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Post by Lucky on May 22, 2008 12:26:47 GMT -5
Yay.. I forgot completely about this too. But I really can't remember what is in the part of the book we should read. Because about a week ago I finally finished this book and I'm happy about it because it's really amazing . But I don't want to reveal anything.. so please can anyone say anything what is in the part of the book we have to read? I'm sorry that I didn't read it according to schedule. The book hit me so much, I couldn't do anything .
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Isa
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Post by Isa on May 24, 2008 7:35:10 GMT -5
Ugh, I'm having a hard time keeping up with the discussion too, but here's what I have to say:
In this section, we find out about the proles (proletarians). I thought it was interesting to see that millions of people were allowed to basically get on with their lives the way they did before, because the Party thought so little of them they didn't really feel the need to control them. Throughout this section, I couldn't help but think about my trip to Cuba, especially when Winston picked up the history book - all the history books that are available today in Cuba have been approved by the government, and they've taken good care to put a really positive spin on everything that has to do with the Revolution. I wouldn't say they're lying about everything - life in Cuba was hard before the Revolution (the way I understand it, it basically was America's brothel), but it's not exactly a whole lot better now, despite what Cuban history books say.
At this point in the story, Winston's affair with Julia begins. I thought Julia's explanation for the Party's need for sexual repression (that it would force people to channel their frustration into love for Big Brother) was really interesting. And again, it made me think about "Brave New World", in which sexuality is free and unrestrained. If I take a good look around (and watch MTV for a few minutes!), again I'd say that today's society is definitely learning towards the Brave New World experience, for better or for worst...
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Lu
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Post by Lu on May 25, 2008 5:38:34 GMT -5
I agree with you, Isa. Today's society is definitely learning towards Brave New World.
I find interesting the importance Winston gives to the paperweight, what do you guys think of it?
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Isa
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Post by Isa on May 25, 2008 6:08:06 GMT -5
Should we give ourselves another week before moving on to the next part?
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Post by Pilleriin on May 25, 2008 11:36:01 GMT -5
I find interesting the importance Winston gives to the paperweight, what do you guys think of it? I think for Winston it was a symbol of the time before Big Brother. He admires it's age, I also think it gives him more confidence that life wasn't that bad before and maybe there's a chance that the things will get better. He's sure that the paper weight can't lie (nor forget, like the old man did) how the things were before. In this section, we find out about the proles (proletarians). I thought it was interesting to see that millions of people were allowed to basically get on with their lives the way they did before, because the Party thought so little of them they didn't really feel the need to control them. I find proles very interesting. It's so weird how they don't understand that they actually have the power to overthrow the Party and Big Brother, but it's also understandable 'cause their life is so convenient. They don't have to worry for their facial expressions and about the screens. But somehow I'm sure that in real world would it be impossible. There would be at least one 'Winston' among proles.
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Post by Pilleriin on May 25, 2008 11:38:33 GMT -5
Should we give ourselves another week before moving on to the next part? I don't know what the others think, but it would be more convenient for me, I've got final exams ahead.
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Post by Carma on May 26, 2008 6:46:49 GMT -5
I really don't mind.. I haven't really discussed much so far.. haha
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Post by Lucky on May 27, 2008 11:10:51 GMT -5
But somehow I'm sure that in real world would it be impossible. There would be at least one 'Winston' among proles. Yes.. I'm definitely sure that in our society it would be impossible too. It was exactly what I was thinking when I read this part of book. How could they be so blind? They had to see that something is going wrong and they can stop it. But maybe they hadn't the need to stop it, because it wasn't actually about them. However, it's weird.
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Post by Pilleriin on May 27, 2008 12:51:52 GMT -5
Maybe proles just didn't want the power, they were comfortable, nothing didn't change in their lives?.
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Lu
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Post by Lu on May 27, 2008 13:08:52 GMT -5
Should we give ourselves another week before moving on to the next part? It's ok to me I'm a bit late, I'll finish reading part 3 tonight.
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Isa
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Post by Isa on May 31, 2008 8:56:46 GMT -5
OK, I've modified the schedule!
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Isa
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Post by Isa on May 31, 2008 12:39:41 GMT -5
I find interesting the importance Winston gives to the paperweight, what do you guys think of it? I think for Winston it was a symbol of the time before Big Brother. He admires it's age, I also think it gives him more confidence that life wasn't that bad before and maybe there's a chance that the things will get better. He's sure that the paper weight can't lie (nor forget, like the old man did) how the things were before. I agree that the paperweight is sort of a tangible symbol of life before the Revolution. Winston knows that history has been modified, but he's having a hard time relying solely on his memory without any sort of physical reference. I think I can understand because I always find it easier to remember a trip if I can look at some pictures, you know? I think he also likes the idea that before the Revolution it was possible for beauty to exist on its own, not everything had to have a purpose. For him it's sort of a proof that life before Big Brother could not have been as bad as the Party wants them to believe it was if such beautiful objects were allowed to come into existence. There would be at least one 'Winston' among proles. Yes, that's a great way to put it!
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Isa
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Post by Isa on Jun 3, 2008 8:32:25 GMT -5
Alright, let's move on! How do you guys feel about the relationship between Julia and Winston at this point? Even though they're both against the party, they go about it in very different ways and somehow it seems like Julia is not fit to be Winston's partner. She keeps her revolution at a very personal level (from the waist down, as Winston puts it), whereas Winston actually wants to change the world. I thought it was interesting how when O'Brien asked them whether they were willing to be separated, Julia's the one who said no, it felt like Winston was on the verge of saying yes, which to me means that their priorities are not the same. I also found it a bit frustrating how Julia couldn't have cared less about the book, but then again, that chapter was so long, I almost fell asleep while reading it too! I was completely taken by surprise by what happened at the end of Part 2, I did not see that coming! I'm looking forward to reading the last part now
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Post by Carma on Jun 3, 2008 8:55:29 GMT -5
ok, I don't really remember what happens at the end? haha
anyway, I didn't think julia and winston really fit for each other. But after he met her, he learned a lot more about the world outside of the.. ministry? So, him meeting her was good, but I don't think they really belonged together...
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Isa
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Post by Isa on Jun 3, 2008 9:33:19 GMT -5
I know what you mean Carma, she sort of had more experience than he did at breaking the party's ruless, so she did help him break out of his shell so to speak.
Oh and at the end of Part 2, Julia and Winston get caught by the Thought Police - turns out there had been a telescreen in the room all along, and Mr. Charrington was in fact a member of the Thought Police, which I still find really hard to believe!
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