3 1984 Journal Questions

Journal 8: Discuss Winston as a heroic figure. What qualities does he posses that could define him as one?
Winston is portrayed as a heroic figure because of his rebellious actions towards the party. The Party was seen as a group who controlled every civilian in the society. He is seen as a heroic character because he tries to stop the controlling power from brainwashing innocent civilians.  One characteristic is Bravery. He exemplifies bravery because he is brave enough to go against the Party. This bravery also helps him get into trouble, which leads him to be lead into room 101. Another characteristic is that Winston was somewhat courageous. He did not flinch at fear or danger when it come to being out in public or when he was with Julia. He only flinched to danger when he realized his life might come to an end. In the end, Winston was selfish. He did everything in his power to keep himself alive. As the reader soon realizes, Winston manipulates the Higher Party to keep himself alive. While he was in room 101, he talks to O'Brien about inflicting his fear and pain over to Julia, just so he will not have to go through it anymore. He makes everyone believe that brainwashed by thinking that 2+2=5. That is not the case. He does that so he can be free in the end of the novel.

Journal 9: What was Winston like as a child growing up?
Winston was a child that was selfish and only cared about himself.  As Winston believed to remember his childhood in dreams, he recalls mainly his life after  his father left his family. Winston and his family lived mostly in underground shelters. His family were not the richest people in the society. They were considered in the lower class. During this time, air raids were happening because of the Party's enemy. Winston then stole chocolate  from his mother and his sister. After that, he ran away and never saw them again. I believe that winston was always a curious kid. By the way the novel carries on, Winston grows more and more curious as to what would happen if he had gotten caught for breaking the rules. As a kid, Winston seems to have been very curious as to why the air raids were becoming more frequent. He then learns that not everything is so perfect in his society. Winston does well to blend in with the crowd. The reader assumes that as a kid, winston could blend in well with everyone else around him. He was not a stand out kid. He kept more to himself until he met Julia when he had gotten older.

Journal 11: Get in the mindset of Winston smith. Make a list of the strangest things you’ve seen since the party came into power.
When I was 5, the party came into party.  At the time I didn’t realize that it was the  party. One strange thing that I was realized was that Chocolate was being rationed out. Who rations out chocolate? Everyone should be able to get however much chocolate they want to get. Another strange  thing that I realized was how much chanting we did for our leader. I understand that we are supposed to support our our leader but the chanting is a little distracting. Another strangest thing I’ve seen is how the television can see everything that I’m doing. One time I had woken up for my morning workout with this woman. I thought it was televised and everyone could see it. But, while she was leading the workout, she had called me out for not trying hard enough. She compared my work ethic to the troops fighting for our lives. That’s not equal at all. Another strange thing is how the party doesn’t tell anyone what happens after you have been to room 101. After room 101 for me, I was sent back to a glorious life. I had just escaped the brainwashing of the party by manipulating the higher power. I was very proud of my plan.