1984 Blog Post #2

I believe Winston has latched onto the ideas and vague memories that he has from a time when Big Brother was not in control. As a result of this he is unable to fully accept what the Party establishes as truth and normalcy. Winston also has a strong drive to be free and do as he pleases, which we see manifested in his relationship with Julia. He described his trist with the prole prostitute with great disgust and at the same time longed for a trully intimate incounter with another human being. The opportunity arose to fornicate, if you will, with Julia and he jumped at the chance despite the strict regulations that had been established by Big Brother. His drive to experience free and uninhibited sex left him with a complete disregard for said restrictions.

From the standpoint of Winston everything he thinks, does, or feels that is in oppostion to the Party and Big Brother is an act of defiance. His questioning of the Party and what they have reduced the human experience down to is an act of defiance in and of itself. The Party leaches its power from the citizens of Oceania as a direct result of the people's ignorance and inabilty to think for themselves, to not question any order or law that is said to be fair and valid. Inevitably, the last thing Big Brother wants is for people to think deeply or to understand the main intentions of the Party (ex:Syme). Winston seems to thrive off of the rebellion but at the same time views it as being extremely negative in terms of his personal safety. As he understands this he appears not to care because the oppostite, falling in line and saluting Big Brother full heartedly, is even worse.

In the world in which we live there are innumberable examples of protests that are aimed at governmental control and personal liberty. Due to the expanisve amount of freedom that we as Americans are given, the rebellions take different forms, but they are no less different than those of Winston in 1984. Take the Tea Party for example. It is composed of people who are disgruntled at the government's treatment of monetary funds and what they interepret to be their personal liberties. As a result, they have organized into a cohesive group that protests and questions what they believe is wrong with American governemnt. This is extremely similar to Winston protesting Big Brother by thinking for himself and abandoning regulations such as not have sex outside of marriage, if ever. Due to the Party's high level of power Winston and likeminded people are unable to unify into a societal force that openly challenges Big Brother's principals. Instead, Winston rebels in the only ways he knows how. Fundamentally, Winston's small acts of rebellion are synoymous with large protests like the Tea Party.