Nineteen Eighty-4 Paragraph Response

Paragraph Response

Rebellion against higher authority has a big influence on the thoughts and actions of the two main characters in George Orwell's novel, “Nineteen Eighty-Four”. The main characters, Winston and Julia, both get pleasure in rebelling because of the harsh oppression that their government institutes. Winston and Julia both rebel, but to different extents. Winston risks everything in his life while rebelling, because he is desperate to know why the government, also known as 'The Party', has executed such power over their town of Oceania. Julia, on the other hand, rebels only to gain pleasure, live in the moment, and have freedom from The Party.

Winston feels very strongly about how the government runs. Even though he could
be killed by the Thought Police, Winston risks thinking about how hope lies in the proles, stating that, “in those swarming disregarded masses, could the force to destroy the party ever be generated.” (Orwell 72). Even thinking a thought like that, he could lose everything he owns, but he is so against the government that he is willing to take that risk. Winston also goes out of his way to get to his co-workers house to discuss becoming a member of the anti-party, called the Brotherhood, because his outrage towards the party has reached the point where he would risk being caught and killed if seen. Finally, Winston writes in his diary, which was bought illegally according to the government, “DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER” (20). This act of rebellion could cost him his life, because the government watching him through the telescreen in his house could have seen and had him killed. Winston cares more about the large-scale social issues, rather than the smaller, easy to be broken rules, like Julia.

Julia also feels strongly against the party, but to a lesser degree.
She takes risks only to gain pleasure from breaking the small rules, like having relations with Winston, who thinks she is a serious follower of the government. “'It's this bloody thing that does it,' she said, ripping off the scarlet sash of the Junior Anti-Sex League and flinging it onto a bough.” (127). This shows how effortlessly she can rebel against the Party whose routine she pretends to religiously follow. Secondly, she enjoys stealing food from members of 'The Inner Party', like real chocolate, and coffee, which leaves Winston in awe. “'How did you manage to get hold of all these things?' 'It's all Inner Party stuff. There's nothing those swine don't have, nothing.'” (147). This proves how Julia enjoys being rebellious towards the party when it comes to breaking the small rules. Lastly, Julia pretends to enjoy Big Brothers rules of living, but really, she tries to hide her laughter while they do their routine 'Two Minute Hate' which proves your patriotism towards The Party. “She also stirred a sort of heavy envy in him by telling him that during the Two Minutes Hate her great difficulty was to avoid bursting out laughing.” (160). This final act of rebellion shows that Julia is careless and wants the freedom of having no government ruling her life. Julia is rebelling solely for the purpose of having the freedom of living without the power of the government watching over her every move, every
day.

Winston and Julia both rebel towards the higher authority in Oceania, but to different extents. Winston has taken a more serious commitment to see that the government gets overthrown, like involving himself with members of the anti-party, or committing a thought crime by writing in his diary with negative thoughts regarding the Party. In Julia's case, she just wants to get pleasure from breaking a few smaller rules, like having a relation with a man, or stealing food from members of the Inner Party of the government. This shows that the government has installed so many rules to control your life, that people have no freedom and are forced to start a rebellion in order to enjoy their life.