AP English Literature Blog Post #4

I must begin by saying how shocked I was when I read the note from Julia. I read it at least twice to make sure I read it correctly. After I was done reading the simple three word note, I needed to reread the rest of the page because I was still stuck in the “no way” and the “what does this MEAN?” stages, then I again felt the need to reread the note. I might have also been tired, but I closed the book for a snack break and to consolidate what I just read. In Nineteen Eighty-Four, two weeks before the note, Winston was seriously considering bludgeoning her to death with a nice old paperweight he had just purchased, and before that he wanted to beat her and rape her and leave her to die. Winston thought she was spying on him and would undoubtedly turn him in to the Thought Police, which could only end with Winston being vaporized. Instead, she clandestinely hands him a note, ironically after falling, which says “I love you.” After this encounter Winston finally speaks with the girl, whose name he does not even yet know, and they agree to secretly meet somewhere. I have only completed about two thirds of the book and they are already in a romantic and lustful relationship together, they are conspiring against Ingsoc and Big Brother, they have joined an underground group called the Brotherhood together, and they do not wish to be permanently separated. After becoming more familiar with each character, I have found evidence that they are a good match, but it was only much after the initial shock that I found this idea possible, and for this reason the chapter containing the revealing of the note momentarily upset me. While Julia is very youthful compared to Winston, they both seem, in their own ways, quite rebellious. They are, however, rebellious in different ways. Julia superficially plays her part; and Julia rebels, so far, in less than significant ways while ignoring the scope of the power of the party. Winston also plays his part, he rebels much less often, but he does not fail to realize the impact and power of making up reality. Winston sees the other people as the sheep they are made to be in the book, and it terrifies him as it should anyone. Neither of them have significantly rebelled yet because of the risk of the Thought Police.