Part 3: Chapters 5 & 6
Yes! I finally found out what was in room 101! As I suspected it was something that was not just bad, but terrifying in the very least. I would have to say that I can't blame Winston for betraying Julia. If I were put in that situation and had to face my most terrifying fear I'd do the same thing. I think it would be pretty had to just let that sort of torture just happen to yourself. Isn't it human nature to endure and survive? I mean, if it wasn't how would humans still be here? How would anything still be alive on this earth. I can understand that maybe someone in that situation could go through it, because in the end your going to die either way. But, I think most people would do anything for just a few more days of life. I believe that most people are going to try and stay alive in that situation, and they will do or say what ever it is to keep breathing. Again, I don't blame Winston for betraying Julia to O' Brain. I know I wouldn't want to go through my worst fear in a place like that, but that's why it's saved for last. It's the worst thing your could possible do to a person besides killing them.
One other thing I noticed about this book as our class starts to finish is that people are upset by the ending. It's not in any means a satisfying ending. There is not rebellion. Winston doesn't become some famous hero or martyr. We are left with more questions than answers, but I think it's a fitting ending. It ends like real life in a way. It's not a fairy tale; it's a forewarning of a society that is possibly at anytime. Real life doesn't always have a happy ending, so why should a book about a totalitarian society have a fantasy ending? I think the book would lose it's meaning if the ending was happy. People would focus on the hero aspect of the story and not the message Orwell was truing to convey. Orwell meant for this book to open the eyes of many people to the ways of society. The book shows that if we do not retain our humanity and out empathy what awaits us is complete and user hell. I know I would NOT want to live in a world like 1984. I wouldn't last long there if I did.
This book may not have been the most fun read of my life, but I do think it was one of the most eye opening. I'm actually glad you make your classes read this every year. Some people may not take it the same way I did, but the way it can change a person's perception of current society is pretty amazing. It just reinforces your lesson at the begging of the year to question everything!
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
Journal #9
Part 3: Chapters 3 & 4
There was really a lot of material to cover in these chapters. To be honest I'm not really sure where to start, but I think starting with O' Brian's logic is a decent place to begin. On pages 264 to 266 O' Brian describes what the Party believes. He says that everything that happens in the world happens because the Party wills it, and that it can all change if the Party wishes it. When O' Brian says, "The earth is as old as we are, no older. How could it be older? Nothing exists except through human consciousness," I can't help but think how close minded that is. I know that in 1984's world that only what the Party says is true, and most people don't believe in anything but what the Party say. But, it's just so hard for me to wrap my head around the thought of someone actually believing that the world is only as old as humans. If people are taught that the world is only as old as humans, then those people have know reason not to believe it. I've been taught that the world is older then the existence of humans, and I honestly have never questioned that logic, until maybe now.
In addition, when O' Brian says the line, "The earth is the center of the universe. The sun and the stars go round it," I think of the ancient people and how they believed this to be true because they were ignorant. I guess that is the whole point of the Party though; to keep the people stupid. O' Brian then goes on to say, "For certain purposes, of course, that is not true... The stars can be near or distant, according as we need them... Have you forgotten doublethink?" I really don't get how people can think one thing and then just switch on a whim to something completely contradictory. I know thats what a good part of this book is about, the irony of everything, but it just doesn't work for my brain. It really doesn't, I don't understand how a person could be so gullible to just except that change in events with no questions. If one day someone told me that the moon is the sun I would not just except that. If I understand the way Party logic works, then the Prols would believe the moon was the sun without question. That to me crazy -- insanity.
The way O' Brian and the Party see things in a way that is so close minded I don't know how they can function, and I can understand why Winston is losing his mind. The Party sees no bigger picture, because a broader perspective brings more questions. More questions bering more thoughts, and thought can lead to rebellion. If the Party keeps the minds of the people closed, then the Party really can be immortal. Immortal in the sense that they will never be questioned as to what is really reality and what is the Party's reality.
There was really a lot of material to cover in these chapters. To be honest I'm not really sure where to start, but I think starting with O' Brian's logic is a decent place to begin. On pages 264 to 266 O' Brian describes what the Party believes. He says that everything that happens in the world happens because the Party wills it, and that it can all change if the Party wishes it. When O' Brian says, "The earth is as old as we are, no older. How could it be older? Nothing exists except through human consciousness," I can't help but think how close minded that is. I know that in 1984's world that only what the Party says is true, and most people don't believe in anything but what the Party say. But, it's just so hard for me to wrap my head around the thought of someone actually believing that the world is only as old as humans. If people are taught that the world is only as old as humans, then those people have know reason not to believe it. I've been taught that the world is older then the existence of humans, and I honestly have never questioned that logic, until maybe now.
