party IS Goldstein, and they make the rebellion because it suits their best interests. Fear is the party’s greatest weapon; it can cripple both the body and the mind. Fear can induce false confessions, can make people turn against their loved ones, and can even build an empire. Without fear, what stops the common people from rebelling? The party wants power, that part is for certain, and they will stop at nothing to maintain their power, even expand it. Money means nothing to them, as they burn millions and billions of dollars into fake wars, fake rebellions, recreating the past, and building the future. If it costs them an inexorable amount of money to keep their Goldstein puppet in the public’s eye, what does it matter? Goldstein embodies the sickening, repulsing things that are “wrong” with Oceania. In the Two Minutes Hate, in Hate Week, inside every bit of propaganda that Big Brother puts out, hatred further brainwashes everyone into believing that these people are the enemy, instead of the party. Images of hatred are everywhere, in church, in government, in schools, and we are influenced by them every day. In school, every school has its rival, and in some subtle way, all schools are taught to hate those people. In church, the devil is always there, trying to lead people astray, bring them over to “the dark side.” Even within our own government this happens. We are taught, at some level, through the papers, or television, or other outlets, to hate people. Back in the day, those were the British… Followed by the Indians, followed by the Japanese, and the Germans, and the Saudis… On and on this chain goes, there is always an enemy in the public eye, because it detracts from problems within the society. If problems seem distanced, they seem less serious, but just as real as a problem right at home. Orwell’s selection of the “enemy” however, is slightly ironic. Goldstein, being a strongly Jewish name, is the generic scapegoat in the world. The Jew has typically been the one who is hated by all, for some realistic reasons, and for some completely absurd ones. Orwell, or “the Party”, chose a name the people can really relate to in a negative way. The “Hate events” in this book are closely paralleled with Hitler’s hating of the Jews, having rallies against them and propaganda and media to turn his people into mindless followers with only the goal of hate in their minds. By making Emmanuel Goldstein the reason for everything going wrong, Big Brother can maintain his squeaky clean image and seem omnipotent. It doesn’t matter whether Goldstein is real or not, Goldstein is there. Goldstein is the fear inside all of them, and the hatred they need to release, he is Big Brother’s devil, he is black to Big Brother’s white, Goldstein is the complete opposite of big brother, and if one is not real, neither is.
10: http://www.orwell.ru/
This site has a massive library of Orwell’s works, all free of charge to read online or even print off. Both Animal Farm, and 1984, are online in full, along with multiple translations in different languages. Also included are many of Orwell’s essays and Literary Criticisms. If you are interested in doing more digging into Orwell’s life, there are photo albums, a biography, and much more on him. This site has anything anyone would want to know about George Orwell.
John utke
1.) Why does the government make all the proles dress in the same fashion?
A.) The government makes all the proles dress the same to make them lose their own individuality and under mind them more. Dressing this way prevents people from looking up to one another. By doing it this way makes it so people can only look up to Big Brother.
2.) What does it mean when the party says “War is peace”?
A.) By saying “War is peace” keeps the people ignorant and tells them that the only way to achieve peace is by war. By doing this all the proles will naturally believe that if Oceania is at war that they are at peace.
3.) What is ironic about where Winston works?
A.) Winston works at a place called The Department of Truth. This is ironic because the Department of Truth is actually like The Department of Lies; they don’t tell the truth but rather lies. They lie about government affairs to keep the proles ignorant and make them never ask questions.
4.) What is the danger of Winston having a diary?
A.) In 1984, the government condemns open minds and forms of thought. If the government catches a prole thinking, the penalty would be death. Since a diary is a form of thought, Winston is in grave danger for having one. Though Winston is in the higher branch of government, he is not scanned or looked at as much.
5.) Why does the government have a “two-minute hate”?
A.) The purpose of a “two-minute hate” is to keep the proles angry at their enemies and to fulfill their other phrase, “Ignorance is strength”, by making them racist, war hungry, and to hate others. The “two-minute hate” has been going on for so long that is has become a habit, and many proles do not even realize it anymore.
6.) Who is Big Brother?
A.) Big Brother is the dictator of Oceania and in the last 30 years he has taken control of the proles by taking their minds away. Big Brother is feared by all and is seen by all the telescreens for most of the day. No one ever sees him in person, Big Brother is the one that came up with War is Peace, Ignorance is Strength, and Freedom is Slavery.
7.) What is the point for Winston keeping a diary?
A.) He keeps a diary because he believes people can still think for themselves. Since Winston was born there have always been thought-police. When Winston was little he asked his grandma what the world was like before thought-police. Winston’s diary makes him believe that the world that his grandma lived in can become reality again. Winston likes the thought of being a thought criminal and hopes that many more proles will become thought criminals along with him. The diary also represents change for later when he finds more thought criminals like himself that also want a new life. The diary keeps Winston going every day.
8.) Why does the government use children as spies?
A.) The government uses children to spy on their own parents. Children are very easy to manipulate into spying on their own parents because the children at such a young age are brainwashed into listening to Big Brother over their parents. When these kids spy on their parents, Big Brother will tell them that they will receive a roomful of chocolate or other toys. Parents that think for themselves usually do it in a secret area where only the children will know and the thought-police could never find them without the children’s help. The children do not care if their parents end up being killed as long as they get their treats.
9.) Can 1984 ever happen in this country?
A.) The chances of this happening in America are none. This country was made on the belief of freedom not slavery, peace not war, and strength not ignorance. Our founding fathers made a government which has many of checks and balances. There are three types of branches of government: Executive, Legislative, and Judicial. In other countries, for example Germany and Russia in 1940 did not have three different types of government. In America with the three types of branches if one were to become corrupt the other two would step in and solve the problem. Germany and Russia have one branch of government and if they were to become corrupt, 1984 just happened. In America citizens can vote for two of the three branches of government and the third branch is elected by the officials the citizens elected themselves. No one man can ever brainwash this country. 1984 is only one man’s crazy dream. This one man is George Orwell. Orwell wrote this book on the basis of trying to make sure that people don’t lose their freedoms, rights, and minds to governments. In America, freedoms, rights, and minds are what we live on and no man can take those away. Many Americans believe that our country is heading for a 1984. In recent years the government has taken more safety precautions by phone tapping and surveillance cameras to make sure that terrorist do not turn our country into a 1984. Orwell’s book depicts a country full of simple minded people that were not willing to stand up for themselves. Almost every industrialized country in the world could never fall into this book simply because the stand up for their own ideas. Orwell was a great man but foretold a future that will never see the light of day. GO AMERICA! Wooo….
10.) Students for Orwell
A.) This website is out to spread the word of Orwell and what he stands for. A group of kids run this site mostly liberal and think that the USA is coming to a end just like in the book. I think this group needs to calm down and read something else because 1984 is never going to happen.
ya boy!!!!!!!!!!
hey Mr. C, I think we got a winner!!!
:)
1). Why has Orwell set such a depressing and gloomy setting/mood to this book?
Orwell sets a mood in this book that is repulsive right away in the beginning few paragraphs. He sets this book in such a depressing void so it will make a larger impact on you. He probably wants you to have a negative reaction to it. Without this negative affect the book wouldn’t make a lot of sense, he wouldn’t write about a cheery and bright future when you think, you die or when everything you do is controlled. Those particular things aren’t exactly the most blissful.
2). Describe Winston Smiths job, who works with him?
Winston works at the Ministry of Truth where they transform lies into the truth. Winston takes something Big Brother said that was false and makes it true by changing the records and destroying the lies. He has three special shoots, one is for written messages, one is slightly larger and is for newspapers and the last is for waste paper, it destroys the information that is no longer needed and that could possibly prove Big Brother wrong. Winston works with his comrade Syme who he thinks is going to be vaporized, a woman with sandy hair who he doesn’t really know, a guy with hairy ears named Ampleforth, a man named Tillotson and around fifty unmentioned workers. He doesn’t go into great detail on his co-workers except for Syme.
3). Why do the Parsons kids hit Winston in the back of the neck and what does Winston think about when that occurs? Why is he suddenly so afraid?
The Parsons kids are very ruthless and rambunctious. They were just playing around for now but they hit him in the back of the neck and accused him of being a thought criminal. He becomes really nervous because kids don’t know much and can be easily corrupted. Big Brother uses kids as little spies who think they are just getting a treat for turning in their parents to the thought police. They probably are un-expectant of the fact that their parents aren’t coming back. Winston fears they might figure out he is committing crimes and turn him in. He just suddenly realizes how dangerous it is to rebel but his is till persistent. He also stated that he feels bad for Mrs. Parsons because in a year or two her kids will be watching her for crimes. It’s a never ending fight for everyone, Winston gets an awakening I think and he realizes he has got to go all out or not at all.
4). Why does Winston think Syme is going to be vaporized?
Winston knows that if people act to smart then they can be categorized as a threat. Winston thinks that Syme is kind of stupid because Syme flaunts his intelligence and seems to be unaware of what could happen. Syme is Winston’s “comrade” and so they talk often, he feels simply that he will be vaporized because he is to smart. Big Brother will feel a threat from him and most likely order him to be vaporized. There isn’t really anything Winston can do but wait it out.
5). When Julia makes her appearance in the book why does Winston suddenly accelerate in his crimes?
When Julia comes into the story Winston seems more confident and continues to further corrupt against Big Brother and the Party. Julia brings him confidence and new feelings. She accelerates his rebelliousness far beyond what he was previously doing. Writhing in a diary had no comparison to the numerous crimes he had been committing with Julia. She seems to open up new doors for Winston, new ways to rebel against the Party. I think that Julia breaths life into Winston, she gives him the confidence and yearning to move on in his crime sprees.
6). Who is Katherine and what is her role in this book?
Katherine is Winston’s wife. They weren’t together for long for they separated and he has no idea where she is. When he talks about her they are on a hike in the woods and they get lost. They seemed to be all alone by a chalk quarry somewhere. Winston talks of her as a serious conformist, she is all for Big Brother, she is devoted. She hates it when the mere feeling of committing a crime comes up. She would have turned in her own husband to the thought police because she was so brain washed. He was never scared of being betrayed though because he exclaims that she wasn’t bright enough to catch his unorthodox opinions. They were married but in my opinion I’m not sure why.
