1984-Winston is Left in the Dark

Facts of 1984

Did you predict Winston would get caught from the beginning?

The government can really destroy you with their best abilities and this is their point of making you follow their rules and propaganda. The party completely destroys Winston. He was broken. The whole point to his torture was to break him and to destroy his sense of self, to make him not only an example to others but to crush his identity and make him happy to be broken. In the end, his joy was the complete destruction of his mind, his ultimate defeat and the victory of the state over the individual himself. One of the party's main goals was to take away Julia and make Winston go against her. He is released to her, but he feels absolutely nothing for her. We see Julia at the very end of the book as well, and can get a picture of her physical appearance, and she mentions things so you can infer what happened to her. "her face was sallower, and there was a long scar, partly hidden by the hair, across her forehead and temple...her waist had grown thicker, and, in a surprising way, had stiffened...her body felt like [a corpse]." It is very sickening that they had the capability to do this. A great number of memories appear in Winston's head. At first he remembers a day from his childhood, before his mother disappeared. It was a memory of joy, and Winston "pushed the picture out of his mind. It was a false memory. He was troubled by false memories occasionally." Or at least that is what they tell him.

Of course, this was a real memory, but he has now been "trained" to believe in only the thoughts that go with the Party's goals, which means forgetting all that made Winston unique because no one can be an individual person. They say no one at the Ministry of Love murdered Winston, even though O'Brien threatened that Winston would eventually be shot. But O'Brien and the Ministry of Love did murder Winston. They murdered who he really was. At the end of the book, Winston isn't someone who can think for himself. He is like a puppet for the party. He is now never going to be the same Winston, now loving Big Brother forever. Winston's self is the part that makes him human and unique, the real Winston that is dead and not coming back. 

It is sad to say all all around the world, parts of 1984 have become and are becoming a reality of todays society. As shown in 1984, there is no loyalty. While torturing Winston, O'Brien says “No one dares trust a wife or a child or a friend... there will be no loyalty except, for loyalty for the party. There will no love, except the love for Big Brother.” Although, we do trust our loved ones, many do have loyalty/trust issues due to lack of qualities some people have because that is how their lives have always been. 

Overall, what did you think about 1984? Do you think it is becoming a sad reality from 1984 turning into today's world?

1984- "How Easily are we Actually Influenced by Propaganda?"

                                                                                                What does propaganda mean to you?
According to dictionary.com :
propaganda- information, ideas, or rumors deliberately spread widely to help or harm a person, group, movement, institution, nation, etc.

So, how easily do you think you are influenced by propaganda?
It could be different for everyone. Some people can be very gullible and give in to what they are being persuaded to believe. On the other hand, some are very stubborn to their beliefs and will not change their mind easily on propaganda. Propaganda can easily persuade you with your emotions. A personal issue is brought to your attention and you are all about it. Well, in 1984 propaganda is used to keep the public controlled, using Big Brother as their major propaganda, and turn them against Goldstien. The main chararter Winston, seems very confused by propaganda in the book. He is very unsure of what to believe. He is one of the only ones who does not just believe in all the things the government tells him and goes along with it. He knows that there is something to it. One morning at work, Winston sees a girl fall and when he helps her up, he gets a note that says "I love you." Feelings like these aren't allowed in Oceania. Winston is unsure to believe the girl because what if she is just a sky seeking on his behavior? Eventually Winston does against the proganda and desides to meet her in Victory Square where they hide from the telescreens and movement/talk of the citizens. She tells him that her name is Julia, and rips off her Junior Anti-Sex League sash. Winston becomes curious as they make their way into the woods, and they make love. The experience he goes through is just like the sexual encounter that Winston had dreamed of. Winston asks Julia if she has done this before, and she exclaims that she has many of times. He tells her that the more men she has been with, the more he loves her because it means that more citizens are commiting crimes also. Winston tells Julia about a walk he took with his ex-wife Katherine, and he thought about pushing her off of a cliff. He says it would not have mattered whether he pushed her or not, because it is impossible to win against the force of government. Along with all of this rebellion in Winston, Julia, and it seems many others against the government, there are still all the ones following the rules. They all are lost in these lies that they are told and influenced by propaganda. So easily, we are influenced if we are "told the truth." We would not even know what the real truth is. 
They are told that
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
WAR IS PEACE
IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH
 So this is what they constantly believe. This is their truth and who knew it wasn't actually the truth? This is their form of double speak. The party is convincing the citizens of Oceania that what they want, is what they already have. Propaganda is brainwash. The citizens of Oceania are brainwashed to think that the party is really there to help them, and to make them happy. “WAR IS PEACE. FREEDOM IS SLAVERY. IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH.” and “Big Brother is Watching You” are both examples of doublespeak. These uses of propaganda prevent rebellion of the citizens of Oceania because they believe that this society is the ideal society. They believe they are protected, and that they could not be happier. Propaganda is the Party’s deadliest weapon of control, but they do not know this because they are so badly brainwashed. In any way, we can so easily be persuaded into propaganda. Sometimes we do not even see it. 