In addition, when O' Brian says the line, "The earth is the center of the universe. The sun and the stars go round it," I think of the ancient people and how they believed this to be true because they were ignorant. I guess that is the whole point of the Party though; to keep the people stupid. O' Brian then goes on to say, "For certain purposes, of course, that is not true... The stars can be near or distant, according as we need them... Have you forgotten doublethink?" I really don't get how people can think one thing and then just switch on a whim to something completely contradictory. I know thats what a good part of this book is about, the irony of everything, but it just doesn't work for my brain. It really doesn't, I don't understand how a person could be so gullible to just except that change in events with no questions. If one day someone told me that the moon is the sun I would not just except that. If I understand the way Party logic works, then the Prols would believe the moon was the sun without question. That to me crazy -- insanity.
The way O' Brian and the Party see things in a way that is so close minded I don't know how they can function, and I can understand why Winston is losing his mind. The Party sees no bigger picture, because a broader perspective brings more questions. More questions bering more thoughts, and thought can lead to rebellion. If the Party keeps the minds of the people closed, then the Party really can be immortal. Immortal in the sense that they will never be questioned as to what is really reality and what is the Party's reality.
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
Journal #8
Part 3: Chapter 1 & 2
I was rather surprised to see O' Brian showed up at the end of chapter one, I guess I should be used to this. I initially thought he was a prisoner but it turned out he most defiantly was not. The thing is I don't believe that O' Brian is there to help Winston in a good way. I think he really believes he is helping Winston, in that he is trying to cure him of his subordination. O' Brian in my opinion is not a good man. He torchere and confuses Winston repeatedly, but I believe it is for a purpose not out of spite. I think he is part of the party and helps to eradicate the problem people such as Winston and Julia. I'm trying to put into words what I am thinking, but it's just not coming across right on here.What I'm trying to say is that O' Brian is a torturer in my eyes, but a savior in his own. I think he believe what he is doing is for the good of the party and Winston. But, in my eyes he is only corrupting an already corrupt man. He is changing Winston to think like himself, like the party. I don't think he does the things he does, because he wants to see people suffer but so that the party can live on. Live on and not have to fear the presents of maybe say a martyr, causing a rebellion. I believe he is is the insane one in this story not Winston, but then again who really knows what sane is.
While reading chapter one of part 3 I also ran across a section that for some reason really hit me. On P. 236 a man is told that he must report to room 101. The way that he fought and begged not to be taken there just got to me. He was described as emanated and nearly dead. When he was told to go to room 101 he fought tooth an nail to stay. To have a person say that they would feather die that go to a room saddens me. I really did tear up while reading it. It made me feel horrible to think that something so awful was happening to people, and the guards could give a care less what they did to those people. It made me so sad to think that this man has probably never knew love or hope, and he will die in fear and insanity.
I was rather surprised to see O' Brian showed up at the end of chapter one, I guess I should be used to this. I initially thought he was a prisoner but it turned out he most defiantly was not. The thing is I don't believe that O' Brian is there to help Winston in a good way. I think he really believes he is helping Winston, in that he is trying to cure him of his subordination. O' Brian in my opinion is not a good man. He torchere and confuses Winston repeatedly, but I believe it is for a purpose not out of spite. I think he is part of the party and helps to eradicate the problem people such as Winston and Julia. I'm trying to put into words what I am thinking, but it's just not coming across right on here.What I'm trying to say is that O' Brian is a torturer in my eyes, but a savior in his own. I think he believe what he is doing is for the good of the party and Winston. But, in my eyes he is only corrupting an already corrupt man. He is changing Winston to think like himself, like the party. I don't think he does the things he does, because he wants to see people suffer but so that the party can live on. Live on and not have to fear the presents of maybe say a martyr, causing a rebellion. I believe he is is the insane one in this story not Winston, but then again who really knows what sane is.
While reading chapter one of part 3 I also ran across a section that for some reason really hit me. On P. 236 a man is told that he must report to room 101. The way that he fought and begged not to be taken there just got to me. He was described as emanated and nearly dead. When he was told to go to room 101 he fought tooth an nail to stay. To have a person say that they would feather die that go to a room saddens me. I really did tear up while reading it. It made me feel horrible to think that something so awful was happening to people, and the guards could give a care less what they did to those people. It made me so sad to think that this man has probably never knew love or hope, and he will die in fear and insanity.
