Lecture Notes: Winston and Julia's Rendezvous in 1984

Key Characters

• Winston
  • Older than Julia.
  • Shares a mutual hatred of the Party.
• Julia
  • 15 years younger than Winston.
  • Attracted to Winston due to shared anti-Party sentiments.

Setting

• Location:
  • Meeting in the shade of the bushes, symbolizing the need for secrecy.
  • Description of the meeting place offers a rare moment of beauty in the otherwise grim world of 1984.
• Privacy:
  • Though secluded, they keep their voices low to avoid detection by the Party.

Themes

• Sexual Attraction as Political Act:
  • The Party seeks to suppress desire in sexual relations.
  • Winston and Julia's attraction is considered rebellious.
  • Their intimate connection symbolizes a small victory against the Party's control.

Symbolism

• The Bird:
  • A bird sings nearby and then flies away, symbolizing the freedom that Winston and Julia yearn for but have not attained.
  • Represents Winston's internal conflict; like the bird, he can't help but rebel (sing), but unlike the bird, he cannot escape (fly away).

Winston's Realization

• Acknowledges that their actions constitute a crime against the Party.
• Feels pessimistic about their future, aware of the potential consequences of their rebellion.