Please answer the following response question by commenting on this post. You may comment by clicking the link where it says the number of comments (for example: 0 comments) immediately underneath the relevant post.
Aldous Huxley's Brave New World and George Orwell's 1984 are often compared as two-sides of the same coin--they both represent future 'utopias' run by totalitarian governments, with many of the things we take for granted in today's world absent, outlawed, banned, or otherwise taboo. Both texts treat sexuality as a tool to control society: to encourage frivolity and disconnection in Brave New World or for the purposes of basic procreation and nothing else in 1984.
Please answer the following several questions in one combined paragraph-length response. What is the effect of sexual repression on Winston? Use specific examples, describing his relationship with Katherine and also Julia. How is sexual repression administered by society? Are there laws about it? What does this do to Winston's self-esteem? Describe what Winston would find to be the "norm" of his society.
Winston does not understand why physical affection is considered dirty and why it has to be suppressed. But is seems natural to him, so he just goes with it. However, he is not satisfied with what the Party imposes. The reason why he and Katherine separated was mostly sex. She had this strong disgust to sex inbuilt in her mind. Every time Winston tried to hug and kiss her she was cold like a stone. It seemed like she was pushing him away without actual physical involvement. It was her “duty to the Party”. She even had it on her schedule. Once a week they were trying to “make a baby”. But it didn`t work. Winston recalls his experience with the prostitute. He has the natural physical desire he can`t suppress. Even though the woman was quite old and barely attractive, he didn`t lose his sexual desire for her. This episode where Winston describes the prostitute shows that his self-esteem drops drastically.
ReplyDeleteSexual intercourse is considered a “slightly disgusting minor operation”. “The sexual act, successfully performed, was rebellion. Desire was thoughtcrime.” People couldn`t even get married without the permission given by the Party. If there was some kind of sexual affection between two people they were not allowed to get married. Winston couldn`t believe that all the women are so disgusted by sex. He thinks that there must be some exceptions. Winston wants to break the wall of virtue, even if it was once in his life. He doesn`t want sex to be viewed as a crime. This sexual repression arises the rebellion spirit in him. He wants proles to demolish the Party, he wants to “shake” them somehow, “wake them up”.
Egberto ZAnon
ReplyDeleteI agree with tatiana!