Monday, April 21, 2014
Journal #7
Part 2: Chapter 10
I honestly was surprised at the ending of chapter 10, but not because Winston and Julia were captured but the how. I always knew they were running out of time and they would be found out, but I really was not expecting it to be at the shop. I didn't really think much about how I thought they would be found out, I just knew it was going to happen. It really did surprise me when Mr. Charrington was revealed to be part of the though police. I more expected him to rat on Winston and Julia than be the one to bring them down. My only question is why so long? If he knew that they used his place for things the party wouldn't approve of; why would he not bust them earlier? Unless he was waiting to see if they were in association with the brotherhood. That book was their undoing in that was the case; if only the brotherhood can read them.
I'm really excited to read the next few chapters of this book. To be honest until about the last few chapters it was a little dry, but now that something interesting is going to happen. We get to see what actually happening inside the Ministry of Love, I hope anyways. I always like how you can read different situations in a book and then stop, and think about how maybe you would react in that same situation. I don't know it that just me or not, but I do it all the time. Just stop reading and think well if I was so and so I'd do this. But, then I stop again and think would I really do that? It's really easy to think you'd do something, but it's a completely different situation when it really happens. This is probably really off topic but I wanted to write about it. But then again, it's actually really hard to relate to anything in this book. Winston is a men with no empathy whats so ever, and Julia... well Julia is Julia. It's hard to say i would do this in this situation, because I'm not a person who does not know what empathy is. I can say I wouldn't kick a severed hand out of my path, but I don't know if i wouldn't. I can say I wouldn't confess to the thought police, but I don't know if I would or not. It's a hard thing to give a straight answer to, because it's always changing until it actually happens. After all it's just an imagination of what one might do.
I honestly was surprised at the ending of chapter 10, but not because Winston and Julia were captured but the how. I always knew they were running out of time and they would be found out, but I really was not expecting it to be at the shop. I didn't really think much about how I thought they would be found out, I just knew it was going to happen. It really did surprise me when Mr. Charrington was revealed to be part of the though police. I more expected him to rat on Winston and Julia than be the one to bring them down. My only question is why so long? If he knew that they used his place for things the party wouldn't approve of; why would he not bust them earlier? Unless he was waiting to see if they were in association with the brotherhood. That book was their undoing in that was the case; if only the brotherhood can read them.
I'm really excited to read the next few chapters of this book. To be honest until about the last few chapters it was a little dry, but now that something interesting is going to happen. We get to see what actually happening inside the Ministry of Love, I hope anyways. I always like how you can read different situations in a book and then stop, and think about how maybe you would react in that same situation. I don't know it that just me or not, but I do it all the time. Just stop reading and think well if I was so and so I'd do this. But, then I stop again and think would I really do that? It's really easy to think you'd do something, but it's a completely different situation when it really happens. This is probably really off topic but I wanted to write about it. But then again, it's actually really hard to relate to anything in this book. Winston is a men with no empathy whats so ever, and Julia... well Julia is Julia. It's hard to say i would do this in this situation, because I'm not a person who does not know what empathy is. I can say I wouldn't kick a severed hand out of my path, but I don't know if i wouldn't. I can say I wouldn't confess to the thought police, but I don't know if I would or not. It's a hard thing to give a straight answer to, because it's always changing until it actually happens. After all it's just an imagination of what one might do.
Wednesday, April 16, 2014
Journal #6
Part 2: Chapter 9
There is a lot of materiel that can be covered in chapter 9 that is for sure, but i think i'm going to focus the majority of this post on the small bit that their is about HateWeek. I think that when you get down to the true essence of Hate Week it is not that much different than what we as a nation feel about Al Qaeda. Or, how ever we used to feel about any nation we viewed as a threat. The way in witch Hate Week is executed in 1984 is way more violent than anything that has happened in the U.S. It's not like we publicly hanged members of the KBG or terrorist groups. Yes, we waged war and killed their leaders but it was not a spectacle for all to see. It was not something that was an openly practiced event that even children looked forward to!
It's not the same in practice, but maybe in the emotions it caused people. While i'm not sure the people of 1984 completely understand what is happening during Hate Week, God knows i'm not even sure whats happening, they do know that the people presented are bad, and they are being eliminated so they inturn sure be happy. Our society and that aspect of Hate Week are pretty similar. I do think that the media in our society does the same thing that the party does in 1984, in putting all the blame for a bad event on one person or group.
When 9-11 happened all the blame was on Osama Bin Laden and our country would only be happy again once he was eliminated. I was one who whooped when I heard the news of his death, but when I think about it did it really do anything to better our country? Don't get me wrong, but honestly it didn't stop the fact that there is always war, or that terrorist attacks can still happen. It basically just took the blame off one person and moved it to another. The brief relief some may felt was just that, brief. We always need someone to blame whether it be a president, terrorist group, or country it never stops. That's what Hate Week is, it's putting the blame of the war, or corruption of a society on a person or group or that it isn't rebounded to the leader of the country. While that may not work in our society, because our president takes the brunt of our blame game, I think the concept is generally the same. My point is that the undertones of Hate Week and the blame we as a nation put on someone or some group is not that different when you think about it.
