(Book 3: Chapters 1-3): Integrated Allegiance
Quote:
"'Down with Big Brother!’ Yes, I said that! Said it over and over again, it seems. Between you and me, old man, I’m glad they got me before it went any further. Do you know what I’m going to say to them when I go up before the tribunal? ‘Thank you,’ I’m going to say, ‘thank you for saving me before it was too late.'"
"Who denounced you?" said Winston.
"It was my little daughter," said Parsons with a sort of doleful pride. "She listened at the keyhole. Heard what I was saying, and nipped off to the patrols the very next day. Pretty smart for a nipper of seven, eh? I don’t bear her any grudge for it. In fact I’m proud of her. It shows I brought her up in the right spirit, anyway." (Page 233)
What I Have to Say:
I chose this quote because it has a few specific aspects that I find very interesting. Here, we get to see just how much the (ignorant) citizens of Oceania are dedicated to the Party, the attitude of the new generation, and a hint of the Party's bigger goals.
Winston has feared the very same thing since the beginning of novel, even mentioning once that he is scared one day he make say something incriminating in his sleep, yet Parsons claims he is glad to have been caught for his supposed thoughtcrime. Parsons has clearly been a very devoted character; he participates happily in Two Minutes Hate, does his job with a smile, spends time at the community centers, and loves his children for growing up with so much love for Big Brother. Despite the fact that he does not remember his "crime" at all and tells Winston that he thought he was completely devoted, he does not question that he deserves to have been brought to the Ministry of Love. This shows that he has complete faith in the Party to be fair and all-knowing. His thankfulness is a very clear example of not even necessarily his devotion but just how much he lies on the Party to mold his life for him. I don't think it's intentional either. He seems to genuinely believe that the Party knows what is best for him, including what he should think, what he should do, and what he should feel. It doesn't sound like he wants to thank the tribunal because he feels that is what he is meant to do, but because he actually feels he has something to forgive. While I am sure there are plenty of people like Winston who survive for years pretending to be so orthodox, I am certain there are more just like Parsons who are orthodox down to the core.
We can see clearly what O'Brien talks about during some of the interrogations in Parson's daughter. O'Brien mentions that they are growing a new reality and a new society based purely on hate and fear. While Parsons is completely devoted, he doesn't seem to have that affinity for hatred that the Party wants so badly to really reinforce their order of things. His children, however, and in this case, his daughter, are raised with hatred for the enemy. I am under the impression that Parsons didn't even say those things in his sleep, but rather his daughter lied for either praise or because she has been raised to feel no one can be trusted. With an entire generation with no loyalty to anyone but Big Brother and so willingly to lie to maintain order, it seems O'Brien is very correct in saying that the future is only "stronger".
Lastly, I have no idea if any of this is true, but it seems to me that the Party has a larger plan in place. I am sure whoever interrogates Parsons will be able to see that he was likely never once committed thoughtcrime and will probably be able to tell that whatever his daughter said was a lie. I don't think that this will stop them from torturing him. This comes from my idea that the Party doesn't just want full allegiance to Big Brother, they want the sincere hatred and rigidity in their people. They will take people and still break them until they are empty inside just as O'Brien explains Winston will become. If my idea is correct, I guess Winston is correct in saying that everyone gets taken eventually by the Thought Police. It does, however, open up the question of whether vaporization really does mean death, especially because O'Brien states the Party is not satisfied with simply punishing or ridding themselves of the enemy; they want repentance and reform.
"'Down with Big Brother!’ Yes, I said that! Said it over and over again, it seems. Between you and me, old man, I’m glad they got me before it went any further. Do you know what I’m going to say to them when I go up before the tribunal? ‘Thank you,’ I’m going to say, ‘thank you for saving me before it was too late.'"
"Who denounced you?" said Winston.
"It was my little daughter," said Parsons with a sort of doleful pride. "She listened at the keyhole. Heard what I was saying, and nipped off to the patrols the very next day. Pretty smart for a nipper of seven, eh? I don’t bear her any grudge for it. In fact I’m proud of her. It shows I brought her up in the right spirit, anyway." (Page 233)
What I Have to Say:
I chose this quote because it has a few specific aspects that I find very interesting. Here, we get to see just how much the (ignorant) citizens of Oceania are dedicated to the Party, the attitude of the new generation, and a hint of the Party's bigger goals.
