Choices

As Canadians we have a charter of rights and freedoms which enables us to make our own choices. But in George Orwell's 1984 the most important choices are already made, or not allowed to be made at all. The Party basically controls the people’s choices (with maybe the exception of the Proles). The Party decides who you hate (Goldstein), who you love (big brother), your occupation, and most importantly what is right and wrong. According to the Party rewriting history is ok, but remembering it is against the law. Reading Party written books are fine but not encouraged while writing a diary is extremely dangerous. The Party has to resort to making crazy laws and customs in order to stop one thing...critical thinking. If people remain ignorant the Party is free to do what ever they want. But if the people start to think critically then the Party is in trouble. Hence "Ignorance is Strength".

Instead of logically thinking though problems the people are 'trained' or 'brainwashed' into doing what the Party wants them to do. While the people might think that they are free to make their own choices the Party is secretly persuading the people. When a person does develop the critical thinking skills it is called thought crime and is punishable. In the 1984 society thinking is not totally required. People are allowed to be creative but not logical.

I don’t think I could ever survive in a society like the one in 1984. Even though I do have a ‘routine of thought’ I enjoy thinking deeply about thinks I’ve experienced. Canada may be similar in ways to 1984 because of our propaganda, but the propaganda doesn’t rule our life nor will it ‘vaporize’ us.

Freedom

As I read George Orwell's 1984 I began to realize how the people in their society lack the basic freedoms that we have. People all across our country rejoice in the freedom of speech, association, and conscience. Yet the people in 1984 are silent thoughtless individuals. The people are afraid to speak their mind because of the risk of committing thought crime and they aren't willing to share their opinions or ideas with anybody because of the risk of that person revealing their ideas to the thought police. What groups they do support are government run organizations which promote chastity and spying. These groups may fulfill one's social requirements but they don't give a person the chance to think critically. This idea brings me to believe that the 1984 people have no conscience. The dictionary defines conscience as, "The awareness of a moral or ethical aspect to one's conduct together with the urge to prefer right over wrong," and both of these qualities the 1984 people are not required to posses. Those individuals who do posses these abilities are either not educated enough to use them or are too scared to show that they have them. The people who do show it are captured and tortured until they lose the ability. In our society most are encouraged to develop morals and ethics in order to run the country successfully and be able to fit into society. We punish those who don't have morals and ethics and commit senseless acts with jail time or penalties. 1984 represents in some way the opposite of what society looks like today, yet their society still is successful.

Betrayal

Near the end of George Orwell's 1984 Winstin betrays Julia. He does this by forfeiting her life for his, because of his intense fear of rats. When he says "Do it to Julia! Do it to Julia! Not me! Julia! I don't care what you do to her.Tear her face off, strip her to the bones. Not me! Julia! Not me!" he means it but also regrets it. He betrays her confidence and loyalty. Later in the story Julia and Winstin meet at chance and while talking they both reveal that they have betrayed each other. They have changed and it almost seems like they accept the fact that they have betrayed and been betrayed and are fine with that.
The dictionary lists betrayal as many things, but only two apply to their situation; To be false or disloyal to, and To divulge in a breach of confidence. Winstin told O'Brien all he knew about Julia and was willing to sacrifice her for his own life. This proves my theory that they never truly loved one another, but benefited from each others company. They were more co-workers striving to accomplish one task then lovers.
Betrayal is an intense emotion. It separates people with guilt, shame, remorse, hurt and it makes it difficult to continue like betrayal never occurred. Even though Julia and Winstin had a emotional and physical relationship, they felt like different people after they had betrayed their friend. If either had restrained and never betrayed i think that they wouldn't have been released but still they would have loved each other. Because that is the key to the Party's success, eliminate the victims loved ones by separating them emotionally through betrayal.