There is a lot of materiel that can be covered in chapter 9 that is for sure, but i think i'm going to focus the majority of this post on the small bit that their is about HateWeek. I think that when you get down to the true essence of Hate Week it is not that much different than what we as a nation feel about Al Qaeda. Or, how ever we used to feel about any nation we viewed as a threat. The way in witch Hate Week is executed in 1984 is way more violent than anything that has happened in the U.S. It's not like we publicly hanged members of the KBG or terrorist groups. Yes, we waged war and killed their leaders but it was not a spectacle for all to see. It was not something that was an openly practiced event that even children looked forward to!
It's not the same in practice, but maybe in the emotions it caused people. While i'm not sure the people of 1984 completely understand what is happening during Hate Week, God knows i'm not even sure whats happening, they do know that the people presented are bad, and they are being eliminated so they inturn sure be happy. Our society and that aspect of Hate Week are pretty similar. I do think that the media in our society does the same thing that the party does in 1984, in putting all the blame for a bad event on one person or group.
When 9-11 happened all the blame was on Osama Bin Laden and our country would only be happy again once he was eliminated. I was one who whooped when I heard the news of his death, but when I think about it did it really do anything to better our country? Don't get me wrong, but honestly it didn't stop the fact that there is always war, or that terrorist attacks can still happen. It basically just took the blame off one person and moved it to another. The brief relief some may felt was just that, brief. We always need someone to blame whether it be a president, terrorist group, or country it never stops. That's what Hate Week is, it's putting the blame of the war, or corruption of a society on a person or group or that it isn't rebounded to the leader of the country. While that may not work in our society, because our president takes the brunt of our blame game, I think the concept is generally the same. My point is that the undertones of Hate Week and the blame we as a nation put on someone or some group is not that different when you think about it.
Monday, April 14, 2014
Journal #5
Part 2: Chapters 7 & 8
When I read the long paragraph on pages 164 and 165 for some reason it just got to me. To think that Winston could be such a bad child to his mother and such an awful brother to his sister kind of baffled me. I know that some people are like that no matter what, but I would hope that put in those circumstances most people today would be considerate of the situation. I think that's the whole point that Orwell was trying to make though. That Big Brother and the party want human compassion to disappear so know now feels anything. To me that's an awful, awful world to live in. I couldn't imagine being that in considerate, and selfish towards a mother who is trying to provide for her children or to a dyeing sibling. It's horrible, but i'm sure it's what the party wants for their people. To be cold hearted and inconsiderate so they have no one worth fighting for. No one to spark a fire in them to think and rebel.
To think that Winston just kicked a severed hand like is was a piece of wood sent chills through my body. It's just so weird to read something like that and think about it in todays society. If you think about it, the only thing that really matters to people today is something that involves them or people they know personally. If it's not close to home, who really cares? I think about it know, and while we may feel an initial sense of empathy towards a person or country that is facing hard times. In the next moment we can be laughing at some dumb joke a friend said, and it will be totally forgotten.
We hear so many bad things on the news every day that i think we become desensitized to the hardships that everyone faces. But, if a person thinks about it if we felt concern for every horrible event that happened every day... What would be left for us to be happy about? All the disappear would consume us and we would not be people anymore. I think thats just the way society has evolved. A person sees those kids in Africa on the TV at least once a day, and we always think the same thing, "Oh, someone else will help those kids. I've got other things to do today." Or we just completely ignore them. We see it so much that only when something happens to you do you realize that empathy is an important thing in your life. We all like to be consoled, if no one was there to help you feel better, like a mother or a friend, you'd be feeling pretty alone and horrible. I feel so sad when I read this book, and find that Winston doesn't understand what empathy is. All i know is that his life must be a very lonely one.
When I read the long paragraph on pages 164 and 165 for some reason it just got to me. To think that Winston could be such a bad child to his mother and such an awful brother to his sister kind of baffled me. I know that some people are like that no matter what, but I would hope that put in those circumstances most people today would be considerate of the situation. I think that's the whole point that Orwell was trying to make though. That Big Brother and the party want human compassion to disappear so know now feels anything. To me that's an awful, awful world to live in. I couldn't imagine being that in considerate, and selfish towards a mother who is trying to provide for her children or to a dyeing sibling. It's horrible, but i'm sure it's what the party wants for their people. To be cold hearted and inconsiderate so they have no one worth fighting for. No one to spark a fire in them to think and rebel.