7). Describe Winston, what is his character like? His beliefs? His feelings towards the party? Towards Big Brother and Goldstein? What are the things he does to rebel?
He is a 30 or so year old man in a world that watches his every move and thought. He works within the party at the ministry of truth. He wants to rebel against the party but if he does and gets caught he would be vaporized. Winston is a pretty quiet individual but when he finds a book with black pages he begins his first offense. He begins to write in it like a diary and that is a major thought crime. He would be vaporized instantly if he was found out. Not very far into the future he commits one of the worst crimes, a sex crime and he does it numerous times. He is in full out rebellious mode, it’s funny to me because when I first started reading this he seemed normal and sort of innocent. He has such hate towards Big Brother, he wants to join up with Goldstein and try to overthrow the Party or that’s my prediction for the book, I haven’t gotten that far into it.
8). When Winston first starts to write in his diary what are some of the things he writes about and why?
When he first begins he isn’t sure what to write about because he isn’t supposed to have his own thoughts. So to start off he doesn’t write much. Then suddenly he begins to furiously sketch onto the paper a story of murder. A man, a son and a woman shot and blown up, he stops and isn’t sure why he wrote it. His next writing was when he came back from the two minutes hate and he wrote several times, enough to cover a half page, “DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER.” He wrote it immediately and in neat capital letters. He then talked about being shot in the back of the neck and not caring at all but he was all for down with big brother. He also writes about a greeting to a free world and how he was feeling dead already for the thought crimes he has been committing. “Thought crime does not entail death: Thought crime is death!” He follows up with this quote. He also has written about his first sex crime with the old hag lady and how he the way she looked didn’t even matter he just wanted to commit another crime against the Party. So far that is some of what he has written. I have gotten a little more into the book and it seems to me that Winston writes a lot of his fears or the things he does to rebel, it is also a good way for him to vent.
9). Relate this book to 2008, what similarities does our time have to 1984?
I think that there is a large possibility in the future for something like 1984 to occur. There are a lot of similarities of 2008 to the time in “1984.” For instance in this day and age I observe or just randomly notice the numerous amounts of cameras all over now. They are every where, from the restaurants to the shops to parking lots even. They seem to be for security for businesses but what if they weren’t, what if they were the very beginning of telescreens. We don’t know for sure, some people believe that the government is actually always watching them. Another comparison or assumption was between out presidents and Big Brother. How did B. B. come into power, was he elected or did he some how just take control like Hitler. I’m thinking it might have been an election gone wrong. A conspiracy to grab hold of power and take over completely. Lets think about it, are our elections safe and secure, this meaning that if lets say Obama wins, can he take over? I don’t think that anything is for sure these days, people always seem to find loop wholes. Also with technology rising that’s also going to help on the road to world corruption. The slogans that B.B. has I have also connected with some of Bushes slogans, like “war is peace” and “a safer world and a more hopeful America,” I think this portrays war, a safer world means you most likely are going to have to fight to achieve it. It’s a long shot but there are microscopic connections that could grow to be much larger connections, but that’s just my opinion. There are also small things like curfews, cops, and little kids that like to nark on people but not for the same reasons, but the bad reasons could come. I’m feeling like the U.S. could really become “1984” or something a lot like it, it could happen, there are some really crazy people out there.
10). www.glug.com/homework/1984.html
“Probably the most important thing to remember while reading “1984” is that Orwell never intended the book to be a prediction of the future.”-Brian. He thought that Orwell, besides the fact that Orwell wasn’t trying to predict the future, Brian(no last name) thought he was on track on what could happen in the future, it is possible that this world could come to that. He also thinks that this book was a warning to people of the signs that Orwell had seen. I really believe and I guess agree with Brian that this book was some kind of warning to the world. It really could be warning because we are very capable of accomplishing a world like “1984.”
#1. How come the proles aren’t watched as closely as the party members?
Big Brother obviously doesn’t think that the proles are smart enough to rebel against him. There is probably enough people with a hatred for Big Brother to have a rebellion but they are watched so closely that it would be impossible to organize an attack. Even the proles are watched. Although not as closely as party members are. The proles still have to worry about party members following them, and in Airstrip One everyone is watching each other so if the thought police don’t get you someone else probably will.
#2. Why has Julia slept with so many men?
Julia looks at intercourse as no more than rebelling against Big Brother’s rule. Her hate for Big Brother is what created her love for sex, and this is why she is sneaking around with Winston. However, I do believe that she thoroughly enjoys making love to Winston. I also believe that Winston is more invested in the relationship than Julia is and I’m predicting a “break up”.
#3. Why does the Party constantly lie about the past?
In order to have party members and proles completely brain washed the Party changes books and articles magazines to make themselves look good. Even the most serious subjects like wars are simply made up because everyone has anger and would like to take it out on someone else. Big Brother knows this and he must constantly have an enemy so that his people hate the enemy and not him.
#4. What is the significance of Winston’s diary?
The reason the diary is important for Winston is because it is one object in his life that let him express himself. Lucky for him he also has a place in his house where the telescreen can not see what he is doing. The store where Winston bought the diary is also important. The diary is the only thing that he has to keep himself sane.
#5. If telescreens are not mandatory why do the party members have them?
With a powerful leader such as Big Brother many people simply want to show their loyalty to the party. They want Big Brother to like them the best and anyone in the party that does not have a telescreen would surely be investigated.
#6. How 1984 similar to Lord of the Flies?
Both of the two groups have created dictatorships ruled by evil males. Winston is like Ralph in that he does not follow Big Brother’s ways, and just as Ralph doesn’t have enough power to take over neither does Winston. They both know what is right but they are surrounded by brainwashed people.
#7. What examples did George Orwell use to show us how controlling Big Brother is?
The most obvious way that Orwell shows us are the telescreens. Not only can these futuristic TV’s watch you but they can also hear you. Most of the people that are in the party have telescreens although it is optional. Some people like O’brien can actually turn their telescreens off. The proles however don’t have telescreens at all. Perhaps this is why Winston thinks that the power lies within the proles. If they aren’t being controlled than they must have more power than those who are constantly being monitored. Telescreens are not the only thing that the people of Oceania have to worry about. The thought police are a group of people working for Big Brother to prevent crimes against the party. These are called thought crimes and people can simply be vaporized just for thinking about doing something.
#8. How well did George Orwell predict the future?
I would say that George Orwell predicted the future very well. Even at the time that this book was being written some of the things he described had already happened. Now that more time has past we see even more of these events taking place. Orwell might not have been perfect but I would say his version of the future is fairly accurate. We may not have telescreens in every room that we are in but look around when your at school or in a store and you will notice that we are certainly on our way. There are even satellites that we can’t see that could take pictures of where we live, and watch what we are doing. Our own government can now listen to every word we say on the telephone without us knowing. We are already being watched and controlled but thanks to Orwell I don’t think it will ever compare to Big Brother’s grip on society.
#9. What does this book show us about the importance of our civil rights?
As Americans we have civil rights that we are all aware of and some that we may not be aware of. What has happened in the novel 1984 is that the government has taken all power away from the common people. Big Brother and the party have brainwashed all these people to forget about anything but benefiting the party. Even the most intimate and personal things like having children are only done for the party. If you live in Oceania and your not a prole than you work for the party. Winston himself hates the party and yet he works for it by making up lies that will someday become the past. Without the freedom of speech no one can write about events that have happened. So if everyone only hears one side to the story than they will most likely agree with that version. Especially if that story was made by the people controlling your every move. Even the right to peaceably assemble has been taken away from the people of Oceania. In America we use this right to form groups with common beliefs trying to better life in our country. However in Oceania meeting with other people for your own benefit is not only unheard of, it is very dangerous. The thought police are constantly on the look out for anyone out of place. Therefore nobody in Oceania can form a protest or even a support group, without being vaporized immediately. In the former U.S.S.R people who spoke out against the government where killed. Also this government told its people lies about war, and the outcome of battles. The kind of control Big Brother has in 1984 isn’t comparable to much for us in the United States, but people in communistic countries would beg to differ. Our civil rights are the one thing keeping us from living a life like Winston’s. These rights are crucial to our freedom and we must never give them up.
#10. http://youtube.com/watch?v=Z4rBDUJTnNU
This is a movie trailer for 1984. It does not say anything particularly interesting. However it is fun to see the characters portrayed. The film maker has his version of Big Brother and Winston and I like that he was creative while sticking to the script. I haven’t seen the movie but the trailer appears to be very similar to Orwell’s book.
George Orwell makes a depressed downtrodden mood by the kind of descriptive words he uses when describing the streets and the smells of Oceania. The colors he paints in our minds with how grungy the walls are, and how filthy the streets are. How he describes the gray of the walls in his house and the grayness of the party’s clothes makes me feel bored and dull and lifeless, almost as if I had been sitting in a fluorescent office all day, doing paper work leading a dull dull life. He also portrays this downtrodden way of life by the colorfulness of the country side and how cheerful it is and how happy Julia and Winston are and it contradicts with how they act when in the city. Winston feels free and unburdened but when in Oceania he is sad and lonely and always trying to keep control of the little details that will give him away. Julia enjoys having sex and dances and kisses and listens to the bird, but when she’s back in the city she participates in the things she is absolutely against. The anti-sex league the spies and marching and making banners for the party. The descriptive words Mr. Orwell uses are the clues he gives us to make us feel downtrodden and lifeless.
