Character Analysis

Section 1: Victor Lo

           The main protagonist, Winston Smith, as well as minor characters like Comrade Syme and Parson have some influence within the first section of the novel.

            Winston Smith is a thin thirty-nine year old man, and a government worker in the Ministry of Truth. He specialized in his interests of news, entertainment, education and media. Throughout my parts of the novel, Smith thinks a lot about his past and writes about it in a diary. He goes through stories from when he was a child and lost his mother, to when he had a wife, named Katharine. It was also revealed that they separated because Katharine was against sex from the influence of the government, while Smith wanted it. These scenes from the novel indicate that Smith is a very reflective person who hates that the government influences his life to such a high degree.  A big indicator of this was when he wrote, “Down with Big Brother,” (Orwell 18) when he used his diary for the first time. After that, he thought, “He was already dead, he reflected. It seemed to him that it was only now, when he had begun to be able to formulate his thoughts, and he had taken the decisive step.” (Orwell 30)

            Another character from my section was Syme. Syme was a comrade of Winston Smith who worked in the Research Department as a philologist. When the reader is introduced to him, he is with Winston Smith on their lunch break. Syme informs a plan to continue the construction of a new language known as Newspeak, which will prevent thought crimes. Syme was also shown as a person who took pride in his work. Parson even stated, while looking at Syme, “Look at him working away in the lunch hour.” (Orwell 59) In addition, Syme was able to immediately detect a lack of enthusiasm by Smith. He said, “You haven’t a real appreciation of Newspeak, Winston.” (Orwell 54) With this, I was immediately put into the thought of Syme, as a very smart and logical person to be given such a role. Smith even indicates in his mind, “Syme will be vaporized. He is too intelligent. He sees too clearly and speaks too plainly. The Party does not like such people.” (Orwell 56)

            A third character within my section was comrade Parson. Parson is Winston Smith’s fellow neighbour and co-worker in the Ministry of Truth. Physically, he is described as a “tubby, middle-sized man with fair hair and a froglike face.” (Orwell 58) In the novel, he meets up with Syme and Smith during their lunch break. He immediately asks for money in an event he agreed to be a part of. This reveals that Parson is a person who sees being involved as very important. He stated, “I’m treasurer for our block. We’re making an all-out effort- going to put on a tremendous show.” (Orwell 59) After that, Parson talks about his kids, and how proud he is them for being on the right road to a Though Police. This is Parson’s primary motivation, and it’s proven when he says,” what I mean to say, shows the right spirit, doesn’t it? Mischievous little beggars they are, both of them, but talk about keenness! All they think about is the Spies, and the war, of course.” (Orwell 60)

Character Analysis by Riya Shah

Winston Smith-

Winston Smith is the protagonist of the story. He works for the Ministry of Truth, but is not a major member. Winston rebels against the Party because of the hate he was towards the control the Party has. Throughout the novel, Winston changes significantly, especially after meeting his lover Julia. After meeting Julia, Winston becomes more rebellious and willing to make a change. It’s arguable that Julia was the main reason Winston went to O’Brien because since divorce is not allowed, Winston dreams that his old wife Katherine will die, and he will be able to marry Julia. His view on women changes too, after he meets Julia. He believes that women are the most passionate about the party, which he hates, and even “wanted to rape… and murder (Julia)” (Orwell 127) before he found out that she was rebelling against the Party in her own way.

Winston believes that the past, before the revolution, is very important. That is revealed when he shows fascination over the “St. Clement’s’” rhyme (Orwell 186). The St. Clement’s rhyme, represents the lost past because of the old painting in Mr. Charrington’s shop.

When Julia and Winston were caught by the Thought Police, Winston can be viewed as a coward because when Julia was being beaten up by the members, he was fully conscious but “dared not turn his head even by a millimetre” (Orwell 232). “He stood dead still. No one had hit him yet” (Orwell 232). This is why it is arguable that Winston may not have loved Julia, and was only using her for sexual pleasure, since it is not allowed to have an affair with another Party member. Because of this, Winston struggles with his feelings towards women.

Julia-

            Julia is Winston’s lover, and they have been having a secret affair for quite a while. She also works in the Ministry of Truth, in the Fiction Department. Like Winston, she rebels against the Party, but she does it for her own pleasure, unlike Winston. She rebels by having sexual intercourse with party members (Orwell 131), even though it is not allowed. Also unlike Winston, Julia likes to live in the present, and be practical. While Winston would be worrying about the future, or digging up the past. Julia can be viewed as a little selfish, and oblivious because when Winston is explaining to Julia about the corruption around them, she believes that if it doesn't involve her, or anybody they know, it shouldn't matter. She says “Then what was there to worry about? People are being killed off all the time, aren't they?” (Orwell 162). Also, “if he persisted in talking about of such subjects, she had a disconcerting habit of falling asleep” (Orwell 163), which also shows her to be self- centered. Julia can also be viewed as naive, or very clever depending on if she really loved Winston, or not. She had barely spoken a few words to him the whole time they knew each other, but she told him she loved him. If she actually lived him, this can be viewed as very foolish because she didn't know that Winston actually hated her at first. Or, she can viewed as clever because she may just wanted to have sexual inter course with him.