To think that Winston just kicked a severed hand like is was a piece of wood sent chills through my body. It's just so weird to read something like that and think about it in todays society. If you think about it, the only thing that really matters to people today is something that involves them or people they know personally. If it's not close to home, who really cares? I think about it know, and while we may feel an initial sense of empathy towards a person or country that is facing hard times. In the next moment we can be laughing at some dumb joke a friend said, and it will be totally forgotten.
We hear so many bad things on the news every day that i think we become desensitized to the hardships that everyone faces. But, if a person thinks about it if we felt concern for every horrible event that happened every day... What would be left for us to be happy about? All the disappear would consume us and we would not be people anymore. I think thats just the way society has evolved. A person sees those kids in Africa on the TV at least once a day, and we always think the same thing, "Oh, someone else will help those kids. I've got other things to do today." Or we just completely ignore them. We see it so much that only when something happens to you do you realize that empathy is an important thing in your life. We all like to be consoled, if no one was there to help you feel better, like a mother or a friend, you'd be feeling pretty alone and horrible. I feel so sad when I read this book, and find that Winston doesn't understand what empathy is. All i know is that his life must be a very lonely one.
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
Journal #4
Part 2: Chapters 1-2
I've had this theory going for awhile, and i figured this would be the best spot to put it out their. I've been throwing around the idea since part 1 chapter 4 mainly, so here it is. I think that Big Brother is not actually real. I have the feeling that he is just someone made up by the inner party for the people to believe in. I mean so far no one has actually see the guy in public, I mean there are pictures and sometimes he's on the telascreen but it's not hard for someone to read a speech to a screen. I think that the government is made up of a group, but they just need that popular figure for the people to fear or believe in. He could just be really careful not to go out, but i find that hard to believe. It's not really a foreign concept to have one person be the front runner of a organization; it creates a stronger bond with the people than a group maybe would. It's also might be a strategic thing in that if there is rebellion the people would be blaming a person who is not real, and therefore can be easily removed and replaced. This may not make as much sense on here as it did in my head, but I still believe that he is not a real person. I really think he is made up just for the people to have a person to look to for support, hatred, love, or what ever it is they need him for.
Another thing I guess I've never really thought about it, but I find it rather weird that enjoying the little things, like a bird singing, is strange in the 1984 world. I know it's because the people in 1984 are not suppose to think of anything besides being a good party member, but it's really sad in away. On page 124 Winston asks himself why is the bird singing if their is no mate around? It's sad to think that he can't understand that the bird sings because thats what birds, well, wants to I guess. He can't think of it as the bird is just singing because it is a bird; to him there must be so reason other wise why would the bird sing. I guess that may be where the saying, "Why does the caged bird sing?" may come from. To me the songs of a bird is something little can can bring a relaxing feeling to the listener on a warm summer day. It's not something i'm going to question, but rather just listen to.
I've had this theory going for awhile, and i figured this would be the best spot to put it out their. I've been throwing around the idea since part 1 chapter 4 mainly, so here it is. I think that Big Brother is not actually real. I have the feeling that he is just someone made up by the inner party for the people to believe in. I mean so far no one has actually see the guy in public, I mean there are pictures and sometimes he's on the telascreen but it's not hard for someone to read a speech to a screen. I think that the government is made up of a group, but they just need that popular figure for the people to fear or believe in. He could just be really careful not to go out, but i find that hard to believe. It's not really a foreign concept to have one person be the front runner of a organization; it creates a stronger bond with the people than a group maybe would. It's also might be a strategic thing in that if there is rebellion the people would be blaming a person who is not real, and therefore can be easily removed and replaced. This may not make as much sense on here as it did in my head, but I still believe that he is not a real person. I really think he is made up just for the people to have a person to look to for support, hatred, love, or what ever it is they need him for.
Another thing I guess I've never really thought about it, but I find it rather weird that enjoying the little things, like a bird singing, is strange in the 1984 world. I know it's because the people in 1984 are not suppose to think of anything besides being a good party member, but it's really sad in away. On page 124 Winston asks himself why is the bird singing if their is no mate around? It's sad to think that he can't understand that the bird sings because thats what birds, well, wants to I guess. He can't think of it as the bird is just singing because it is a bird; to him there must be so reason other wise why would the bird sing. I guess that may be where the saying, "Why does the caged bird sing?" may come from. To me the songs of a bird is something little can can bring a relaxing feeling to the listener on a warm summer day. It's not something i'm going to question, but rather just listen to.
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