After his meeting with O’Brien at O’Brien’s home, Winston receives a book, ostensibly written by Emmanuel Goldstein. The book is supposed to explain how the society in which Winston now lives evolved. Focus on these passages. Look particularly at the theory of the High, Middle, and Low classes. If true, what does this theory mean about the proles? How might it alter Winston’s hopes for the proles? Does this theory of history make sense to you?
This theory means that the proles will never gain conciousness of what is happening to them. The lower class does not struggle for power. It just sits there and goes with the flow and when it does get riled up it sides with the group that promises it the best things. The problem though is that to get them to do anything you have to have a middle class to challenge the upper class. Well the outer party cannot group together to take on the inner party, thus there is no group to get the proles into action. Essentially it could be argued that there is no middle class at all there is the inner party (upper class) and the proles+the outer party are the lower class. Also even if one wanted to consider the outer party as middle class they are all so fearful of each other there really is no way they would group together other than in two's at the most like Winston and Julia but what good would that do at all. So basically Goldstein's book says that no one can change the party. I would say that the theory in Goldstein's book makes sense. I don't however thing this is a long term society but i do think it is pretty well established and it would take something big to change it.
2 comments:
Hey Darlene,
I liked how you talked about the classes and the proles really won't do anything. I bet it shattered Winston's soul! haha But, it's true what you said about how Goldstein's theory seems correct in the sense that organizing and gathering together to rebel against the inner party is more on the unlikely side. And, i agree with you that this society might not last for the long term. There really isn't anything in this society that makes it permanent. Anyways.. good blog!
Hey Dar Dar,
I like what you were saying about how the proles won't be able to change anything about the party because they aren't conscience about what is going on around them. The proles seem to be in their won separate world away from everyone else, only concerned about fulfilling their immediate needs. And, even if they did want to group together they wouldn't be able to against the party. I also believe that this type of society may be realistic for this book, but definitely not long.
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