Mr. Charrington-

            Mr. Charrington was first portrayed as a meek old man who just wanted to sell his antiques. At first, he shares many of the same characteristics as Winston, like hating the Party, and his love for the past. He also didn’t mind the relationship between Winston and Julia. Often, Winston and Julia would rent the room above his shop, where they can have their affair. However, Mr. Charrington is a member of the Thought Police. When the Thought Police had come to get him, Winston “Wondered whether they had got Mr Charrington” (Orwell 233), obviously before he found out Mr. Charrington’s true identity. Mr. Charrington can be viewed as manipulative because he transformed himself to look like an old man, with white hair, and glasses, when “his hair, which had been almost white, had turned black. Also, he was not wearing his spectacles…. He was still recognisable, but he was not the same person any longer. His body had straightened, and seemed to have grown bigger. His face had undergone only tiny changes that nevertheless worked a complete transformation.” (Orwell 233).    

Character Analysis By: Lesley K.

     The most significant characters in my section of the book are: Katharine, Julia, and the old man.

       Katharine is Winston’s legal wife, many thought behind her face and she seems like she is noble. Even if it is states that she is very noble from the outside, nothing supports her nobly in the inside. “She had a bold, aquiline face, a face that one might have called noble until one discovered that there was as nearly as possible nothing behind it.” (Orwell 69) This states that Katharine is only shown as a shell of nobility, but on the inside, Winston thinks that she is not noble.  According to Winston, his description of Katharine, are that she is a, “Tall, fair haired girl, very straight, with splendid movement.” (Orwell 69) Under these circumstances, he also considers her to be foolish at certain things.

         Their relation has only lasted for fifteen months, along with being separated for more than nine to ten years. The reason they have been separated for so long because they both know Katharine could not achieve their goal to have a baby. “She had two names for it. One was ‘making a baby’, and the other one was ‘our duty to the Party’: yes, she actually used the phase. Quite soon he grew to have feeling of positive dread when the appointed day came around. But luckily no child appeared, and in the end she agreed to give up trying and soon afterward they parted.” (Orwell 70) This quote states that the reasons they have drifted apart because they did not successfully achieved the goal, or in other word complete the duty to the Party. Many think if they have been separated for so long, why they don’t sign an agreement to divorce. The Party that Winston and Katharine joined, did not believe if divorce will be the right choice, so the Party only allowed them to be separated, this allowed both of these characters lost contracts.

                “‘Our duty to the Party.’ ” (Orwell  70) regarding to this quote, means if you are part of the Party or the member of the Party. You have a duty to complete once you’re in a relationship; you need to have a child. On the other hand, throughout this novel the Party was described as it have damaged love between relationships, and loyalty as long as trust in relationships.

               Julia is Winston’s lover or referred to the affair. Beside, she worked at the Ministry of Trust to, within the workplace she in a department called Fiction Department. For her personality, she is more realistic toward many things. Julia is also self- absorbed. to things she does not want to be involved in. She once claimed that she had several affairs with other members of the Party. And Winston was not the first one, that she had an affair with within the members of the group. The first quotation defines the attraction from Julia toward Winston: “‘What could you see to attract you in a man like me?’ ” (Orwell 128) This states that as an original man like Winston, what are the outstanding features that makes Julia so attracted to him. Secondly, the second quote is an answer to the first quote. “‘It was something in your face. I thought I’d take a chance. I’m good at spotting people who don’t belong. As soon as I saw you I knew you were against them. ‘” (Orwell 128) She has the similar thoughts as Winston, who wants to rebel against the Party. Winston already broke a few rules from the party, for example, members of the Party are not allowed to swear. But Winston would swear, and swear aloud. Julia would have rebel the Party upon her own desire. But Winston’s reason to rebel against the party, because of Julia influence, and also for the future generation, including himself as well  It was true that Winston wanted to rebel against the Party.  Rebelling against the Party seems to be a natural event that will occur someday.

        She plans to attack the Party by having relationship among the members of the Party, and later betrays each and every relationship she has created to make her plan successful. “He knelt down before her and took her hands in his...' Of course. Hundreds of times- well scores of times anyway. 'With Party member?” ' Yes, always with Party members'” (Orwell 131) this quote states that she confesses her wrongs to Winston. She notices if the relationship is deep in love, the lovers would ease down their guards toward the relationship. And that is the best moment to attack the Party.

        Although there isn't much information  or in particulate there was no specific information about an old man, but he is an inspiration and wise man to Winston. In fact, he was mentioning multiple of times throughout the novel. That shown he was drunk, Winston accompanied him by sitting there and listening to him. Winston wanted to know more about the Revolution, the old man was a human resource to him.