Julia is Winston Smith's Juliet. Is the name a coincidence? Probably not. A duplicitous and whimsical creature, her sexual allure inspires Winston to start the rebellious writings (because he fantasizes about her). She then acts as Winston’s ally in active rebellion, although her idea of revolt is more in-your-arms than up-in-arms. Julia is a dark-haired, twenty-six-year-old employed as a machine operator in the Fiction Department at the Ministry of Truth. Looking like a zealous Party member, she wears an (ironic) Anti-Sex sash around her waist, and always participates passionately during the Two Minutes Hate.
Julia’s other side is much more interesting. She is a woman with raging hormones and a cunning spirit. A highly sexual being, she sleeps with Party members regularly to satisfy her own desires. Does she really mean it as rebellion, or does she just want to get it on? You could argue either way. Winston would sure like it to be the former, and Julia does suggest that her acts are her own small rebellion. But still, she is generally uninterested in fighting the good fight. In fact, the reason she approached Winston with the "I love you" note was probably to start yet another illicit affair. She busies herself with community service and other orthodox activities so that she can escape the Party’s thoughtcrime radar. Clever gal.
When Julia and Winston fall in love, they commit the biggest possible offense against the Party because of the newly constructed, shared, private loyalty to one another. Supposedly, if you love a person, you have less love left to give to the Party. We’re thinking the Beatles would come in handy about now, but the Thought Police would have our heads for that.
Book 2, Chapter 3 Sean Richardson P/4. Character Analysis Julia
The moment Winston and Julia are captured signifies the importance of their bond. So what does it mean that the two betray each other? Perhaps that love is weak and feeble in the face of, um, rats. Or that, ultimately, people value themselves and their own safety more highly than their loved one. Or…you come up with one.As is typical of the entire novel, Winston is the protagonist in these two chapters. There were many examples of indirect characterization concerning Winston in these two chapters; some of which being: “He knew that sooner or later he would obey O’Brien’s summons. Perhaps tomorrow, perhaps after a long delay – he was not certain.” This is the author’s way of allowing us a glimpse into Winston’s inner thoughts and feelings. This shows us that Winston has already made his decision, and that he had made the decision to follow O’Brien’s summons, if they ever came, a long time ago. “Winston had woken up with his eyes full of tears.” I think Orwell meant for this to show the reader Winston’s vulnerability to his emotions through his actions. Also, I believe that he wanted us to see how Winston reacts to some of the more traumatic events of his past. We see that Winston not only fears and respects the past, but he is also heavily susceptible to its influences toward his life. Winston is a dynamic character in the novel because in the end, after all the torture he endured after being caught by the Thought Police, he finally learns to love Big Brother and see everything through the Party’s point of view.
Because of the point of view in which the book is written, all of the information we have on Julia is indirect characterization. Some examples are: “I expect you were a beastly little swine in those days, ” she said indistinctly. “All children are swine.” Orwell lets us hear the character speak. Through this phrase Julia reveals some of her personal opinions and feelings toward a subject, letting the reader understand her a little bit better. “From her breathing it was evident that she was going off to sleep again.” This statement lets us see, from her actions that Julia doesn’t really care about the story Winston was trying to tell her. This is only reinforcing the idea that she doesn’t care about the past. Julia seems to be a more static character throughout the story than Winston is. However, we don’t really know for sure since Orwell’s style of writing only gives us insight into Winston’s mind. We can only gather the things we know about her through her actions and the things she says.
