Discussion Director, Chapters 1-2

Discussion Director

#1. Why do you think the Party chose to name each of their ministries, the Ministry of Love, the Ministry of Plenty, and the Ministry of Peace, as opposite to their actual purposes? Do you think this is another form of brainwashing used to make the citizens of Oceania believe what the Party wants them to believe, much like the constant streaming of propaganda from the telescreens?

#2. What do you think is the meaning of the Party slogan War is Peace, Freedom is Slavery, Ignorance is Strength? Do you think this is a appropriate slogan for a oppressive government such as that of Oceania?

#3. What are your opinions of the Parson's children? Do you think they are a representation of a new generation of young citizens in Oceania? If so, has the Party succeeded in sculpting the people's minds to believe what they want them to believe?

#4. At the end of Chapter 2, Winston writes in his journal that his Thought Crime surely makes him a dead man. Do you think this is a rational fear? Or is the concept of Thought Crime more just a scare tactic used to make people restrain themselves from thinking negative thoughts of the Party for fear of a retribution that may never come?

Illustrator Part 2 Chapters 1-4

Illustrator:

Quote: "On it was written, in a large unformed handwriting: I love you." (pg. 90)

Image:

In the beginning of part 2, Winston is at work and at the top of his stack of papers, there is a note saying "I love you" from an anonymous person. He is thinking about it all day and it gives him something worth living for. He eventually learns that it's the dark haired girl who's been watching him. He later finds out her name is Julia, and is reluctant to share his urge for rebellion because he is still unsure of her true loyalty to him. Once they have their first sexual encounter, he is willing to share almost everything with her and soon finds out she likes to rebel as well, but he's still unsure if she would be willing to be a part of him getting the proles to rebel.