Essay Question: Choose an important scene in your studied novel and discuss how it establishes the theme, characters and plot of within the novel. the most important scene in 1984
By: Brendan Chiem
George Orwell’s dystopian novel, 1984, depicts a society where almost every aspect of life is controlled by Big Brother. It is clear that the most important scene in the novel is when Julia sneaks a note into Winston’s hand when they are walking past each other down the “brightly-lit” corridor in the Ministry of Truth. This scene is important because it establishes the character of Winston, the theme of control and the plot within the novel.
The establishment of the protagonist, Winston Smith, is evident when he finally stops hating Julia. At the
…show more content…
In 1984, Big Brother watches and listens to everyone through devices called telescreens and hidden microphones. Basically no one is allowed to speak, think, love another person or live their own life. Therefore, when Winston receives the note from Julia, he immediately “throws the incriminating thing into the memory hole”. This shows that Winston knew the dangers of holding onto the note since it may have indicated a love affair between Winston and Julia which is prohibited by Big Brother as they are both party members. Winston also threw away the note because he was scared that his reaction to the letter would have been detected by The Party and that he would’ve been vaporized for committing Face Crime. This is evident in the novel when Winston states that “He knew very well the danger of showing too much interest” (Page 114) when he was reading the note. Therefore, this scene shows how dangerous it is just to hold and read a simple piece of paper and allows the audience to realise how much control and power Big Brother possesses in Oceania. Therefore, this scene definitely contributes the establishment of the theme of control in
Usually heroes are strong, but some readers are more used to female heroes, where in it could be argued that Julia is actually the main hero, in Orwell’s eyes, as she is brave, headstrong and until she met Winston, she was getting by quite well. Usually, in novels, the stronger character is the hero, the weaker one is sometimes the love interest but foolish Winston is weak and hopeless and is not the hero, more like the one who needs saving. Julia could effectively be the hero, as arguably, she is the one who saved Winston. She is not a fool like Winston, but she trusts him and that is her mistake. Winston Smith: It's not so much staying alive, it's staying human that's important. What counts is that we don't betray each other. J: “If you mean confessing, we're bound to do that. Everybody does. You can't help it.” W: “I don't mean confessing. Confessing isn't betrayal. I mean feelings. If they can make me change my feelings. If they can stop me from loving you, that would be real betrayal.” J: “They can't do that. It's the one thing they can't do. They can torture you, make you say anything. But they can't make you believe it. They can't get inside you. They can't get to your heart. “ It is clear that Julia, unlike Winston actually understands the plight of Big
Through the beginning sections of the novel, the severity of the consequences from Julia and Winston’s affair become quite prominent after the realization that they are taking part in one of the ultimate acts of defiance to Big Brother. Because Julia and Winston are risking a lot to be with one another, the secrecy of their relationship is a key factor in the suspense that builds towards the climax of the story. The suspense greatly affects the plot of the story by
The novel I have chosen to write about that is set in a different time but is still relevant to this day is “1984” by George Orwell. Orwell effectively uses theme, characterisation, imagery and symbolism to help us appreciate the themes he runs throughout the book that have just as much relevance then as they do now. This is despite Orwells’ book being first published in 1948.
In “1984”, Winston is a normal staff working for the “big brother” and his job is to change the history in order to change people’s mind. For example, if the government says there will be two chocolates per a person instead of three chocolates. Then all the news and old news need to change to two chocolates per a person, like three chocolates per a person was never happend. Also, in this novel Winston gets catched by being with Julia, after they caught him they tortured him and make him admit that 2+2=5 not 4. “He wrote first in large clumsy capitals ‘FREEDOM IS SLAVERY’ Then almost without a pause he wrote beneath it: ‘TWO AND TWO MAKE FIVE’. He wrote ‘GOD IS POWER.’ He accepted everything.”(pg. 277) He tried to fight against the party after he got a book that’s against totalitarian but after all the torture and brainwash he starts to feel he could not fight the party any longer. So that shows how Big Brother
“1984” is a chilling dystopian novel written by George Orwell, set in the 1980’s, in London, in the continent Oceania. Oceania is ruled by the Party, and their dictator Big Brother. Big Brother controls Oceania through four ministries, Love, Truth, Peace and Plenty. Winston works in the Ministry of Truth, where he changes the dates, articles and photos of things to match up with what Big Brother is saying. Big Brother watches everyone through telescreens, which are in every room, and anyone who speaks out, or thinks to rebel, or even doesn’t get to their house at the right time, vanishes. “Big Brother is watching you” is the Party’s slogan, and is plastered all across London. In their society, the ideas of individuality, freedom and opinions
The novel “1984” by George Orwell exemplifies the issues of a government with overwhelming control of the people. This government controls the reality of all of their citizens by rewriting the past, instilling fear, and through manipulation. This is an astounding story because of the realistic qualities that are present throughout the text about an extreme regulatory government and its effects. This society is overwhelming consumed with the constructed reality that was taught to them by Big Brother. George Orwell brings significant aspects to the novel like the complexity of relationships during a rebellion and The Party’s obsession with power. The main character Winston struggles throughout the story trying to stay human through literature, self-expression and his individuality. The party uses human’s tendencies, weaknesses, and strengths in order to dehumanize their citizens to gain control over them.
