It is strange how people perceive others. They have this odd conception in their heads, and it takes them a very long time – in some cases – to change the idea. It is likewise as strange how people are able to link others to people they have met or heard about or read about in the past. One can see a person on the street corner or read of them in a book or a newspaper and automatically link them to another person or two. It is something I do almost constantly – rarely out loud. It is a good memory tool, linking two people. I am able to recall their strengths and weaknesses almost immediately. But it does have its drawbacks. I confuse people, substituting one’s face for another’s name. 1984 really isn’t any different for me – I still link people together; sometimes it is will actual people, sometimes it is with television character, and sometimes it is with book characters.
Winston Smith – a man who is cautious but unsure. He is trusting, which can be a good or a bad thing. He is loyal to those whom he loves, and he is rebellious to those whom he does not agree with. Again, this can be a good or a bad thing. Take, for example, the children. They would turn their parents in to the Thought Police in an instant if they showed any action or said anything that went against what the Party and Big Brother stood for. It’s family. One is supposed to trust family and to be loyal to one’s blood – not be scared of them as Winston’s neighbor, Mrs. Parsons, is. Rebellion speaks for itself. It is good to rebel against things that are unjust or unfair. It is good to fight for changes. But it can cost one their life – which is exactly what will happen to Winston if he is caught when he joins the Brotherhood. The fact that he keeps doubting himself doesn’t help matters much. His caution might help to keep him alive.
Winston reminds me of a man named Spiegel. Spiegel was a dozen or so years younger than Winston and almost totally opposite of him. He was careless with his life, taking chances that one wouldn’t normally take. But it was for something he believed in – kind of like Winston. Spiegel died fighting for his cause. Winston, however, finally bought in to two plus two equaling five. I think that what made me link the two together in the first place was the fact that they both loved women named Julia.
Julia was nicknamed “The Blue-eyed Angel from Hell”. It was strangely appropriate. She was what some would call hypocritical in some twisted sense of the word. I’d call her ironic more than anything. She was more sin and vice and seduction than good girl charms. But she had all the beauty of an angel – soulful blue eyes, long, golden curls, pale skin. One would never see the fall coming with her until it was too late and they were already on the ground. Orwell’s Julia is a lot like this. She conforms perfectly to all Party rules and to Big Brother itself. But she knows exactly what to do to get what she wants. She seduces members of the Higher Ups to get real chocolate and milk and time off, and she has the ability to break small rules. She is allowed – albeit somewhat secretly - to buy make-up and perfume. Yet she wears the red sash of the Anti-Sex League around her waist, hands out pamphlets, and works to help plan Hate Week. Both betray the men they love. But Orwell’s Julia wears a numb, blank mask, much like many people I know, but particularly two.
He always hid behind the mask of a smile. A large, cheeky grin was always plastered on his face. It never mattered what he felt inside. But there are many masks – many ruses – and Maxwell’s mask was only one of many. Mr. Charrington was a man of masks as well, but his were somewhat more literal. He helped hide his face – Maxwell just hid his feelings. But they were both sneaky men. Maxwell could have one believe that he was never sad or angry; that he was always happy. Charrington had one believe that he was an old man who sold antiques and kept the bed that he and his dead wife shared. These masks made both men very dangerous – both had jobs collecting information, and these masks only aided in the work. Both seemed to put one at ease – an old man, a friendly grin. It’s another of those moments when someone doesn’t know they’re falling until they collide with the ground.
It’s really quite simple. Everyone shares some of the same quirks and traits as someone else. These six people are all entwined to each other. They each share specific traits, but they share traits as a whole as well. One links to the other who links to the other who links to the other. I could go on for quite a while, finding correlations and links and connections between nearly everyone in this book and to those outside the book. It is a strange tick my mind plays on me – I sometimes link without even realizing I do it. A will equal B will equal C will equal D will equal A again. 1984 really isn’t any different for me – I still link people together; sometimes it is will actual people, sometimes it is with television character, and sometimes it is with book characters.
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