Megan's 1984 Question
In 1984, Winston is determined to fight against the totalitarian government and believes he'll never change. He makes great sacrifices and rebels with things like buying and writing in a journal and fornicating for pleasure rather than as a "duty to the party". But in the end he still ends up brainwashed and giving up what he cares about, his lover Julia. From this story, do you believe it shows that choice is a false illusion? Or do you think the reasons for the event and the ending was based just on a need to survive/survival instinct? Alternatively, do you think Winston and Julia ever had a real relationship or was it all just an act of rebellion and lust? Could Winston and/or Julia ever really have an effect on the government or are all their efforts purely futile? Explain your answers.
- No Count Comment: I think that choice can be an illusion, it really depends on if the government allows their people to have choice, or the illusion of choice is in the government's power. Sadly, this happens everyday. For some people control is just a game and they want to make the others in their control squirm under the pressure of "choice" when really the person in control never gives a choice. There may be an obvious wrong or an obvious right, you can never know.
ReplyDeleteHow are we to determine if we really have freedom then? Or do we just keep going on blind to the injustices (as we do now)?
DeleteI find a lot of truth in your response though, many (probably most) governments today are at least partly corrupted. Some are more blatant with showing this than other countries, like the Taliban vs US government. We are led to believe we have choice in what we choose everyday but large corporations control almost everything we encounter. http://www.businessinsider.com/these-6-corporations-control-90-of-the-media-in-america-2012-6 When there are so few powers controlling our information and all we are in contact with in our everyday lives it's hard to believe if we really are that "free". Then you either have to try to fight the higher powers or just turn the other cheek.
I feel that the story shows that choice is a false illusion when living in a dystopian society. Since life in a dystopian society is so difficult you are forced to make choices that you do not want to make in order to survive. So yes, I do have confidence that choice is based just on a need to survive/survival instinct. I also believe that Winston and Julia never really did have a real relationship. In the story I think that Julia is a foil character to Winston because they both want to bring an end to the government, however they are both very different character. While both of them are rebelling it is for two completely different reasons. Winston is rebelling to see the defeat of the Party mean while Julia is rebelling for her own freedom. In the book Julia says to Winston “I’m not interested in the next generation, dear. I’m interested in us” (Orwell pg. 156). Julia thinks only about herself unlike Winston who thinks about society’s need as a whole. This proves that they really never had anything in common except for their goal to bring down the Party and Big Brother. This quote provides evidence that Winston doesn’t care enough about Julia to protect her from torture that could be inflicted upon him instead, “Do it to Julia! Do it to Julia! Not me! Julia! I don’t care what you do to her. Tear her face off, strip her to the bones. Not me! Julia! Not me” (Orwell pg. 286).
ReplyDeleteWhat about with societies that aren't quite as (dramatically) dystopian, such as our modern one? Or choices that aren't exactly directly connected to survival?
DeleteI think that although Julia and Winston had similar-ish goals, their intentions and intended effects were very different. And in a society like this, they wouldn't have been able to compromise anyway as their desires are one of the few human things they have left and would probably be unwilling to change their most intrinsic values. However their similarities brought them together to become more of a team in surviving this dystopian society. It's interesting to see what people value in dire situations and the characteristics that come out in a person's most extreme moments. However, (in reference to Laura's response) I wouldn't necessarily say the last quote meant he didn't ever care for her. It may have just meant he never really did have a choice, as he was in a way forced to do these things, or at least had no choice in his fight for survival. When you feel your life is on the line, you'll do anything to stay alive.
Also refer to responses to Emily's question to get more perspectives on the Winston - Julia relationship aspect, many of which I feel proves my latter points. http://dystopianliteratureunit.blogspot.com/2014/05/normal-0-false-false-false-en-us-x-none.html
Delete(No Grade) I believe there is always one choice that no one can take from you, live or die. This is one choice that can never be taken away from you. Give up or resist, would probably a better way to say it rather than live or die.
ReplyDelete