Journal #10

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!