What is propaganda in todays society, and how easily do you think you can be persuaded into it without you even knowing?

1984-How Does "Big Brother" Connect to a Total Government?

Big Brother is Watching You

In George Orwell's book "1984" Big Brother is a fictional character or symbol throughout the book showing complete dictatorship. "BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU" is often quoted. It seems that "big brother" has the abuse of government power. He symbolizes reassurance for most people but in fact the face of big brother is an open threat “one cannot escape his gaze.” 1984 is trying to show that a totaltarian government is dangerous to you. Throughout the book, Orwell gives you the perfect totalitarian society of what life would be like and the most extreme realization of a modern-day government with absolute power. Orwell is trying to show that it was very possible that the happenings in this book would become a reality. That big brother would be watching you. For example, your government(known as big brother) would watch your every move. Sadly to say, this is becoming a reality. In today's society, it is not this harsh. Although, the government still tracks our whereabouts, phone calls, and other personal information. It is a scary reality of what the world is coming to today. Orwell also goes to great lengths to show you how terrifying and controlling big brother could get. Big Brother is the face of the Party, the leader behind the great power in this society. The best part is that they never come to confirm his actual existence yet. Is he real?  Maybe the Party just hired an intimidating looking male to make those posters portraying big brother. Big Brother serves as a God-like figure to the citizens of Oceania. He is a symbol of power and is seen as a knowing figure gazing into the lives of every citizen's life around. Everyone is expected to be loyal to him and follow his commands of control.
Working, eating, drinking, sleeping, talking, thinking, that all are controlled by the state. Any hint of obedience or dislike can be detected by many such as the Thought Police, telescreen, or even your children who will not hesitate to betray you to the authorities. Even language is modified in such ways that you cannot express yourself. Everyone seems to be afraid of big brother considering if you are caught betraying him, you aren't to be found again. No one knows what actually happens, but you no longer come back. There is no real truth in Oceania. The "truth" is what the state says it is. Black is white and 2+2=5, if the state says so. Winston, the protagonist and main character does not fall within this belief of this being the world. He experiences multiple thoughts that could cost him his life and he feels alone in his reason of thinking. He even goes as far as dangerously buying a diary from a shop and starts recording his different opinions and thoughts. This could cost Winston his life, but he doesn't seem to care as he is so confused on how "big brother" works. The novel focuses a lot on how many freedoms we take for granted have been removed, and this is a terrifying thought.

How does 1984 make you realize that we should not take our freedom for granted? Do you think there will ever become a point where "big brother is watching you?"

Will it All Turn Out Okay?

Montana's life turns out better than you'd think. In the end, she got her dream boy and it seems that that is all she really needed considering the way everything else turned out. Montana ended up marrying Bernardo, her high school sweetheart which is everything she hoped for. He was the only thing keeping her sane. Montana ended up staying in the city with her horrible family, although I am not sure why. Personally I do not like the way the book ended because it left a lot of unanswered questions that were confusing. If Montana moved away from her family and the city with Bernardo after high school than her life could have turned out much better. She says at the end of the book "New York City can't possibly continue on without us." Clearly she was too used to the city to actually leave. Maybe she was more of a city girl than I anticipated in the middle of the book. She says "We are the ones keeping it alive, I think. With our cigarettes and dyed hair and cursing and snoop sitting and coffee inhaling, aren't we the very essence of the city? The city and the impact of others changed her very much throughout the book into someone I consider, she isn't. She turned into a whole new person after everything she went through.