How would the government gain control like in Oceania? I think that first there would need to be a war, but not just any war. A war that was internal and everybody was suspicious of everyone else and they voted away all the people’s rights to the government so that the government could keep them safe. Then the government comes up with a great idea! The telescreen, so they can watch everything anybody does. It stops all the sabotage, it protects all the people, and it stops all the crimes before they even happen. But the tricky part is how does the government start getting all of its subjects brainwashed? Well since the people have given up their right to vote the leader becomes a dictator and not a president so he makes the rules. First he’ll make sure his power can’t be taken away from him so he stays in power, and the best way to do that is to ensure his people that he is the best for them and show them proof of all the great things he’s done. But freedom of the press is gone; he owns it he can print whatever he wants. He makes the statistics; he can create anything he wants. Ex: Quotes from the future;” Terrorists stopped! The economy is booming and bigger than ever! The invention of the telephone by our great leader is the best invention of the century!” And if anyone even thinks of arguing with the press they’re vaporized. They become an unperson, ceasing to exist and no one cares, because that’s another step in the taking over the country. Violence is the key, they’ll try to numb our conscious’s making it easier to kill and be killed. No one will miss anyone anymore, no more love, no more caring, just blank everlasting grayness in everyone. But the other key factor in taking over a country is the young. They’ll start brainwashing the kids just like the Parson’s kids; the teachers will train their kids with weapons for the war front, (just like the Japanese train their young to hate the Taiwanese in their schools.) They’ll brainwash them to think of the country before their family, to look for the best interests of the party. Even tell on their parents for anything said against the government. It’s possible for this to happen and it’s scary to think some of these things have already been put into place. We need to remember never to give up our rights because if we do we will end up like the people of Oceania, brainwashed, miserable, and beaten.
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080215144342AAPltKC is the website I found and it’s a forum of people who like to talk about the philosophy of this book. I find it interesting that he was a socialist in the beginning of his life and turned to write terrible books about it and found out that he absolutely hates totalitarianism and Stalinism and things along that line. He fought for Democracy in the Spanish Revolution and got wounded there. I found this website to be very interesting.
1. Who is the protagonist in the novel?
Winston is the protagonist and main character in the novel. Orwell wrote his novel so that we would experience his visions of the future through Winston’s eyes. Winston is very curious and a thought-criminal and he desperately wants to understand how and why the Party can have so much power and control.
2. Who is Julia and how is she important in the novel?
Julia has sexual relations with the main character, Winston. She is also the only person Winston can trust that truly rebels against the Party and Big Brother. Julia is sensual, needy, and what some may call a ‘free spirit’. She cares more about having sex and not getting caught then about figuring out the party and how to work the system.
3. Who is one of the antagonists in the novel?
O’Brien is an antagonist in the novel. He seeks out Winston and convinces him that he is a member of the Brotherhood and asks Winston to be a part of the Brotherhood. Only later to find out that he is actually one of the thought police. Which is revealed later when Winston is abused and brainwashed in his jail cell into agreeing with the party by no other then O’Brien himself.
4. Who is Big Brother?
In the novel Big Brother is never actually seen. It is not know if he exists or not. The people in the book have no idea and the readers have no idea. All around the city there are banners saying Big Brother is watching you and that is how it is believed that they are always being watched by Big Brother. He is the ruler or Oceania. His face is everywhere even on coins and he is hated by Winston and the Brotherhood.
5. Who are some secondary characters?
Parsons is an overweight, annoying, and boring man who is a coworker of Winston’s at the Ministry of truth. He wife is also dull and his children are junior spies. Goldstein is an influence in the novel but never actually appears in it. The Party says he is the leader of the Brotherhood. The Party portrays him as a danger and evil man.
6. Who is Syme?
Syme is a smart and outgoing man who works with Winston at the Ministry of Truth. He works with language and in the beginning of the novel he is working on a new edition of the Newspeak dictionary. Winston thinks that Syme is too intelligent to stay in the Party and he is right because later he is ‘vaporized’.
7. How is Big Brother never seen yet so successful?
Big brother, or just the Party, is a master at manipulating and brainwashing the Oceania people. The Party uses tactics very similar to those of the people in Harrison Bergeron. They put so much brainwashing power and psychological capacity on the people that their minds cannot reach any level of independent thought. The telescreen in everyone’s room not only is watching them all the time but is also sending out messages saying that everything the Party does is correct. Even when they mess up the telescreens announce that they did something right! Its madness there and they are the masters of it.
8. Does the Party have so much power they could create or destroy even the existence of any human or event?
Yes, very much so. The Party controls all sources of information given to the people. They could rewrite every newspaper that has ever been written. That is how the irony of the Ministry of Truth is so ‘out there’. The people are not allowed to keep any photos or records of them in the past, which is a law of the Party. The Party needs to be able to have the power to erase any one from ever existing so if there are photos or documents they need to be destroyed just in case the person needs to be destroyed. Due to no photos or documents people’s memories become weak, only allowing the Party easier access to total brainwashing abilities.
9. How can novels like 1984 make anyone, even criminals or George Bush, analyze what they have now and what could come in the future?
I think 1984 brings a whole other level of thought to any human. The thought of totalitarianism does not really cross everyone’s minds all that often. The novel makes you truly consider that we have now and how something that this novel is absolutely possible, even in the near future. We analyze now about how we are watched constantly on monitors in the hallways and in stores and parking lots. We also recognize that we are constantly watched and monitored to see if we are following a bogus set of rules. The novel is real in many ways. Just to a different level of extremes. We are watched to make sure someone is punished if they disobey the rules. Well, it is the same in 1984. It is just that the rules we have are logical and we agree with them. The rules in 1984 are absurd and if they were to exist in the near future, there would not be enough jails to hold all the thought criminals. I think that totalitarianism is not possible in the near future because this ear or generation of people would not put up with it. We have the hicks who would rather shoot Big Brother and go to jail then sit and not be able to farm and enjoy life. There is also the military that would rather die for their country then follow wretched unconstitutional laws. Teens would go mad without gossip and TV and relationships. Men would loose their minds without sex even being possible, ever. The entire United States would be a brotherhood. Whoever would want to be the next Big Brother wouldn’t make it past day one. But with future generations, no one knows. No one will ever know until that time comes. 1984 was predicted for 1984 so can we truly predict totalitarianism?
10. The Yes Dance on Youtube.com
The Yes Dance has everything to do with 1984 and everything not too. This is an amazing example of how America is free! This is one of our forms of entertainment. And we all love it! If 1984 were to happen things like these men doing this dance just for fun will never happen. And if that day comes then I do not want to be alive for it. If this were in Poland during the holocaust, these men would have been tortured. For now, all we need to do is enjoy what we have in life. And these men are not gay; they just made up this day for a festival and to entertain the crowd.
yes! 9:54!
1.) Who is Syme and why does Winston believe that he may be vaporized?
Syme is one of Winston's "friends" (if there was such a thing), who works in the Research Department. He was a philologist, or a specialist in Newspeak. He seems to support the Party in every way. He enjoies the hangings he claims especially when the feet are left untied. But he is too smart for his own good and Winston believes that this will lead to his vaporization. Although he in on Big Brother's side he is smart enough to find a way to betray the party.
2.)Why does Winston hate his wife?
Winston has a wife, who he did not choose and who he despises. He has not seen or spoke to her in many years, yet is still married to her because the party frowns on divorce. There was no romance, they were simply married to reproduce new party members. Katharine was her name and she had no interest in being with Winston besides to do her duty of "making a baby" for Big Brother.
3.) What can one conclude from Winston's reoccuring dream?
During his dream Winston hears someone say, "We will meet in a place where there is no darkness." Winston believes that it is O'Brien saying this to him and hopes it is. at the two minutes hate Winston caught a glimse of O'Brien and believed he felt the same about Big Broter and the Party as Winston does. The dream could be foreshadowing a meeting between Winston and O'Brien. I think that Winston is right about O'Brien, but then again he was wrong about Julia. The "darkness" could be symbolizing the party, telescreens, or anything having to do with Big Brother.
4.)Who is Parsons and what is significant about him and his children?
Parsons is one of Winston's neighbors who has two children and a wife. Winston says that Parsons will never be vaporized because he is too stupid and follows whatever the party says. Unlike Syme however he is brainwashed by the party and is too dumb to be able to rebell. He is very proud of his children who are amature spies. The kids pride themselves on obeying the Party and everything it represents. They call Winston a "thought criminal" and pretend to vaporize him. This might be a foreshadow to what might happen if Winston continues to write in his diary like he just had been before the encounter.
5.)Agree or disagree with the Party's slogan.
"War is Peace
Freedom in Slavery
Ignorance is Strength"
I do not agree with this but I can understand how the people of the party do. The ones who could know any different can not remember and the others have never known anything else. They do not know real freedom, they have never not been in slavery of the party and they are ignorant of thier ignorance.
6.) What is ironic about the party?
The party members have a workout routine everyday that pushes each of them. But when Winston decribes all the other males from the canteen they are fat. Unlike the Nazis the party members are stupid and not in shape. They are not good looking and athletic like Hitler wanted his party to be. These party members are not the aryns that Hitler would have choosen. This is because the Big Brother party does not want attraction and rebellion.
7.)What is ironic about Julia?
Julia is a twenty-six year old woman who Winston hates for no reason when he first sees her. Winston hates all women,especially the young pretty ones, because he thinks that they soak up everything the party says like sponges. Julia also says she hates women for the same reasons. At one point Winston hates Julia so much because he thinks she is a member of the thought police. He even plots murdering her with a cobblestone. She wears a scarlet sash around her waist, which is an emblem of the Junior Anti-Sex League. This is all very ironic because after Winston starts meeting her ,in secret, in the country they engage in sex and she does not behave at all like a woman. She says that she has had sex, "hundreds of times", and that it had always been with party members.
8.)Where does Winston find himself on his walk?
Winston discovers that on his walk he is drawn to the juck shop from which he bought his diary earlier. Above the junk shop which is an old antique shop, there is a room where the owner and his late wife had once lived. Winston contemplates asking the man if he could rent out the room for himself. There are no telescreens in it. There are also pictures on the walls. One in perticular reminds him of something he can not remember. The room probably feels like a sanctuary to Winston because it is so different from his own life, which he hates.