At this point, the reader isn’t quite sure whether O’Brien is a part of the rebellion and therefore on Winston’s side, or whether he’s a member of the Thought Police and is only trying to trap him. O’Brien, in this chapter, is also mostly described through indirect characterization. “But you write it very elegantly, ” said O’Brien. “That is not only my own opinion. I was talking recently to a friend of yours who is certainly an expert. Has name has slipped my memory for the moment.” Here O’Brien speaks about Syme, who is an unperson. This, to Winston, is a very clear sign that O’Brien is on his side. He is rebelling against Big Brother by referencing someone who, by Party standards, does not exist and has never existed. Because of the way Winston perceives O’Brien’s signal, the reader is led to lean toward O’Brien being a part of the rebellion. “Somewhat absent-mindedly O’Brien felt two of his pockets and then produced a small leather-covered notebook and a gold ink pencil. Immediately beneath the telescreen, in such a position that anyone who was watching at the other end of the instrument could read what he was writing, he scribbled an address, tore out the page, and handed it to Winston.” The author of the novel is showing, through his actions that O’Brien is clearly trying to communicate something to Winston. Orwell is showing something that is completely out of the norm for Party members. He is showing O’Brien’s deviation from what is socially acceptable at the time.
Glass Paperweight In 1984 By George Orwell
Because of the dream Winston had, his mother plays a big role in this part of the story. She is described entirely as how Winston perceived her, and so everything we know about her is, again, through indirect characterization. “When his father disappeared, his mother did not show any surprise or any violent grief, but a sudden change came over her. … Her large shapely body seemed to relapse naturally into stillness.” The reader sees, through Winston’s eyes, how his mother if affected by the leaving of his father. Through his mother’s actions we see that she is devoid of spirit and hope. It is also stated that she is waiting for something that is inevitable in coming. Winston’s Sister- Information about Winston’s sister is scattered throughout his recollection of the dream he had. We learn that she is very young, probably two or three, and starving. Winston describes her to look like a monkey because of how thin she is. We also know that she is very sickly.
A member of the Party who had been vaporized. An unperson is someone who, by Party standards, did not exist and had never existed as every trace of their existence was erased from history. “But Syme was not only dead, he was abolished, an unperson.” Telescreen- A telescreen is an instrument that was used to keep watch over the people of Oceania. They are two-way screens that are stationed around the city. “They were standing in front of a telescreen.” Thoughtcrime- The principle of the government of Oceania that states, “if you have thought about the crime, you have already committed it.” “By sharing a small act of thoughtcrime he had turned the two of them into accomplices.”
(n.) a low metal guard before an open fireplace, to keep back falling coals. “There was a gas ring in the fender, and a shelf where food was kept, and on the landing outside there was a brown earthenware sink, common to several rooms.” Sordid- (adj.) meanly selfish, self-seeking, or mercenary “Above all he remembered the continuous hunger, and the fierce sordid battles at mealtimes.” Pathos – (n.) the quality or power in an actual life experience or in literature, music, speech, or other forms of expression, of evoking a feeling of pity or compassion. “…or he would attempt a sniveling note of pathos in his efforts to get more than his share.”
By George Orwell (quote/analysis Table)
(v.) to say or plead in protest, objection, or disapproval. [remonstrance (n.)] “There was a long, nagging argument that went round and round, with shouts, whines, tears, remonstrances, bargainings.
George Orwell writes this novel in a third-person limited point of view. Therefore the narrator is an outsider who sees into the mind of only one of the characters. Conflict Man versus Society In a man versus society conflict, the customs and values by which everyone is living are being challenged. Winston is living in a society in which everyone is scared of their own shadows. The government and Big Brother seem to be all-powerful and practically omniscient. This is taken so far as to believe in the principle of thoughtcrime.
(v.) to say or plead in protest, objection, or disapproval. [remonstrance (n.)] “There was a long, nagging argument that went round and round, with shouts, whines, tears, remonstrances, bargainings.
George Orwell writes this novel in a third-person limited point of view. Therefore the narrator is an outsider who sees into the mind of only one of the characters. Conflict Man versus Society In a man versus society conflict, the customs and values by which everyone is living are being challenged. Winston is living in a society in which everyone is scared of their own shadows. The government and Big Brother seem to be all-powerful and practically omniscient. This is taken so far as to believe in the principle of thoughtcrime.