On the last page of the book, Montana makes a list of things to be grateful for: Bernardo Edition, which states "1. The way the city looks when you are holding hands with someone versus the way it looks when you are not. That it is beautiful either way. That it changes but it doesn't change. 2. How much can shift when you go from dirty blond to dirty pink.(when she died her hair pink, this is when Bernardo decided to first talk to her, to say her hair looked different but nice) The space between pretty and being loved, and not having to know which you actually are. 3. The things that didn't happen. The words I didn't say The promises I didn't keep. The undone. The things I didn't hold on to. The things I'll never know. The person I didn't become for you." Montana fell so hard in love with Bernardo that just one summer changed her whole life. 

After reading your whole book, how do you feel about it? Did it turn out how you predicted, or was it something unexpected? Did you generally like it, or was it not very interesting for you?

I liked my book overall, but I think there are many things that could have been changed that would have made the book a lot more interesting. I would not recommend this book to someone else though because it did drag on a bit/got boring. The ending was not good either, so overall it does not make it a good enough book to recommend. It did not get very good reviews, but I am glad I read it. 

Life is Short, & the World is Wide

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqRMD8fFg90


Throughout the book, Montana sees that living in the city isn't easy. It comes along with city life, and that life wasn't always the life of the party. It came with unnecessary drama, and problems that she did not need added into her stressful life. The author does a great job incorporating the city in the book explaining things like "the upper east side, the lower east side, Manhattan, the parks, the corner food stands, etc." The city has a lot to offer, but not even that is enough to live up to Montana's wants and needs. As far as she is concerned, she is ready to get out of the city away from her crazy family and move on with her life. The only thing that happened to make things okay in the city, was her city summer love with the mysterious park boy, Bernardo. Montana falls hard for him, and gives this relationship her all. He is always there for her, even though her crazy family issues, and being lost with who she wants to be. He stays loyal to her, and this is very helpful to keep Montana's life steady for some moments. The city seems to make her life more stressful at times because of how rushed things can come along in the city.

After living in the city her whole life, Montana seems like she could use a nice, calm, quiet place to live as she grows older. All she wants is to get away from her family, as all they do is cause her more stress and drama. Montana does not even have the personality/attitude of a city girl. In my personal opinion, a city girl often catches on to the rudeness of others all around. They tend to be snobby and selfish. Montana is anything but this. She is shy, and has so many thoughts about people. She even tends to overthink, but she never once stuck up for herself. She always held in the way she felt. She really should find a better place to live with a lifestyle she can fit into. 

Karissa Ruining Life at its Finest for Montana?

As if Montana's life wasn't hard enough, now her dad was getting to involved. We find out throughout the book that Montana's dad always seemed to have a new girl around. We never caught an eye of his taste, but then we find out when Montana goes to dinner to meet her new possible step mom, she sees it is Karissa, her "best friend". This made her feel insane. How could this be happening? As I got deeper into the book, it reminded me very much of the book "The Secret Year" by Jennifer R. Hubbard. Although they do have their differences, it still reminded me of it. Just like in this book, in The Secret Year, Julia(main character) faces many family problems along with social problems at school. She was a rich girl who got everything she asked of, but this was not the life she wanted. She got caught up trying to find herself in the midst of it all and it ended up leading to bad friendships and relationships just like Montana faces in "Making Pretty." Montana thought that everything was going to turn out good, she was having such a fun summer with Karissa. This was, until one day when she goes to meet dad's new girlfriend, there she was! This was crazy, all the illegal things she has been doing with Karissa. Was her dad going to find this out, or did he even already know? Although, Karissa does not see a problem with her and Montana remaining best friends, I could understand where Montana is coming from.

Karissa says to Montana "What if this was really good for both of us?"
In the book Montana describes the way she feels as "I hate her and love her. I want to yell at her about finding her own family, not stealing mine. That dating my dad is disgusting. That she's a liar and a fake and an awful person who I wish I'd never met."
Then again, she is worried about her. She knows her dad is going to hurt her, and she knows everything about this girl, it was her best friend! At this point of the book, Montana just feels so lost with herself and doesn't know what to do anymore. 