Winston has feared the very same thing since the beginning of novel, even mentioning once that he is scared one day he make say something incriminating in his sleep, yet Parsons claims he is glad to have been caught for his supposed thoughtcrime. Parsons has clearly been a very devoted character; he participates happily in Two Minutes Hate, does his job with a smile, spends time at the community centers, and loves his children for growing up with so much love for Big Brother. Despite the fact that he does not remember his "crime" at all and tells Winston that he thought he was completely devoted, he does not question that he deserves to have been brought to the Ministry of Love. This shows that he has complete faith in the Party to be fair and all-knowing. His thankfulness is a very clear example of not even necessarily his devotion but just how much he lies on the Party to mold his life for him. I don't think it's intentional either. He seems to genuinely believe that the Party knows what is best for him, including what he should think, what he should do, and what he should feel. It doesn't sound like he wants to thank the tribunal because he feels that is what he is meant to do, but because he actually feels he has something to forgive. While I am sure there are plenty of people like Winston who survive for years pretending to be so orthodox, I am certain there are more just like Parsons who are orthodox down to the core.
We can see clearly what O'Brien talks about during some of the interrogations in Parson's daughter. O'Brien mentions that they are growing a new reality and a new society based purely on hate and fear. While Parsons is completely devoted, he doesn't seem to have that affinity for hatred that the Party wants so badly to really reinforce their order of things. His children, however, and in this case, his daughter, are raised with hatred for the enemy. I am under the impression that Parsons didn't even say those things in his sleep, but rather his daughter lied for either praise or because she has been raised to feel no one can be trusted. With an entire generation with no loyalty to anyone but Big Brother and so willingly to lie to maintain order, it seems O'Brien is very correct in saying that the future is only "stronger".
Lastly, I have no idea if any of this is true, but it seems to me that the Party has a larger plan in place. I am sure whoever interrogates Parsons will be able to see that he was likely never once committed thoughtcrime and will probably be able to tell that whatever his daughter said was a lie. I don't think that this will stop them from torturing him. This comes from my idea that the Party doesn't just want full allegiance to Big Brother, they want the sincere hatred and rigidity in their people. They will take people and still break them until they are empty inside just as O'Brien explains Winston will become. If my idea is correct, I guess Winston is correct in saying that everyone gets taken eventually by the Thought Police. It does, however, open up the question of whether vaporization really does mean death, especially because O'Brien states the Party is not satisfied with simply punishing or ridding themselves of the enemy; they want repentance and reform.
This book just gets more and more interesting and you have pointed out something that just completely baffles me. Its one thing to know that junior spies are a thing but its a whole other story to be the parent of one and be accused by one of them. You stated that there is a chance that Mr. Parsons didn't even say anything that can criminalize him. His daughter might have made it up just because she is so devout to the party and has been raised with hatred. The party is more concerned with the future generation of citizens rather than the current generation. It feels that the current generation, although are loyal, don't have the hatred that the party wants. The hatred that the future generation will develop and adopt. On interesting thing that I realized when I was reading you opinion was that Winston and people like him are free in their core. People like Mr. Parsons are loyal to the core. And the junior spies like Mr. Parsons daughter are loyal and hate-filled to the core. Good choice of quote and a very well thought out response. Great job.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Bemi that the book gets more and more interesting as it goes on. We're really getting to the meat of how the party is run and maintained. The absolute blind devotion of its fanatical followers is essential to the extended longevity of the ongoing rule of the current higher-ups within the structure of the Party. (I'm proud of that sentence)... And the very fact that there is no way to prove ones innocence means that anyone declared guilty of a crime may truly have been innocent. Only their own honesty, which is shaky at best, betrays the truth of the situation.
ReplyDeleteI really like the quote you chose to explain. I agree that this quote shows the ignorance of the party followers. Personally, I think Parson, and everyone who follows the party is a little crazy. I feel like maybe inside somewhere Parson knows that the party is wrong. That might explain the reason he went against the party in his sleep but consciously he decides to be ignorant. The last paragraph you wrote is very interesting. Since we first starting reading the book the idea of vaporizing was interesting to me because I didn't understand exactly what would happen to the person. We assumed it would mean death but I think like you pointed out that it may be something else. Great JOb.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with how Mr. Parson's daughter may have lied about him saying incriminating things. I think it is just the effect of kids being brainwashed into thinking that they will have to turn in their parents if they even seem the slightest bit out of line. The last paragraph is extremely thought provoking. I think the party knows killing its citizens would mean less worshipers for them so forcing them to conform is how they are able to keep control.
ReplyDeleteThe people are so dedicated to the party that not even family ties will not block anyone from turning in a family member. I wonder how the child told the thought police about Mr. Parson. Does someone have to bring evidence with them to prove if they are rebelling are plotting a conspiracy? Maybe they'll just arrest people and ask questions later. It's kind of sad knowing you really can't trust anyone in Oceania.
ReplyDelete