While reading 1984, it is clear that the society and world that Winston Smith lives in is grim, bleak, and unsatisfactory. In Part 1, Chapter 1, Oceana is described as having a setting of "gritty dust". The apartment complex where Winston lives, Victory Mansions, appears to be the exact opposite of its name. The apartments are small, dingy, and almost entirely seen by Big Brother. The hallways smell like "boiled cabbage and old rag mats." The elevators do not work during the day due to an electrical current being shut off during daylight hours.
What I am wondering is, why there is not more upset? Why do the people of Oceania, including Winston, not express their disapproval for their world and society? Are they afraid of the repercussions if they act out? Are they fearful that the world become even worse if they do speak out? Or are they simply unaware or do not remember the time before the Party and believe that there is nothing wrong?
This is an important and relevant question. Why don't the people rebel? Why don't they do it in the book and why don't they do it in life? Applied to our own lives, what are we willing to risk to speak out about our own "boiled cabbage and old rag mats"?
ReplyDeleteSince we haven't read very far into the book yet, I'm not completely sure about the reason for this. Right now, I think that people's hesitance to express their unhappiness is mostly due to the power exerted by the totalitarian government. Through propaganda and constant monitoring, the government instills a sense of fear within the people. We've already gotten a glimpse of what kinds of consequences are in store for those who rebel (remember Comrade Withers?). The government actually wipes the records to erase any mention of people who rebelled, which could also contribute to the citizens' hesitance. To their knowledge, no one has ever gone against the government, so it would feel like more of a daunting and impossible task for them.
ReplyDeleteI think that the reason nobody complains is what Orwell called "doublethink." To some degree, everybody who's old enough to remember life before the Party probably knows that something is messed up in their society, but because of their fear of the Party, they are willing to pretend everything is ok, whether they believe it or not. No matter what, I think this issue will be resolved for the Party once Winston's generation dies, because Winston's depiction of younger generations makes it clear that, not knowing any other world, they are completely bought in to the Party. -Henry L.
ReplyDeleteI think that this is a really interesting question, and an important one to ask. The government does a really good job of brainwashing and isolating their citizens, so if anyone has rebellious thoughts they're afraid to voice them. It constantly feels like you're alone, and you know that you'll be vaporized if you're discovered. The government in Oceania is so powerful that they're past the point of the citizens having any power at all.
ReplyDelete