Everything was fun and games, until now when Montana is left feeling more alone and depressed than ever. She feels back stabbed, just like in "The Secret Year" Julia also feels a bit betrayed after what happened. Have you ever felt betrayed by someone you thought was your best friend? If so, how did it make you feel? I know I personally have been and it was not a good feeling. No feeling of betrayal would ever feel good, and that is what these two authors are trying to show in the books. These girls are going through a rough life. Being a teenager is difficult as we face the stress of high school, friends, family, and finding ourselves along the way of it all. 

Along with all of this happening in Montana's life, there is still this boy from the park. Eventually this boy works up the courage to go over and talk to her at the park. Throughout the book, they start getting to know each other more and find out they actually have a lot in common. Montana finds a heady distraction in Bernardo. He’s serious and spontaneous, and he looks at Montana in the way she wants to be seen. For the first time, Montana understands how you can become both lost and found in somebody else. But when that love becomes everything, where does it leave the rest of her imperfect life?

Who Will You Be?

Montana and her sister Arizona are named after the beautiful mountain states that their mother left them for, but they are nothing like a mountain state. Montana is a New York City girl, and she sure is influenced by the city life. Her older sister Arizona on the other hand, is caught up in her college world which always leaves Montana the feeling of wanting to be older than she is. With Arizona gone at school, along with Montana’s best friend who is also a college student, Montana is left in the city alone. Her father is a plastic surgeon which leaves him to always be on the go working. Montana being left alone has really put her in the position to try and find herself. She feels so alone in her high school world, and she dreams of a life with more fun living in the city.

Since all this is going on, Montana has found herself a new friend who she met from her acting class. Karissa is bold, perfectly beautiful, and unafraid to be vulnerable. She is everything that Montana would like to become. Although Montana for sure is not 21, in the first chapter Karissa brings Montana to a bar. Since Karissa is this perfect girl that everyone would like some part of, she sees to always get her way. As she approaches the bouncer she says “This is Montana, she cool?” The bouncer can tell she isn’t old enough, but since Karissa always gets her way, he lets her in anyway. It is summer in the first few chapters of the book, so Montana just wants to have fun and find herself.

In chapter one, Montana explains “Arizona(her sister) gets back tonight. We haven’t spoken in over a month, which seems impossible for someone I used to co-parent a stuffed elephant with. She won’t even be living at home over the summer. Dad’s letting her split a summer sublet with one of her new Colby friends. I hate that the word sister has this shifting, changeable definition that doesn’t mean two people who share a room and a brain and a speech pattern and a body type anymore.” You can tell she misses the old days with her sister. She is trying to ignore those feelings and act like a 21 year old girl that she tries to be at the bar. The city really impacts her life that way because the stereotypical city life is about going out all night, going to bars, and having the life of the party. Along with all of this, Karissa makes life harder on Montana by bringing boys into it. At the bar she exclaims “If I find you a cute college guy to hook up with, would you ditch your other best friends and become mine?” Even though Montana says she will consider it, she knows what she really wants, she is just too afraid to tell Karissa what that is. In reality, there is this guy who she sometimes sees in the park. She says she is pretty sure they have developed a whole relationship based on continuous awkward eye contact over the past 2 months. This is who she really wants, and wants something real with. Montana does have a rough life at this age. She is dealing with the headiness of first love thoughts, the battle lines of family drama, and trying to form her own identity in the midst of craziness that surrounds her. Although her soon to be best friend Karissa and her are alike, they also have too many differences. Sure, they both have rough lives and problems to deal with, but Montana has it so much different. She is still in high school, she still has time to find herself, and by hanging around Karissa this is not impacting her life in a good way. In high school, it is hard for everyone. You are trying to find yourself. There will always be the “high school cliques” and trying to put yourself in the right one, but in a few years what will it matter? In a few years, who do you want to be? To me, I want to be myself. It won’t matter that you were friends with the coolest kids, or had the quarterback boyfriend. That isn’t what life is all about, because everyone is different and we will all go our own places. So who will you be throughout high school, and will you let what others think of you impact the way you live your life? I know I won’t. You have to believe in yourself, and live for what you want.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjZ0KbJcav0

Above is a link to a video about finding yourself, and believing in who you will become.