1984 Blog #7

Orwell spends a great deal of time discussing Winston’s dreams. Discuss and analyze the dream sequence in Chapter 8. What does this dream suggest about Winston’s psychological state? Why might this dream be important to an understanding of Winston’s character? To the book as a whole?

Throughout the book, Winston has definitely had quite a few dreams. But, in this recent chapters, he dreams and recalls a memory about his mother as well as his younger sister. In the back of his mind, Winston always thought that he was the one that murdered his mother. The dream reminds him of how he acted when he was a child. He was not well mannered and very selfish. He was very cruel and harsh to his mother and sister when there was no reason to be. He would throw temper tantrums and scream at his mother and wouldn't stop until he got everything he wanted. There was a time when the family was low on food because they were hiding from air raids and Winston demanded for some chocolate. So, being the selfish brat that he was, he stole the chocolate from his mother and sister and ran away. So, this creates a clear picture that Winston was a crappy child. But, it also tells us that he was acting on basic human instincts because he wasn't scared of the Party at that time. He could just be a child. As people become older, the Party takes away that part of human behavior because it could be a treat to the progression of the Party. So, the Party forces a facade onto Winston as well as many people that feel strong emotions. Which is one of the reasons why Winston favors the proles because they have the opportunity to express those feelings and be human beings. Winston feels like those in within the confines of the Party are not truly living, or living to their potential as the proles are. But, basically, Orwell is trying to explain to us his feelings about children and how they never really change even though external forces like the party really would like them to.