"If there was hope, it must lie in the proles, because only there, in those swarming disregarded masses, eighty- five percent of the population of Oceania, could the force to destroy the Party ever be generated" (Orwell 69).
Winston writes in his diary in Chapter VII this quote at the very beginning to show his strong hatred for the Party. Considering Winston's view on Oceania and how the citizens don't receive privacy from the government, he is looking for a way out of this messed up life. Winston looks for others who have a mutual feeling for the Party and who want to change, like O'Brien. Winston is jealous of the way the Proles live with their simple lives. Because they are the lower class of Oceania, they don't get as much attention and aren't patrolled nearly as much as the Parties are. He believes the only hope for turning around the way the people live lies within the proles. I think it's funny how the lowest part of Oceania who receives no attention at all, as the strength the take over the Party. The party doesn't think this is capable and would never suspect this from the proles.
I agree that the only hope in Oceania lies with the Proles, mainly because they are 85% of the population but also that they aren't nearly watched as much as everyone else. I think Winston is also wondering whether or not the people that have hatred towards the party think that the only hope lies with the Proles also.
ReplyDeleteWhat if Winton was in the other sections of society? The inner or outer parties. Would he still rebel against the government ?
ReplyDeletethats a very good point saying that the class that would seem to have no power at all has all the power. I couldn't agree more
ReplyDeleteWhy do you guys think the Party does not think the proles are capable of revolt? Why do they allow them a kind of "freedom"?
ReplyDeleteGrayson - just to clarify - Winston is a member of the Outer Party. Did you mean - what if he was a member of the Inner Party or the Proles?
ReplyDelete