1) Katharine was the quiescence of the party values. She was incapable of doing anything against the party. She spoke in their phrases and that was all she ever said. No thoughts of her own were ever produced inside her head, she was completely brainwashed.
2) Passing notes is a way Julia and O’Brien are able to first talk to and contact Wilson. Both of them do this in front of the telescreens perhaps in order to make it seem less suspicious, but also endangering them because it gives the screen a better look.
3) Julia has a lifestyle that Wilson desires which makes him desire her even more than just because she is good looking. She is able to show and teach him by example and help him to have the kind of life he wanted by living more freely.
4) Winston is fully against the party in his head and is starting to convert that into a more physical rebellion. He is the symbol of the middle class working to keep the government from completely going out of control. Although in the book the government is in nearly complete control, Orwell is showing us how it is up to the people to make sure the government doesn’t completely control their lives.
5) The Beetle Eyed Man is the man who always seems to be watching Wilson. He is like the people you are afraid of when you are about to do something wrong; the people who see everything. He is similar to the telescreens and gives Wilson an additional feeling of being watched.
6) The Two Minutes Hate is a session where there is a mandatory hating of Goldstein. Almost nobody knows who he is, and yet they hate them with their whole being. It is a good way for a government to brainwash its people and prevent them from wanting to flee the country in search of a better life.
7) The descriptions of the paths to their hideouts that Julia gives to Wilson are amazing. They would be hard to remember because they are quite long, but Julia is able to simplify them and give only the necessary details. She is almost like a military advisor in the way she gives her directions. She is very knowledgeable in the ways that they can evade the Thought Police and stay out of trouble. The directions are very calculated. There are in fact four paths that they take in order to get to one spot. Each take a different path to the chosen spot, and each take a completely different route home.
8) Sex is a key instinct of most every species on the earth. It allows a species to reproduce and carry on their population. Without it a species could not survive and would go extinct. It is on our minds all of the time, whether it is a split second thought that we won’t remember in another 30 seconds or a calculated decision, it is unarguable that we think about it often. When having sex there is a deep emotional attachment to the other person. This attachment and unity is what Big Brother is trying to destroy by teaching that sex is a bad and dirty deed. It is necessary to start to brainwash kids about sex before adolescence and the hormones start flowing, because at that time things would not be able to be controlled by the Party. The sex impulse is one of the strongest in human nature, and thus the most important one for Big Brother to control.
9) The appearance of people is very important today and in the book. Everyday people get up and get themselves ready for the upcoming day. Most don’t just get up and go to work or school without showering or any thought towards how they look. They shower and make sure their hair is presentable. It is also important to brush your teeth to make sure your breath isn’t repulsive. Smelling good is often pretty important and can make a lasting impression on someone. Looks are often more important to females than they are to males. They not only have to make sure their hair looks good, but they will also straighten or curl it too. Then they often put stuff on their eyes and other kinds of makeup. It is a feminine desire to want to look and smell nice. Julia is the same way. When Wilson and her are meeting above Mr. Charington’s store Julia puts on makeup. Julia not only puts rouge on her cheeks, but also uses some sent. These are acts against Big Brother, not because of what they are, but because of what they accomplish. By putting on makeup Julia makes herself even more beautiful and also more desirable. Big Brother is against having feelings towards one another. Males and females are only supposed to be married so they can reproduce for the purpose for the party; any actual attraction between couples is not allowed. By applying makeup and using sent, Julia is able to go against the party once again as well as fell more like a woman. Looks are very important to people. They give us uniqueness and reflect our personalities. Our appearances are how we are able to express ourselves and show the world who we really are.
10) The website I chose is http://www.newspeakdictionary.com/. This site is very interesting and put together well. They apply things to the real world and link them back to the book. There are also many interesting facts about the book too. The site is also very visually appealing.
Tyler Merkel
Take Home Quiz
College Bound English
Period: 7
1) What is the name of the language created and supported by the Party and why is a new language significant?
Newspeak is the name of the language created by members of the Party. A new language is significant because it allows the Party to further brainwash its citizens. The Party is now eliminating words from the former vocabulary and replacing it with words and ideas of their own.
2) What are the rules of marriage and what is the purpose of a married couple?
All marriages must be approved by the party before they are allowed to take place. A married couple exists only to reproduce for the Party. Sex should not be found joyful or desired. It is an act of duty, performed only to serve the Party.
3) What is a thought crime and how are thought criminals dealt with?
A thought crime is any thought or action performed by a citizen of the Party. These criminals may be discovered by a simple action such as a guilty look, a delayed response, or a incorrect answer. Thought criminals are typically vaporized but sometimes just taken, only to reappear long afterward.
4) How do children serve the Party, and what do their services prove of the Party’s power?
Children serve the Party by turning in their parents or other adults that they suspect of being possible thought criminals. They are promised rewards for serving their country. This proves that the Party is only going to get stronger because they have already begun brainwashing the future generation.
5) What are telescreens and what are their purpose?
Telescreens are an instruments used by the Party to control members of the Outer Party. They are capable of seeing and hearing words or actions of these members. They also provide updates and news flashes the Party wishes to network.
6) What is double think and why is it important?
Double think is a method used by the Party in order to erase history. The concept of double think is to rewrite history with predictions and statements made by Big Brother. This is important because it allows the Party to control the past. If you can control the past, you can control beliefs, laws, and ideas that found a country.
7) How does Winston rebel against the Party and what does he expect to happen to him because of his rebellion?
Winston rebels against the Party in a number of ways. The simplest way he does so, is with simple thought crimes. His thoughts do not coincide with those the Party finds honorable and acceptable. Another way Winston rebels is by keeping a diary. The Party finds this unacceptable because they want to be in complete control of the past. Another record, especially one that does not agree with the Party’s record may jeopardize their reputation. Winston thinks that he will one day be vaporized for his actions. He is constantly expecting the Thought Police to show up at his door and end his existence.
8) How does Orwell demonstrate the power and influence possessed by the Party?
Orwell demonstrates the Party’s power and influence through many different ways. The Party is capable of controlling the past. They rewrite records and documents to make them say whatever they so desire. This process is called double think. The Party also has so much power, that they are able to change the language used by the population. They use a new language called Newspeak to do so. Newspeak cuts words from the old vocabulary, therefore reducing thoughts. One more influence the Party posses is the one over the children of Oceania. Most children adore the Party. Some go as far as exposing their parents as thought criminals in order to serve their country.
9) Explain the importance of double think to the Party and provide examples of how similar events have occurred throughout history?
Double think is important to the Party because they can control the past. If one can control the past, they are able to also control the present and the future. Using double think, the Party erases or rewrites records and documents. By doing so, the Party is always right and never wrong. The past can appear exactly as they wish it to. Wrong predictions can be altered and made right. Actions can be told in a different way and events can be erased completely. The citizens of Oceania become more and more brainwashed and believe more in the capabilities of the Party. They only see the positive points of the Party and never see the wrongs or mishaps the Party commits. This has occurred in our world and citizens of our world have allowed it to happen. Most times, these events occur in communist countries. People have allowed their government to change events in their records, and have allowed governments to control their past, present, and future. The most important idea of double think is that if the past is changed, the future is changed.
10) http://www.online-literature.com/orwell/1984/
This website is simply a review of George Orwell’s 1984. One of the quotes on this website that I found especially interesting was, “he who controls the past, controls the future.” Double think interests me in this book and I think that this quote helps to describe the importance of double think.
1.What are the 3 party slogans and what do you suppose they mean?
-The three party slogans are war is peace, freedom is slavory, and ignorance is strength. I thiink that they try to prove to have the war going on is keeping peace in their city. I think that freedom is slavory means that if you are controlled you are gion to get more out of life.
2.Where does Winston work? why is it important?how does he feel about his job and why?
-Winston works at the Ministry of Truth and it is important because he made whatever the government/ministry said true and basicly deleted the past that everyone knew. He feels that his job is useful to the party but he would like to know the truth about what happened in the past.
3.Why is it important for the party to have a class of proles and what function do they sever?
-I think it is important for the party to have paroles because it shows that the ministry has control over people and how much power the ministry has. I think that the function of the paroles is to show that the people working for the ministry, that life can be worse than what they have. Also, I predict that they could possibly try to over throw the ministry
4.why is it important that the history schoolbook be changed? and to find the truth where would you go?
-it is improtant to change the history in the books because you have to make what the ministry actually said true and anything that controdicts the ministry gets changed. To find the truth you can go and look at the records that you are changing before they get thrown down in the memory hole. Also, they change the book to convince children at a young age that the ministry has done good for london.
5.Who does winston offer a drink to and why?
- Winston offers a drink to the old man with blue eyes. he offered him this drink to try and get his past out of him. Winston also does this to try and see how london was before "big brother" took over.
6.Why is the object winston buys symbolic and why is the color important?
- The object winston buys is a paper weight. The paper wieght is clear. The paper wieght is a symbol of winston's way to connect to his past. I believe at some point in time in this book becasue the paper weight is clear and made out of glass it will break and show that winston will never really know his real past.
7.Would you want to be a party member or a parole and why?
- from what i have read i would want to be aprt of the parole party. i would want to be apart of the parole party becase it seems to me that they have more freedoms than the party members. i would deal with the fact that i would get bombed because i wiould still be able to think. i would be able to think and have a less chance of getting caught. also, i would be the majority of the population and with the right leader we could be the ones that over throw the big brother. that is why i'd want to be a parole.
8. why did winston have sex with a prostitute even though it was against the rules? would you have?
-I think winston had sex with the prostitute because sex is human nature. sex is a pleasure. he never had the pleasure to have sex with someone who wanted to do it just because the wanted to not becasue they had to. if i was winston i wiould have probably done the same thing. he is a thought criminal and if i lived in that time i would hope to be the same and to not be controlled. i would hope just like him i would try to find a campanion that would be a thought criminat with me.
9.what is some of the similarities and differences of today's world to "1984"?
