Winston vs Parsons?

[Rachel]

I don't know that Parsons is as aware as Winston of life he is missing. Winston actually describes, somewhere in the first part of the book, that Parsons is the perfect Party member: he loves Big Brother, he was an avid member of the Scouts, and the Party consumes his life. It is actually quite ironic that Parsons is arrested, because Winston mentions him as an example of a person who will live out his life happily.

Parsons clearly loves the Party, or has at least convinced himself of these emotions. However, I am of the conviction that Parsons does not actually love the Party, but fears it. In the way he speaks of his "nippers," Parsons comes off as proud, but there is always a dash of fear and concern in his voice. This fear leads to Parsons' thought crime of his sleep talking confessions, and this is why he ends up in jail.

[Catie]

I also think that maybe Parsons finds it easier to live in ignorant bliss. It was stated in the book that the Proles are the happiest group because they are ignorant. They don't have to care about anything except living. Maybe Parsons is trying to emulate that. Yeah, he could stir up trouble and try to go against the Party but where would that get him? No happiness comes out of rebelling against the Party and we see that from Winston's struggled towards the end of the book. He was tortured until he learned to love and respect the Party. Parsons seems to have the right idea. If he never doesn't love the party, then his life won't be too hard. He could be happy and have something to believe in as well as be fulfilled. Not a bad life at all.

[Grace]

Life in Oceania is definitely easier and more pleasant if you're willing to turn a blind eye to the Party's obvious malice. Winston is an unusual character in that he really desires to ascertain real truth--most others submit to the Party's regime because they simply care to live a life that is somewhat self-indulgent. It does not bother Parsons that things are not the way they were, because, as Catie pointed out, he's able to live a happy life and maintain a cheerful demeanor, due to his (likely intentional) ignorance.

[Gabe]

The saying ignorance is bliss applies greatly here. If one just allows the Party to have it's way, they will convince them that they are happy, and so they will be happy. Winston, however, is unfortunate enough to have the knowledge that the Party is controlling him. And he can't - to the Party's dismay - just let go of this knowledge. And thus, Winston must lead a far more difficult life.

[Randie]

I think the fact that Parsons commits thought crime through his sleep is very interesting, because your most lucid thoughts are often revealed while you're sleeping. Things one is unable to say while awake are often said when one is sleeping. Although Parsons seems like the average, go-lucky, Party-loving citizen, it is evident through the nature of his thought crime that he has a lot of built up unconscious resentment and hatred towards the party. In his heart of hearts, Parsons knows of the Party's evil malice. Winston, too, knows of this malice. However, Winston does not attempt to hide his hatred towards the party. It is ironic, therefore, that Winston and Parsons both end up in the Ministry of Love torture chambers at the same time, since Winston always believed Parsons to be just another Party-worshipping idiot.

[Eitan]

To answer Anjali's original question, I believe that Parsons is more of a party supporter than Winston due to his ignorance and lack of caring. Just like real life, when something is morally wrong even those who realize it do not always care. Parsons may remember what life was like but he doesn't care enough. Also, he appears to be very brainwashed by the Party. He is a model party member who is even glad that his daughter turned him in. He obviously has fallen for the Party line hook, line and sinker. The huge amount of propaganda disseminated by the party, such as the ubiquitous pictures of Big Brother and the two minutes hate, have certainly influenced his thoughts.

[Loren]

I agree with Eitan that the Parson's has submitted to the party's doctrine. The party's power is collective, meaning that the Party is able to function because they have established a society in which the role of each citizen is to function for the Party. Parsons puts obedience for the party before even his own well being and acts accordingly. However the Party requires obedience down to the core, and as Parson showed, it is impossible to completely suppress the individual for it will shine through in dreams.