Bailey’s Reviews > 1984 > Status Update

Winston reads what life was like "before the Revolution". According to the history books, there was "oppression, injustice, poverty" and other horrible concepts. Most people were poor besides the capitalists. These history books would have been created by the Party to force the civilians into believing that their lives today are better than the past.

Some words I did not understand on Page 101 were:
"pugnaciously" - ready for battle or a fight
"boozer" - a person who drinks a large amount of alcohol

The society of 1984 has been brain-washed into a one way thinking of life. Winston expresses that "there was not many people left whose ideas had been formed before the Revolution." No one has a voice for themselves or any ideas as they are directed into how to act and think. In a utopia society, everyone should be able to have their own beliefs and challenge each other.

Winston delves upon the topic of the lottery. He shares that "the winners of big prizes being non-existent" after winning. This is similar to Slumdog Millionaire, when the contestant on a game show was sabotaged, tortured and deceived into not winning the final prize of one million dollars.

Winston recalls of his childhood as a "half-forgotten world". Perhaps the Party has forced him to forget his past through manipulating the population by changing history. By forcing everyone to think one way, this has abolished their memory of the past.

A quote that I liked about freedom is:
"Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make four. If that is granted, all else follows." Winston means by this quote, that the ability to be correct and share ones' own opinion, to have free will, is freedom. Even the smallest things as addition, can be a form of freedom.

Fear shapes the society of 1984. Winston worries that the Party may be correct with their supposedly false information. He is not afraid of them killing him, but their ability to take over the populations' minds. With all this worry and doubt, Winston has trust in O'Brien as he knew "that O'Brien was on his side."

Winston reiterates the deception of the Party. Winston says that "the Party would announce that two and two made five, and you would have to believe it." This equation does not have the correct solution, and plays a metaphorical role in what Winston is sharing. The false equation resembles the false information of history shared by the Party.

While analysing a child's history book, Winston notices a portrait of Big Brother. He describes Big Brother with "hypnotic eyes" which shows that Big Brother was manipulating the society.
Winston feels as though Big Brother's image is like "some huge force were pressing down upon" him. He shares of feeling "penetrated" by Big Brother "frightening", "battering" and "persuading" the population.

Winston acknowledges that "the past not only changed, but changed continuously". This is concept is similar to conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. Both of them desire the land of Israel, and Palestinians have come up with the claim that they are from Canaanite descent and should own the land. Just like the Palestinians, the Party is manipulating with history.