-Some similarities are that we are at war but sometimes we do not actually know what is going on in the war. our government today is starting to get more and more powerful and is trying to take more control over the people in the country whis is the same as in "1984". also, some similarities would be that some of the people in our contry today want to have people in our convtry today want to have chips put into people so you can see where they are at at all atimes. also, some people want to just have bar codes on their wrist to have all their personal info. and all you do is have to scan it into anything. also, some similarties would be that some people do not believe that what has happened in the past has not happened and their are books saying it has not happened . those books are trying to rewrite some peoples past even though they believed or saw it happen. also in some cluters believe that sex is bad and is only used for reproduction like the ministry tries to instill in the people in "1984". some differences are that our government still lets us be free and in "1984" they have basicly stripped their people of alot of rights. today, in our society we get to say and think what we want. in the book they get told what to belive and they can not say what they want or think what they want becasue they could get vaporized. also, today, we get to marry for love and not just to reproduce. today, we get to have sex whenever we want and get to enjoy it and not think of it as gross and only used for reproducing. today, we don't bomb our won peopole just because they are poorer or not at smart as us. we also don't rewrite books to prove what our governemnt has said becomes true. we also get to eat whatever and whnever we want and we don't get rations that can be cut at anytime for no reason what so ever.
1.Why has Parsons so easily succombed to the zombification of society?
Parsons among others has succumb to big brother because their awareness of the outside world, if there is an outside world. If not, they are totally ignorant about what used to be.
2.What is Winstons job and why is it important for him to keep the establishment secure for big brother?
Winston basically changes the record books and keeps the establishment from being wrong, he changes wording to change the story and sometimes he completely makes a story up.
3. Describe the Parsons.
The Parsons are Winson's neighbors. Mr. Parsons happens to work with Winston at the Ministry of Truth. The Parson children scared Winston when he stops over one night because the accuse him of being a thought criminal. The children are junior spies because they spy on everyone, even thier own parents.
4. What role do the children play in the novel?
The children are very important to the government because they are brainwashed and brided into spying on everyone around them. The children even spy on their parents and wait for them to committ a thought crime and then be vaporized by the government.
5. Why will Syme eventually get vaporized?
Syme will get vaporized because Syme is too smart to be able to help the party. Big Brother believes all he could do is hurt it. He says things that would be better unsaid, he has read way too many books, and he goes to the Chestnut Tree Café, the hangout of artists.
6. Why does Winston buy that glass figure?
I think that Winston buys that glass figure because he is attracted to it because he subconsciously wants to think and feel for himself. The shopkeeper feels the same way and has much more opportunity to do so because he is a prole but he helps Winston do so when he gives him a tour and sells him that figure.
7. What message is Orwell trying to convey to the reader?
Orwell is trying to tell the reader that if we allow ourselves to become uninformed and unaware of what our government is doing then what is happening to Winston and the rest of the world in the book 1984 will happen to us. He is telling us that if we stop questioning things and stop standing up for ourselves when we know things aren’t right then eventually we will be killed for doing so. People are capable of doing extraordinary things, horrible, but extraordinary. We must always have a plan for stopping extraordinary horrible deeds and if we fail to do so the consequences could be so bad that even thinking our own thoughts that we can’t help but think will get us vaporized.
8. Why is Winston happy to hear that Julia is very sexually active?
Winston is happy because he now knows that he is not the only one who wants to rebel against the government. Winston doesn't have to fell like he is alone because he knows that Julia likes to rebel just as much as he does. Before he heard this from Julia, Winston thought that she may be a spy. However, after hearing that she has slept with many men he knows that he is not a spy. The fact that Winston is not alone in rebellion makes him very happy.
9: How should we prevent 1984 from happening to us now?
A: I believe in order to stay away from being in a 1984 like scenario we need to know that power is important but not that important. We need to understand what is going on in our life’s and with our government and never just say well it does not concern me because it most certainly should concern you. We need to never back down from our beliefs whether it be religion our just your favorite sports team. We must be willing to take lives for our rights to say what we want or do what we want when we want to do it. Let us not forget all the times we have came close to 1984 actually happening we were the start of a nuclear war with Big Brother and the Soviet Union away from being like 1984. We more than likely would not be here right now if we would have blinked first or maybe we were a loss away in World War Two to Hitler and his Nazi Army we could have zero freedoms today as we would all be speaking German with Nazi propaganda all over this great land of ours. But some people continue to ask “Why would you ever elect Hitler?” and “We will never do that!” Well guess what people we are almost in the same state Germany was some many years ago they were in major debt and then a charismatic guy with a goofy looking mustache promised people basic needs and a better life with them getting out of debt by creating jobs and roads. I believe we are in a bigger debt than Germany was so many years ago. So to help prevent 1984 from actually happening to us we need to continue to vote for the right candidates for offices ones who don not want the job for the power or for the glory just the right person for the job and not one who is going to promise the things Hitler did but if anyone would have read his book they could have seen it coming from a mile away because any one could have. So my final piece of advice is that maybe we should take a long look at the past before any rationale judgments about anyone are made because it could happen to us if we let it.
10.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j704r2SKHo4&eurl=http://video.search.yahoo.com/video/play?p=george+orwell+1984&n=21&ei=utf-8&js=1&fr=yfp-t-501&tnr=
This video is a musical video with pictures and animation, it basically outlines everything in the book with some comical input, at first it bashes President Bush and i dont necisarily agree with that but it has some humor.
PEACE OUT
1 Who is Winston Smith?
He is a thin, intellectual, and frail 39 year old. He works for the Ministry of Truth, which is all lies, and rewrites history to what ever “big Brother” says. He writes in a dairy because he knows that its one thing that he can do to get away with. He likes Julia.
2 Who is Julia?
She is a beautiful dark haired girl that words in the Fiction Department at the Ministry of Truth. She enjoys having sex with many of the men in the Party including Winston and is planning on doing that a lot because its an easy way to commit a thought crime.
3 What is the Ministry of Truth?
The Ministry of Truth is the place where Winston works. He rewrites history to make it seem like “Big Brother” can predict the future. Every time he rewrites history he throws the real one in a memory hol, which is the incinerated.
4 What is this Brotherhood?
The Brotherhood is a special group of people that in a very secret underground society that tries to over throw the government. It is so secret that no one knows who is in it because they can not be talking about this group and they do not want to get caught by talking about it. They stand for what’s right, freedom, and choice.
5 Who does Winston start renting from, what is it, and why does he do it?
Winston Smith is renting a room from the shop keeper. He rents it because he is trying to escape form everyone else and to be away form the telescreens, and so he can write in his diary. But it turns out that it’s a nice convenient place for Julia and Winston to meet and be with each other to have “fun”. I think he does it so it wont be so bad because there is no one watching up there.
6 Why does Winston keep the diary?
He keeps it because it shows that he is a thought criminal. He can write what he thinks about and is to afraid to so out loud because he would be vaporized, so that means he is rebelling both mentally and emotionally. The diary is his home away from home, it’s the only place is can feel free to do what ever he wants.
7 What is “Big Brothers” slogan and what does it signify?
There are 3 different slogans. They are “WAR IS PEACE”, “FREEDOM IS SLAVERY”, and “IGNORANCE IS STRENGHT”. I think that the first one “war is peace” means that if there is only one person is power (aka Big Brother) and they can kill people then no one is going to rebel to an extreme. Then its “freedom is slavery” means that is you are FREE then you are a slave but in reality if you are free then you do not have people breathing down your neck like they do. Lastly there is “ignorance is strength” means that since every one is brain washed like zombies no one will have the intelligence to make a big rebellion.
8 Even though “Big Brother” is never seen in the novel, why do people follow all his demands then?
Well even though he is never seen the way the party and the police talk about him it is like he is basically god, what he says goes or happens so do not get on his bad side or you will not be here much longer. Big Brother is “supposable” this big tough guy that controls everyone and can “predict” the future. But he is the ruler of Oceania so he is all powerful. He is extremely important to this book because if he was not here then Winston would not have anything to really struggle with because it would be different then. Big Brother is everywhere…. Only because he is all posters(which happen to be on ALMOST EVERY wall), stamped on all there money(which most people that have jobs have money), and it is on the very large telescreens all the time.
9 What are the symbols in the novel?
The glass paperweight; the red-armed prole woman; the picture of St. Clement’s Church; the telescreens and the posters of Big Brother; the diary; and the phrase “the place where there is no darkness”
The glass paperweight is Winstons. He is trying to connect with the past so he can try to understand what went wrong with there way of life. The red-armed prole women is there hope to leave rise against the party and break them down to nothing. Also he is the sign that there is still hope. The picture of St. Clement’s Church is some of the past that is now gone because they did something wrong. Also it shows that the past was not like how it is now and it is possible to become separate and break free from “big Brother”. The Telescreens and all the posters of Big Brother are trying to say that you are always being watched, so do not do anything that could get you vaporized because you are more likely then to are going to get caught. The diary is to show that Winston can use his brain and become a thought criminal. The last one was the phrase “the place where there is no darkness”. I think that’s means that Winstons tendency to hide his fatalism with false hope because there is no darkness and turn outs not to be paradise but a prison cell.
10
http://www.online-literature.com/orwell/1984/
I thought that this was a good page because it listed some one the stuff that i did not get at first and it was nett that other people were asking questions on there and getting them answered by other people that have read it.
1.Who is Julia? Julia is the woman Winston is in love with. Julia is one of the only people he can trust that disagrees with the Party as Winston does. Julia is more concerned with making “love” and getting away with it rather than just making babies. His affair with her he sees as temporary. She has had previous affairs with other party members and has no intention to stop enjoying the joys of life.
2.Winston thinks Syme will become vaporized, why? Winston thinks he knows who and who will no be vaporized. He knows that if you know to much you will become vaporized. Also if they want to switch to Newspeak they will need to get rid of people who know Oldspeak. Syme also knows too much about the Big Brother Party and that will get you vaporized.
