I found this to be a very important quote since it indirectly pinpoints the biggest conflict in this world of Oceania. Winston wrote this because he unlike almost everyone has started to realize the reality of the world he lives in. A world where one group has the power to do as they wish. This sort of absolute power is defined indirectly by this quote. Since freedom is defined by ones ability to say that two plus two equals four, the oppression of the party as Winston believes can be seen by how they could tell you that "two plus two made five, and you would have to believe it." (80)
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"And yet, just for a moment, what almost frightening power had sounded in that cry from only a few hundred throats! Why was it that they could never shout like that about anything that mattered?" (70)
Winston believes that the power to overthrow the party lies in the hands of the proles. I agree with him in that if eighty-five percent of the population are proles like he states, then they can easily overthrow the government. The issue here is that the do not realize that they have this power. The quote I chose is an example of their incompetence when it comes to this topic. Although they, in reality, are being imprisoned by the system the party has set for them, they are instead fighting amongst themselves over simple things like cooking pots. It seemed as if the crowd of a few hundred women frightened Winston. If the whole of the prole population understood the circumstances they are in, the party would have no chance. They party seems to have taken measures against this issue. People have been so brainwashed to see their distorted government system as proper and accepted it as their reality. You can see this for example when looking at my first quote and how if the party told you that two plus two made five, you would believe it.
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"On it was written, in a large unformed handwriting: I Love You." (108)
Winston has been killing himself stressing about this person that had been stalking him for a while now. He was almost sure he was dead but to his surprise, his interaction with the girl left him speechless. This note she left him brings up another issue with the party that really irks me. It might not be significant to others but that fact that love is sort lost in history doesn't sit well with me. It is another negative quality of life for the citizens that sex is only a method of reproduction. Does anyone else feel the same way or is this issue an insignificant one?
I also agree with you when you say that if the proles were to work together then they can be capable of making some sort of huge change in their life style. As we see throughout the text in this chapter it seems that all the proles have been brainwashed or excluded from the reality that is happening around them. I agree with you, the way that they have forgotten about what love is makes you feel uneasy. It makes them seem inhuman not being able to express how they feel to one another.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your reasoning on how the proles could overthrow the government if they realized the circumstances they live under. To do this, I believe Winston would somehow have to open the proles's eyes but this is a major challenge since the thought police are always watching everyone's every move and if they knew about Winston's intentions, he would most likely be vaporized. I do wonder if collaborating with Julia on this may help Winston come up with a way to free the proles of their incompetence.
ReplyDeleteI can fully agree with the idea that the proles could manage to overthrow Big Brother and the Party, as you and Winston say. If more than 80% of any population rises up, even if they don't have much power, overall, their combined force would probably be more than enough to take the Party down. However, I don't believe, as you said, it'd be easy. They could make the change, yes, but with the Party as good at manipulation as they are, the proles would have a pretty hard time... Still, even taking that into consideration, the Proles might be Winston's only shot to overthrow the Party, if he can figure out how to show them they should be dissatisfied.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the first quote and how "two plus two equals five" because people with higher power can say anything they want and people will believe them since they are a higher level than us.
ReplyDeleteHi Bemi! First I just want to say that I like your webpage design! I also liked the quotes you picked and how your title related to them. I think your reasoning behind your explanations makes a lot of sense and provides lots of context.
ReplyDeleteI agree that they have forgotten the meaning of love and think it is sad to know this is how the government controls them. They hold them by their sexual desire to keep their mind off things like rebelling (that's how I see it at least).
ReplyDeleteI agree that the proles could overthrow the Party! However, I don't think that will happen because the manipulation that the Party does runs deep. Especially since the longer it goes on the more people are born into it so they won't necessarily believe that anything is wrong. They wouldn't be able to compare it to anything. So as time goes on I think the chance of rebellion becomes less likely.
ReplyDeleteI agree that being able to say "two plus two make four" is real freedom but the party oppresses the idea that of adding two and two together to make four but rather it makes five. Big Brother is absolute and there's no way to fight against it unless you want to be vaporize so we just "have to believe it."
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