Everybody living in Oceania has to live the same life; doing the same activities, eating the same foods, and working the same jobs. Although, the way you look at life decides whether or not your happy or not. Winston clearly hates life here in Oceania and wants to do anything to get out. He rebels by writing in his diary everyday and buying things he shouldn't have, even though he knows he could possibly get caught. In Chapter VI (Book 1) we can see that Winston can't wait to be disobedient, "Consorting with prostitutes was forbidden, of course, but it was one of those rules that you could occasionally nerve yourself to break" (Orwell 65). Winston has a love affair with an old ugly prostitute one night, and decides to go through with it because he knew it was rebellious. Winston thinks of this as the ultimate act of rebellion.
We learn later in the book, that Julia too, hates Oceania, but keeps it to herself and doesn't act out as much as Wintston. Winston's all for rebellion and outsmarting the Party, while Julia just wants to have fun and stay out of trouble. In Chapter III (Book 2) we clearly see Julia wanted nothing to do of the Party, " She hated the Party, and said so in the crudest words, but she made no general criticism of it. Except where it touched upon her own life she had no interest in Party doctrines" (Orwell 131). Julia is unhappy with her life, but she feels antagonizing the Party would just be a waste of her time. She only cares if it has something to do with her personal life, but other than that she really wants nothing to do with the Party. Finding eachother completed one another because being alone they were unhappy, but together they have something to live for.
Some interesting points Niki - I wonder though if Winston sleeps with the prostitute to really rebel or just because he is seeking comfort and release of some kind. You use good evidence in paragraph 2 - can you expand your commentary just a bit? What primary difference does this reveal between Winston and Julia?
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