3.What is the irony of Julia’s career? Julia works for the Anti-Sex league. The anti-sex league is a league where they try to promote sex as a bad behavior and sinister rather then something that is pleasurable and natural to human life. This is ironic because Julia has had numerous affairs with Party members and all of her affairs have been for pleasure seeking.
4.What does Winston use as a security device on his diary and why? Winston using a piece of dust. He wants to use something that if someone moves or reads his diary he will be able to tell. At first he thinks about a piece of hair but thinks it will be too obvious so he uses some dust.
5.What is the irony of Winston’s career? Winston works in the Ministry of Truth. The ministry of truth is where they make up lies. They change articles, newspaper, songs, poems, text books, and dictionaries. Winston makes up the lies in his head and says them into a speakwrite. Winston wants to know the truth, but he makes up the untruth.
6.What does the Party think of sex? To the Party sex should be for making babies only. If you have sex and enjoy it then you are committing a Thoughcrime and if you are caught enjoying it you will most likely be vaporized. It is your duty to the party to make more babies. Big Brother doesn’t want people to be thinking so he disallows them to have pleasure.
7.What is the Party’s slogan and what does it mean? The Slogan of Big Brothers Party is “War is Peace, Freedom is Slavery, and Ignorance is Strength”. War is Peace, is saying that to stay peaceful we must be at war. In 1984 the 3 dictatorships were all perfectly self-sustained. They had enough resources and land area to where there was no need for real war. But if there was no danger of war and starvation in the peoples minds there would be no use of government in peoples mind. The Party depended on the idea of being at war to keep its strength. The wars were small wars just to prove they were at war. Freedom is Slavery, is saying that if you are enslaved then you are free. A person on there own is not very powerful, but if you are a large group the options are endless. The outer party is supposed to be more free then the paroles but sense they know more they are more closely watched. Each Party member has telescreens in there apartment and is tightly watched by the Thoughtpolice. The paroles are enslaved but they are free to do what they wish. They don’t have telescreens and they are not accused of thoughtcrimes. Ignorance is Strength is saying that the stupider you are the stronger you can be. The paroles are very ignorant but Winston believes that the paroles are the only hope they have against big brother. The paroles would have strength in numbers and be able to overthrow Big Brother. The problem is the paroles are too ignorant to know they are treated like trash.
8.How does Big Brother control his kingdom? B B uses the stragegy that “He who controls the past, controls the future”. If you can control the past then you can control the present. And if you can control the present then the future is all yours. What makes people believe things is proof and documentary. I personally didn’t witness the holocaust but I know it happened from reading about it and seeing the terrible graphic pictures of it. Big Brother would make it a thoughtcrime to possess any document, picture, buildings, filming or thinking about the holocaust and then you would be vaporized. If you don’t know about something then it didn’t happen in your mind. To know something you have to have read it or saw it on TV, and if you saw false information then it becomes true information.
9. Is it possible for USA to become like Oceania? Explain? The United States is a country built on not having a major government control. 13 colonies split away from the British Empire to gain independence. They didn’t like the idea of how British officials could come into there house at any given time, unannounced and search it. They also didn’t like how they lacked elected representation in the law making so they didn’t find the laws to hold much value. This is very similar to what the Thoughtpolice do to Party members. Except if you were under the rule of Big Brother and you didn’t obey the laws and refused entry of a Thoughtpolice officer you would become vaporized and forgotten. After they won the revolutionary war they created the American Declaration of Independence. To guard against Big Brother controlling American lives the people made the Constitution. The Constitution is designed to have enough government control to be a strong country but the government is regulated enough by the American citizens to not have total power. A major thing we do as Americans that keeps us as a non constricted society is vote. Voting, even though not enough people do it, will keep the government officials “for the people, by the people”. United States has 3 branches, (executive branch, legislative branch, and judicial branch) that regulate each other so no single branch can gain total power. A lot of people think that the President of the United States has almighty power, but in reality he is only as powerful as the Legislative branch allows him to be. I think that with our law system and government system America has now, that it is very unlikely for someone to have total power over Americans. Some one would have to overthrow the entire US government. They would have to have an army of there own. They would have to take down any satellites that are not controlled by them. They would spy on people’s telephone calls, cell phone calls, text messages, e-mails, mail, and internet usage. They would pretty much have to put cameras where people live. In all I don’t think that some one could take total control of America, maybe another government could take over, but one person could not do it. Also most of the adults I have told im reading 1984 say they have read the novel, this is another reason why it us unlikely that Big Brother will take over.
10.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWvHbOoG3tI
It is interesting how many times the 1984 Mac commercial appears on youtube. Many of the commercials are a twisted version. They are a Borac Obama tv commercial. It is all the same scenes but in the beginning instead of B B’s voice it is Hilary Clintons voice. All the people are zombieing out and staring at the screen and instead of a mans face it is Hilary’s. The attractive woman runs in and throws the sludge hammer into the screen and her face falls to pieces. And up scrolls the words “ On January 14th, The Democratic primary will begin. And you’ll see why 2008 won’t be like “1984””, then it says borracobama.com. You can’t even tell what the commercial is for. It is interesting because they are comparing Hilary Clinton to Big Brother.
sorry about the late post. I dont have interenet access at my house and i went to the library and it was packed. So i read a bunch instead. But better late then never. Thanks! have a nice day
1.) Why does Winston believe the proles are more human?
A: Unlike the rest of the population, the proles are allowed to exchange the gift of love. Proles devotedly love without causing suspicion or receiving intolerable cruelty. They are permitted to cradle their own human instincts; to practice free thought, loyalty, “good sex”, blinking, snoring, crying, laughing, quality food, etc. Winston becomes aware that the proles are not impoverished, but are the true owners of higher living.
2.) What is the only thing left effective in Oceania? How?
A: Oceania does not allow personal freedoms, such as free thought, free speech, free actions and impulses, etc. The only way to separate the people and their freedoms is by means of the Thought Police. The dreaded Thought Police filfull the government’s aims to quieting the people. If the people refuse to be quiet, they are vaporized. Without the Thought Police, and their co-parasitic telescreens, fear and disloyalty would be nonexistent along with the system of government.
3.) Why is Winston and Julia’s sanctuary so valuable?
A: Physically, the walls of the room conceal the two from the outside world. It secludes them in a place where they can be truly free – without telescreens, Thought Police, demands, stress, etc. Like the world’s most prized artifact, it is sacred for its rarity and fragility. Tragically, the reasons for value is their curse…fragile things are easily broken.
4.) What “terrible thing” does the upper party members do to lower party members?
A: Through theory and practice, the Inner/Outer Party and Big Brother slaughter almost all natural impulses. To kill the natural impulse to attempt running through water – it is difficult to travel anywhere, requires more stress and effort, and restricts any interaction between runners. Figuratively, emptiness consumes all people. With this sort of life-void, the government steps in, offering to “cure” their sickness with their synthetics. They prescribe drugs of hate and blind patriotism, which further degrades members and rots their minds. They become even more inhumane then death. But to die requires an impulse and emotions – being a patriot does not.
5.) Describe Winston’s procedures to acquire Goldstein’s book.
A: First, Winston must purposefully misprint a word while at work, and then ask for a repeat. The following day, he will return to work, but without a briefcase. On the street, a man will approach Winston, touch his arm and say, “I think you have dropped your briefcase”. The new briefcase contains “the book”; Winston is given 14 days before he returns it.
6.) Describe five rituals that take place during Hate Week.
A: During Hate Week, the military parades through every street like manual toy soldiers. The new “Hate Song” has been crafted for all to harmonize in a stylish fashion (in barking rhythms like drums). Fresh rumors and faux photos begin their common circulation routes. Winston works longer hours to embellish past events to coordinate with future quotes for Hate Week speeches. Also, a new poster is erected. It is a picture of a Eurasian soldier pointing the muzzle of his gun seemingly straight at you. Winston describes the experience as though the muzzle could find you anywhere. Hate Week is a glorious holiday of blind patriotism…similar to a beloved, old-fashioned holiday.
7.) What is DoubleThink and how does it influence the 1984 society?
A: DoubleThink is the heart of Ingsoc (English socialism). It is a governmental method of to gain control of everyone in the 98 percent of the population. To doublethink is to believe that two opposing figures have identical meanings. Through the power of DoubleThink, Ingsoc manipulates history and obvious facts into fiction, one example being the supposed, “increase” of chocolate rations from 30 grams to 20 grams.
The government was ingenious (cruel) in creating the DoubleThink. If the people accept black and white versions of anyone figure, fact, person, etc, then they will be acceptant of everything. The people will be completely satisfied (brainwashed) and obey everything inquired of them (in other words forced to do).
But, it is completely unacceptable to be completely acceptable with life – it is perfect human nature to be curious and desire and ultimately pursue, like Lincoln 6’s character in, “The Island”. These things keep life - the economy, academics, courtship and families, careers, whatever – interesting and balanced. Pursuing and obtaining true happiness, known through the principles of a merit-demerit system, is the reason our country succeeds! Desire and curiosity promote lifetime learning and free thought.
But, the 1984 government raped free thought.
8.) Give one example of hidden sources of love in the novel, and how they reflect/relate to the 1984 social condition.
A: Love seems to have a direct association with women in the novel. The lady singing outside Mr. Charrington’s window is one example. Her appearance is offensive and her voice is crude. She is possibly the condemned lone parent of dozen or more children. But, Winston discovers a deeper beauty in her, a deeper beauty that requires an eye of understanding and compassion (the eyes of love). The government is not understanding and compassionate; why should they be? If the people are merely tools in the governent’s heavenly scheme then emotions are meaningless and wasteful of precious time and energy. Winston looks down on her to realize this old woman, “blown up to monstrous dimensions by childbearing, then hardened, roughened by work till it was coarse like in the grain like an overripe turnip”, was absolutely beautiful. He proceeds to wonder why “the fruit be held inferior to the flower”.
Why is it that a party member is beautiful when brainwashed, than the old hag that sings from the heart? Party member’s flowers are pleasing, but they yield no delicious fruits for the world to enjoy! Party members may look perfect, but they are empty people who live empty lives.
