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Never Stand Next to the Hero
As Julia avoids being caught, breaking any rule she desires, Winston idolizes her seeming indestructability.He views her as a hero, since she lures him in with the notion that her actions will never have consequence,especially after her success with the Inner Party Members. Winston follows Juila, putting all trust in her,however, eventually he is caught by the Thought Police,and punished for all his deeds against them. Although she was the hero to him, he could not stop from being caught.
The very first sentence of the novel, 1984, is a depiction of the unfavorable weather in Oceania. Chapter Nine of How to Read Literature Like a Professor describes that weather always holds deeper meaning. Snow is explained to sometimes be stark, inhospitable, and filthy. In 1984, the first paragraph goes on to describe the 'vile winds' of the 'bright cold day' that conjured a 'swirl of gritty dust' within Victory Mansions. This is clearly Orwell's way of showing Oceania -and Victory Mansions specifically- as a desolate, lifeless environment.
Is That a Symbol?
In 1984, there are few specific objects mentioned that do not carry particular significance. Foster's guide explains that almost everything is symbolic in some way, and should one need to ask, the answer is almost always yes, should it be a thing, a person, or even a place. One such object which seems not to have any particular purpose or use is a glass lens with a piece of coral trapped in it. The curiosity is sold to Winston by Mr. Charrington at the small shop. He observes the piece of glass and describes it as a place that he could enter in which The Party could not breach; a region in which he and Julia were safe. This is quickly disproven when Mr. Charrington reveals himself as a secret, thought police agent and captures Winston and Julia. The symbolism here is critical when someone of The Party, during the capture, knocks the lens onto the floor. Once the glass has shattered, Winston notices the coral which, now freed, rolls around onto the floor. He sees the fragility and simplicity in the coral upon the floor. At this moment, the reader realizes that Winston and Julia's safehaven was as much a mirage as the invulnerability of the glass which encased the coral.
It's All Political
Except Sex
In George Orwell's 1984, Julia and Winston's intimite moments,although seemingly rebellious acts of their own, are actually outbursts toward the party. Winston knows that what he is doing is illegal and could get him killed if caught, so he continuously does it for the thrill of going against the government. He finds Julia even more attractive because she is easy and he craves her worldliness. Hating all that is pure and prude, Winston seeks corruption that he can get only by being with Julia, an act forbidden to them.
Flights of Fancy
Flight is often viewed as a strong symbol of freedom or independence in novels and literature as Foster describes. In 1984, the only significant animal throughout Oceania was a great, beautiful thrush. The bird was seen by Winston and Julia on their trip the churchm, a supposedly unmonitored area in Oceania. The bird sings and takes flight, sending Winston into a mystified stupor. Winston cannot understand why the bird sings, although he sees its beauty. This can be likened to his lack of knowledge and sheer naivete in situations involving freedom. Something which he always sought but never completely grasped.
Chapter 13 of Foster's novel explains the political relevance of many past works of literature. Although 1984 is much more clear in its political agenda than say, Oedipus at Colonus, its symbolism is still very powerful and deserves recognition. Big Brother and Oceania bares uncanny resemblance to Stalin and Soviet Russia, which was quite relevant at the time of 1984's publishing. The Spanish Civil War had also recently taken place, this resembles the struggle between Oceania and its citizens. The World-connections of 1984 cannot be easily ignored.