In the novel 1984, George Orwell sets up a dystopia that reveals basic human qualities occur even when the people are brainwashed out of the,. This story takes place in an alternate society where life is radically different than what the world is today. The government has an extreme control on its people, brain washing them and suppressing every aspect of human connection. The citizens are taught to think that all information from the government is true even when it is blatantly obvious it isn’t. This novel allows the reader to witness the genesis of a primal love through the action of rebellion. Winston and Julia fall in love with each other as the book continues.
Described as “young”, “free-spirited”, and “practical”, Julia differs from Winston in many ways. She is open about her sexuality, and sleeps with several party members before she meets Winston. Although these acts are frowned upon in the eyes of The Party, Julia doesn’t intend them that way, and tells Winston that it is only to satisfy her own desires. Julia only “..questioned the teachings of the party when they in some way touched upon her life”(153). She was too young to remember a life that contradicted The Party’s teachings, and because she believed all Party propaganda to be lies, Julia had no interest in what those teachings were anyway.
Orwell uses Winston and Julia’s relationship to show the power of the human emotion of love. Winston is a pessimistic man that has nothing to live for except for life itself, until he meets a love interest; Julia. Orwell narrates “At the
The main character in George Orwell’s book 1984 is a thirty-nine year old man with the name of Winston Smith. Winston Smith creates thought crimes, he also has anti-Party views. The story “1984” tells about all of Winston Smith’s struggles. In an effort to avoid being monitored, Winston physically conforms to society, however mentally he does just the opposite. Winston is a thin, frail and intellectual thirty-nine year old. Winston hates totalitarian control and enforced repression that are characteristics of his government. Winston hates being watched by Big Brother. He always has revolutionary dreams, he feels like he would be protected. Julia is Winston’s lover, a beautiful dark- haired girl working in the
The novel 1984, by George Orwell, shows the world through a totalitarian government. The main protagonist, Winston Smith, is a party member who works to cover up the Big Brothers propaganda. However, he begins to write in a journal of his hatred for the society he exists in. This is considered an act of treason and is punishable by death for committing a “thought crime.” Winston is aware that he is being watched every day, everywhere, and anywhere. Despite this fact, Winston and a woman named, Julia, both defy Big Brother and begin an affair. This is the world where everyone is against everyone, and those who break the rules are punished severely for their crimes. Big Brother wishes to gain total control of the population by banning or prohibiting
book, living in a one-bedroom apartment. Smith is miserable and keeps an incriminating journal of all negative thoughts of the Party, if caught Smith will be vaporized, he will become an unperson. One day in the office he noticed a dark haired woman staring at him, she is “Julia”. Smith hates her, he desires to rape her and murder her. Winston feels she’s a member of the Thought Police and that she is spying on him ready to denounce him. Her youth and decorative Anti-Sex League (Party League that degrades on the pleasures derived from sexual intercourse) sash disgusts him. Months later Winston bumps into Julia and she slips a note into his hand; the note says “I love you”. They make arrangements to meet and
As Winston is captured by the government, he is told that there are three stages of his “reintegration”; learning, understanding, and acceptance. Winston refuses to betray his lover Julia until the last stage as he yells to his tormentors, “Do it to Julia! Do it to Julia! Not me! I don’t care what you do to her. Tear her face off, strip her to the bones. Not me! Julia. Not me!” (300). , Orwell) Spewing such harsh and petrifying phrases about his past lover, showcases that Winston under the torment and oppression of the Party has capitulated and accepted Big Brother while breaking the final bonds of his romantic relationship with Julia. Instilling oppression on romantic love ensures that the citizens of Oceania love Big Brother and the government with their full capacity; confirming that the individual will never favour their loved one over the government. Once a courageous individual rebelling against the government, using his relationship with Julia as a weapon, now merrily a shadow of his former past, broken down by the oppression instilled by the government. By betraying his lover, Julia, Winston demonstratesions that the government has won. Contradictory to his initial feeling towards Big Brother, Winston’s love is now dedicated towards the government. In the aftermath of his “reintegration”, “[Winston] loved Big Brother,” (311) , Orwell) leaving no additional room in his damaged heart for Julia. However, Winston is not the only character who suffers with the decision of betraying their loved
Originally published in 1949, Nineteen-Eighty Four was a story about a futuristic world. Now that 1984 has passed, we now realize how unrealistic the novel really is. Even with the advancement of technology, the world today is quite different from the one portrayed in nineteen eighty-four. Big Brother has control on almost everything and is constantly watching everybody’s actions. With thought police everywhere, people have to worry about what they think. This is something that doesn’t happen today. When Winston falls in love with a rebellious Julia they have to sneak around trying to hide from Big Brother. Not only is this extremely difficult with all the telesmreens everywhere, but also very risking. If they are caught they know they would
3. Describe Julia’s character as it relates to Winston. How is she different from him? How is