9.) React to the novel according to how far you have read.
A: Honestly, 1984 is not my favorite novel, but it requires everyone’s immediate attention. 1984 is an active part of the past and present society. The novel challenges the reader in many ways. It requires readers to understand the history of 1984 (during 1948) and to reflect and react to the present. In understanding this novel, I feel I have the power and responsibility to take action or at least pass it on. In understanding this novel, I can’t escape feeling incredibly blessed for our current conditions, yet completely upset and terribly disheartened.
Mostly disheartened. I can’t believe what people can tolerate every day. Citizens in 1984 were forced to tolerate their own itches or twitches. Basic human needs and the methods of communication (later explained) are aborted as if the government makes the decision. They are not to be compromised. Without them, we would become sleepwalkers in someone else’s dream. But, to compare our current standard of living and methods of communication to Orwells era of 1948 is unrealistic. Since the 1940’s, America has been that hardened, monstrous, maternal figure that nurtures every free idea to successfully produce the world’s finest innovations. A few innovations of communication include satellites, computers, cellular phones, text messaging, Facebook and MySpace. All are kin to free speech (without it, would we truly be improving ourselves or a mere nuisance in the government’s plans?) To kill the right to communicate as we do today is like quicksand beneath Lady Liberty herself.
It is frightening to believe that with these technological advancements of communication, the government can twist the situation into an invasion of privacy. If Orwell’s predictions become reality, Can the government strip our commodities and turn them against us? They would be in the satellites (radios/programs/etc.), text messaging (if even allowed), televisions, emails, blogsites, etc. Many of the freedoms we have today would no longer be freedoms – they would no longer be memories, either.
10.) With these instructions, visit the following website to select and discuss a quote by George Orwell:
a. Go to www.cybernation.com
b. Scroll down and click the “Victory” category.
c. Select “Ultimate Success Quotation Center”.
d. Select “Search for Your Favorite quotations”.
e. In the search box, type “George Orwell”.
f. Search the topics and select one to discuss.
A: I chose the #16 quote on adulthood: “Past of the reason for the ugliness of adults, in a child’s eyes, is that the child is usually looking upwards, and few faces are at their best when seen from below”.
Winston seems to be the last “child” in 1984. Winston resembles a child in that children are not (quite) molded into society and still follow personal judgments of their environment. Children, however unlike Winston, can be easily won and education to social belief and practice. Winston is constantly questioning the “adults”. He quickly finds, however, that the neck becomes strained when “looking upwards” persistently for long periods of time…
1) What does the pink coral glass piece represent?
-The pink coral glass represents Winston’s freedom (the chance to one day be free.) When he first obtains the paperweight, it is about the same time as when he starts seeing Julia. Also while having the paperweight he gets up the verve to speak to O’Brien to see if he is part of the brotherhood. But then when he is caught by the thought police, the pink coral glass is shattered showing that he no longer has his freedom.
2) Winston is a very smart man why does he not question more why there are no telescreens in the upstairs of Mr. Charrington’s store.
-Winston is a so surprised that there are none and quickly sees this as an opportunity of a place to go and not get caught by the thought police. He is overwhelmed of this possibility that he forgets that it might be a trap.
3) Why is it so hard for Winston to get answers out of the old man at the bar?
-The old man probably thinks that Winston is a thought police, and even thought he is fairly old and has lived a long life he doesn’t want to be vaporized. The man never says anything off of the general changes throughout his time, like how the beer tasted different. This is to insure that he does not caught if Winston is a thought police member.
4) How is Winston able to be so open to O’Brien about why Julia and hime are there visiting O’Brien?
-Winston and Julia are so passionate about going against the party that they are willing to risk everything and getting caught just so they can possibly join the Brotherhood. It also helps them to be so open knowing that O’Brien is able to turn the telescreens off when ever he choose to do so.
5) Why does Winston start dating Julia?
-Winston starts dating Julia because he wants a way out of Big Brother’s society and he knows that if he starts an affair with her, he will more then likely get caught by the thought police. Then he will be vaporized and then will not have to endure the unhappiness of being controlled by Big Brother.
6) Why does Mr. Charrington wait so long to bust Julia and Winston?
-Mr. Charrington waits so long to bust Julia and Winston because he does not want to give away that he is in the thought police. Also by watching them for such a long time he will be able to see exactly what people of the society are doing to break the rules and then will know what to look for next time with other people are committing crimes.
7) How does Winston go from hating Julia to loving her so quickly?
-Winston hates Julia because he thinks she is spying on him. He even says he wants to smash her head in with out even know her very well. But then when he finds out that she is not a spy but rather loves him he changes his feelings slightly. Then when Winston and Julia start having sex and connecting on a different level, Winston falls in love with her. I do not think that in a normal society they would have fallen in love. I think the only reason why they did was because she was someone that also repented the Big Brother and committed through crimes, so it was a similarity that they have together.
8) Was Winston actually wanting to be caught by the thought police with how many crimes he committed or was those acts just coming from his natural instinct?
-I believe that Winston truly did want to be caught, even if he would not admit it. He knew that he was very unhappy but did not know how to escape from it. So his mind made him sleep with the prostitute, and buy the journal and write down his thoughts. Because then he would sooner or later get caught. Then it was not happening fast enough so he went further by ‘dating’ Julia. At that time he started realizing that here might be a secret party that was against the Big Brother. But then it was to late he had fallen in love and was unable to stop so that he would not get caught and be vaporized.
9) What are the differences and similarities between a communist society and the Big Brother society?
-A communist society is run by one single party/leader, as is the Big Brother society. In the Big Brother society the people are completely brain washed to think the way the party wants them too. They also follow every single direction that the Big Brother tells them too; they have no mind of their own. The communist party is not that extreme, the people are able to have their own thoughts, but the government does control some aspects of their lives. Like communist parties control all the money issues of that society such as how much you can make or how much you can charge for an item at the store. In the Big Brother society all the people are watched by telescreens so they do not commit ‘thoughtcrimes.’ Thoughtcrimes are any thoughts, acts, or ideas that go against the party’s principles. But in a communist society they don not watch their people’s every move. Not only does the Big Brother party not allow thought of their own, they also do not allow people to choose their spouse or have sex unless it is specifically for the purpose of producing children for the party. This does no happen in a Communist society. Also the Big Brother has people change written documents such as textbooks and newspapers so that they do not conflict what really did take place. A form of punishment that the Big Brother party carries out is ‘vaporizing’ those that have committed huge crimes. Then they make it as thought that person did not ever exist. A Communist party does not do either of these things. I think that it would be fair to say that even thought a Communist party may not treat their people as well as they should, they do treat them much better then they could.
10) Go to http://www.spectacle.org/496/orwell.html and read the essay and decide what you think about what this person is saying.
- I think this essay is interesting because the person is saying that George Orwell is wrong about writing the book 1948 even though this book was written because that is what Orwell thought. This person does not have to agree to what Orwell is saying it is his personal opinion.
1. Explain the 4 ministries.
----The government was divided into 4 ministries: the Ministry of Truth, the Ministry of Peace, the Ministry of Love, and the Ministry of Plenty. The Ministry of Truth concerned itself with news, entertainment, education, and the fine arts; the Ministry of Peace concerned itself with war; the Ministry of Love maintained law and order; and the Ministry of Plenty was responsible for economic affairs.
2. What is the 2 minute hate and how does it work?
----Almost every day there is a point in the day where you look at the telescreen and yell at it. This is called the 2-minute hate. Everyone stands around, looks at the screen, and practices hating the thing on the screen. This represents what Big Brother wants everyone to hate because he doesn’t like it and doesn’t want anyone else to either.
3. Who are the Parsons? What do their kids represent?
----Tom Parson is Winston's neighbor in which whom he works with. His children belong to scout-like organizations sponsored by the government. They are encouraged to betray their parents to the authorities if they see any disloyalty to the government. Mrs. Parsons lives in constant fear of her own children. When Tom's daughter hears him say "Down with Big Brother" in his sleep, she turns him in for Thought crime.
4. Explain the party slogan: “Who controls the past controls the future, who controls the present controls the past.
----This slogan is saying that Big Brother pretty much controls everything there is to control. He has controlled the past just like he is trying to control the future. And as he is controlling the future, the past has already been controlled by him.
5. What is the purpose of the marriage in the state?
----The purpose of marriage is to have kids. They need more kids around to become more things. If you are married, you cannot separate or get divorced. But if you have kids are you are not married, it is not a big deal to separate.
6. Why does Winston feel that Syme will be vaporized?
----Winston says that Syme is way too smart. The party doesn’t want smart people because they will be able to think things out more easily, and maybe out smart the system.
7. Does Winston betray Julia?
----Yes, Winston betrays Julia. The only way to get out of this torture is to put someone else between him and the horror. "Do it to Julia," he screams in a final betrayal of himself. Winston is then released. Winston and Julia speak only sometimes when they see each other. The only thing they really have to say to each other is now they betrayed each other. I wish Julia and Winston could have been together in the end. Winston didn’t care for any other girl like he did for her. He always thought that girls were bad influences on him and all they tried to do was haunt him with their prettiness and sexuality. He hated how women would come off to him.
8. Why does Winston buy a diary?
----Winston wants something to put all his feelings inside of. He needs something to rebel everything he believes in and what he doesn’t believe in. He thinks and put all his thoughts into this special diary. He received his diary from Charrington (thought police). Everyone needs something to keep a journal of all your feelings in. Winston could get vaporized for having this ‘diary’ but feels that he needs one, and no one can take it away from him.
9. What happens in Room 101 and how does this "cure" Winston?
----Winston is taken to Room 101. O'Brien says that the room 101 is the worst thing in the world. For each person it is his own personal hell. For some it is death by fire or burial alive. For Winston it is a cage containing two rats, with a fixture like a fencing mask attached, into which the face of the victim is strapped. Then there is a lever that opens the cage, so that the rats can get to the face. O'Brien is approaching nearer with the cage, and Winston gets the bad smell of the rats. This cures Winston. He thinks to himself that one day, he is going to get killed for thinking the way he does. He realizes that he can’t go on like this anymore and must believe in Big Brother and his ways.
10. http://www.gerenser.com/1984/analysis.html
----This website gives you the incite on the novel. It gives you a quick summary of the important events of the book, describes the three main sections of 1984, takes a look at the novel's noteworthy characters, compares and contrasts the proles and the Party, and defines a few of Orwell's Newspeak words.
1. What is “The Brotherhood” and who is involved in it?
The Brotherhood is a group of people that don’t agree with what Big Brother has to say. After much thought, Julia and Winston visit O’Brien, one of the Brotherhood leaders. O’Brien tells them that nobody REALLY knows how many members there are, but that each person will have less that a dozen other contacts; this way, when they get caught they can’t possibly take down the entire Brotherhood at once.
2. Who is Mr. Charrington and why is he important?
At this point in the novel, Mr. Charrington is a man that owns the antique shop where Winston got his paper weight. Winston is aware that Mr. Charrington knows of the past, but is not certain exactly how much he knows. It is a possibility that Mr. Charrington could be Goldstein himself. O’Brien told Winston that they have surgeons who can completely change facial structure. If this is true, it is also possible that Goldstein still lives in Oceania but has a completely different identity.
3. What does the paperweight that Winston bought signify?
The paper weight that Winston bought from Mr. Charrington represents life as it used to be. Its pure beauty is something that is not ever seen in Oceania anymore. Only Brotherhood members think that there is beauty in things from the olden day life.
4. Who is your favorite character and why?
At this point in 1984, Julia is my favorite character. Oftentimes men are the leading force behind power and rebellion. The fact that Julia is a woman and that she has tricked so many people makes her one of the characters in the book.
5. What does it mean to be completely vaporized?
When someone is vaporized, it means they no long are in existence. It is sort of like dying, except you are vaporized by somebody else, and it is completely against your will. When someone is vaporized their life was never there. Any mention of them in yearbooks, books, or any other written form are completely erased and rewritten. There are actually people in Oceania whose job is to rewrite history.
6. Who is Katherine and what happened to her?
Katherine is Winston’s (ex) wife. Technically they are still married, but she left him. Divorce in Oceania is looked down upon, so she just up and left him. Katherine was they type of prole that completely obeyed everything Ingsoc told her to. She even called sex, “The duty of the party”.
7. When you see the three slogans of the party, do you think that it is possible that our world could potentially be that close minded?
WAR IS PEACE FREEDOM IS SLAVERY IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH. These three slogans of the party are so opposite of everything we live for today. I don’t think that with the intelligence our country has as a whole we would ever let a dictatorship take over; we have some of the brightest minds in the world, certainly we could come up with much better ways to govern our people. Our country has been in many wars throughout the years, we know War is not peace and it never will be. Even if it’s not these exact slogans, we are far too knowledgeable to let anyone come in, take over, and destroy our world as we know it.
Also, there are too many enemies to ever get all of us into three main lands. It is completely unrealistic. Even though the story is fiction, it still brings out this realistic terror that lies within each one of us. We all have fears about the future, some maybe not this drastic, but in 1984 he does an idyllic job bringing the fear in us….out of us.
8. What conclusions/predictions can you create for the last 100 pages of the novel?
Now that the plot has been set up, we know that Julia and Winston will be together, and that there is in fact a Brotherhood. After meeting O’Brien, they wholly understand that it will be difficult to keep the Brotherhood a secret from everyone else. O’Brien tells them that they WILL get caught, no questions asked. When they get caught, horrible things will happen to them, but just in the knick of time a member from the Brotherhood will slip them a razor blade so they can end their life by themselves, without being tortured in horrible ways. It is also my prediction that Mr. Charrington or O’Brien is Goldstein, but their facial structure has been completely changed. If they are not Goldstein, I believe that they at least knew him when he was in charge or The Brotherhood. The end of the novel will be exciting, I hope that Julia and Winston stay together, even though somehow I know they won’t…that’s not the way life always is...picture perfect.
9. How do Winston and Julia meet? What does Julia give Winston? What happens after they become better acquainted?
For a while, it seems as though Julia is in every place that Winston goes. Because Winston has deep thoughts about what he thinks about the party, he fears that Julia may be a member of the Thought Police. One day they were in an ally alone, and Smith contemplated whether or not to kill her! He really thought she was watching his every move for the purpose of somebody else. It wasn’t until one day they were walking and Julia “tripped”…Winston went to help her up and she quickly slipped a note into his hands. Later, once Winston reached the safety of his apartment, he opened it, not in front of the telescreen, however. When he opened it, it read, “I love you.”. What a twist! We go from thinking that this girl is a member of the one thing you don’t want to get caught by, to thinking that she is actually madly in love with him and has only been watching him because she wants to get to know him better! I’m pretty sure it wasn’t until weeks later when Winston finally approached her in a completely surrounded area in the lunch room. He had previously tried, but every time somebody else would sit down right before he would. They talked for a while, and Julia told him to meet her in the forest. She gave him exact directions, like she had done it millions of times before. Another couple weeks later, they met, and had sex, not “the duty of the party”. For the first time, Winston had felt passion, and everything else you’re supposed to feel when you are at that point. They continue to meet in random places, each time falling more in love with each other. Finally, they rent out a little room above the antique shop that Mr. Charrington owns and meet there on a regular basis.
10.
I read 1984 around the year 1964, when the title still seemed very much in the future. I remember New Year's Eve, 1983, when the book was very much on peoples minds because suddenly, if would actually be 1984.
During the 1950s, and 1960s the Cold War, Communism, Khrushchev banging his shoe on a table in the U.N. shouting "We will bury you", and frequent drills in preparation for atomic war, made the fear of a "Big Brother" very real. I do not mean to imply that such fears are now a thing of the past, but I think they were more vivid in those decades.
-Sitaram, December, 2004
-The website I found was basically a discussion of other books similar to 1984…ones with a dystopia instead of a utopia. I thought the novel was released in 1984, but according to Sitaram, he read it in 1964, 20 years earlier. Even though people back then didn’t always think about the future, there was definitely still fear when it came closer to the year 1984.
Take-Home Quiz
Katie Paauw
Period 5
1.What did Winston realize at the Two Minute Hate?
-Winston realized that he hated Big Brother. At the Two Minute Hate Winston knew he hated Big Brother even before it started. He looked into O’Brien’s eyes and saw the same loathing. Winston looked down and realized he has written “DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER” several times in he diary. He committed a thought crime.
2.What kind of person is O’Brien?
-O’Brien is a member of the Inner Party and is a holder of some post that is so important that Winston has no idea. When I read about what O’Brien looks like I could picture a kind of scary man. He is large, with a thick neck and coarse. His face is humorous and brutal.
3.What is “the book”?
- Goldstein is the author of “the book”. It is a book without a title. People just referred to it as just “the book”. It wasn’t talked about much. “but one knew of suck things only through vague rumors”. (pg 16) It was known as a terrible book, a compendium of all the heresies. The was Orwell talks about “the book” makes me think of atheists and the bible.
4.Who is Julia?
- Julia is Winston’s lover. She is also the only person Winston can be sure hates the Party. She also rebels against it. Julia is concerned with enjoying sex and making plans to avoid getting caught by the party.
5.Who is Syme?
- Syme works with Winston at the Ministry of Truth. He specializes in language and is creating a Newspeak dictionary. Winston thinks that Syme is too intelligent to be in the Party’s favor. Syme is an intelligent and outgoing man.
6.What is the government of Oceania like?
- Oceania’s government is one that creates a hellish, miserable existence for its “citizens”. It depicts society as it should not be. Like dystopia, it usually is critical of existing society and contains implicit warnings. The government is dystopian.
7.What is going on between Winston and Julia?
- Julia gave Winston a note that says, “I Love You!” She tells him her name and they begin a covert affair. They are always on the lookout for signs of Party monitoring also known as the Thought Police. They rent a room about the secondhand store in the parole district where he bought his diary. Winston is sure that they will be caught and punished sooner or later. Julia is just optimistic about it. As their relationship progresses Winston’s hatred for the Party grows more and more intense. Finally Winston receives what he has been waiting for, a message from O’Brien. Winston and Julia go to O’Brien’s apartment. O’Brien confesses that he hates the Party too. He convinces them to join the Brotherhood and gives Winston a copy of Emmanuel Goldstein’s book. Which is the manifesto of the Brotherhood. Winston was reading the book to Julia and suddenly, soldiers barged in and sized them.
8.Why are Mrs. Parsons’ kids upset?
-Winston visits Mrs. Parsons and discovers her kids think that he is a traitor and a thought criminal. Her kids run around Winston calling him that and he gets nervous and wonders how they know. When Winston was over there Mrs. Parsons tells him that her kids are disappointed because they cannot go see the hanging. Mrs. Parsons says they are acting the way they are because they are disappointed about the hangings. The kids ran around chanting, “Want to see the hanging”! The hangings happen about once a month because of the Eurasian prisoners that are guilty of war crimes. As Winston was leaving he felt something hit the back of his neck. He turned around and saw Mrs. Parsons dragging her son back to the doorway who had a catapult.
9.How is Winston’s life different then ours?
- Winston has a very different life then we do. In America we have many opportunities to live the life we want to. Winston didn’t have this he was forced to live the life he did not want to. He know that he did not like Big Brother and that was shown when he wrote “DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER” in his diary. He can not let anyone know about his hate for Big Brother or the Thought Police will come after him and put him in prison or vaporize him. Winston is eventually caught and sent to prison and sees O’Brien there. Winston is convinced to love Big Brother. In America we do not have anything like this and we are thankful for it.
10. Go to Youtube.com and type in 1984 and figure out the site’s mission.
- This sites mission is to show people what the Two Minute Hate is really like. Also to show clips of the movie 1984. It is different from reading what it is like. When I watched these clips it made what I read just seem like words. It showed me how bad it actually was.
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