Book 1 Chapter 2 - Child Spies
Book 1 Chapter 2 - Child Spies
"With those children, he thought, that wretched woman must lead a life of terror. Another year, two years, and they would be watching her night and day for symptoms of orthodoxy. Nearly all children nowadays were horrible. What was worst of all was that by means of such organizations as the Spies they were systematically turned into ungovernable little savages, and yet this produced in them no tendency whatever to rebel against the discipline of the Party. On the contrary, they adored the Party and everything connected with it...it was all a sort of glorious game to them...It was almost normal for people over thirty to be frightened of their own children." (page 24)
In this passage, Winston is assisting Mrs. Parsons when her children come out. They begin attacking him by calling him a traitor or saying he was guilty of a thought crime. The children pointed makeshift weapons at Winston and the boy even threw objects with a catapult after he left. Children adored everything Big Brother stands for and work as spies. They report conversations they have overheard or the suspicious actions of others. The government labels them as child heroes and reward them for a job well done. Children even tell on their own parents, which leads to the vaporization of their parents. Children have become yet another way for Big Brother to keep an eye on its citizens. Parents become afraid to say the wrong thing in case their child overhears. They also know that their children are essentially products of the government. In their eyes, the government can do no wrong because Big Brother is perfect. On the other side, their parents are flawed and need Big Brother to guide them. To them, Big Brother is amusing and influences them greatly, like an actual older brother would. They begin to resemble a cult in the way that they mold their lifestyles to reflect the ideals of whoever is their influence.
I like how you pointed out that the parents of these children see their children as products of the government because essentially the government is raising them and ingraining this way of thinking, while their parents are afraid of their children. It is ironic how typically the majority of children see their parents as one of their first role models, however, these children are waiting for their parents to say the wrong thing to tell the government and have their parents vaporized. I also very much agree with your point of how this situation resembles a cult because these children praise Big Brother and will do anything even incriminate their parents to follow the ideals of Big Brother. This makes me wonder about the future like if when these children are parents will they tell on their children? How will they feel when their own children are trained to tell on them?
ReplyDeleteI think that the government has so much surveillance over the people and now even children are there to watch over their parents and what they say and I think people now have more fear to say what they think. I agree with the point that parents become more afraid of saying the wrong thing because they fear that the children are going to hear and go and tell the government, which will cause their vaporization. I also think that since the government is rewarding children for the work they do they will continue to watch and hear what their parents say.
ReplyDeleteThe point that you made between Big Brother and the children were a great point of view. I think that you are totally right when you said that kids are like little tiny spies who blabber out what ever they hear, and that they look up to "Big Brother" as if "Big Brother" were really their older brother. But when they are older I wonder what they will do when their children act this way?
ReplyDeleteI agree with your reflection of this quote completely as I also picked a similar quote. Seeing the connection of these children glorifying and idolizing Big Brother to the point of turning in their parents because they "also need to be guided by Big Brother" is such a great connection because these kids- or as Winston says 'savages'- do not care that they are turning in their parents because they have become such products of the Party that they do not see it as doing something wrong by turning in family, rather they think they are doing the right thing because Big Brother would like what they are doing. Also connecting the behavior of these children towards the Party as 'cult' like is great, I did not manage to make this connection but it is completely true. They are so brainwashed and brainlessly follow the Party/ Big Brother and do anything that is asked of them screams out cult. I think your reflection on this was great!
ReplyDeleteIt was nice that you gave a little background information on the Parsons children. You completely understand what is going on and your remarks are interesting. You mention how the children who are so dedicated are like in a "cult". That is an interesting way to look at the situation. I also noticed how you mention different perspectives on both children and parents. This allows a better analysis. This passage is an intersting one, it's amazing how greatly influenced the children of Oceania are. If they are this dedicated to the Party, imagine how they are as adults!
ReplyDeleteI liked how you brought up the children also telling on their parents, and the parents being afraid of saying the wrong things. For the parents to know even their own children are willing to go against them, it makes it quite difficult to be able to trust them when saying the wrong things. I really liked how you gave background on the children thinking Big Brother is perfect, and how they need Big Brother for guidance.
ReplyDeleteThe way you explained the influence on the children by Big Brother and how the children act because of the influence was good. I like how you compared the children and Big Brother to a cult because I can understand the situations are similar. I think if you included some of your own relations to the passage or a way to make a connection with the passage and you or readers would make this better. This doesn't relate to what you've written, but if you can make the text size of the quote a bit bigger that would be great. After clicking read more, the text size of the quote is super small, so if you could fix that, it would be easier to read.
ReplyDeleteThe way you explain how the children are effected by Big Brother makes it easier for me to understand. By adding in that it is similar to how a big brother would influence a sibling, relates to me because I have older siblings. These similar draws it all in for me to start to truly understand what is going on in the quote. I also like how you made the comparison to a cult because the similar are clear. This helps me see more of the was the children are acting in a clear and concise way.
ReplyDeleteGreat analysis of how big brother influences the innocent children who know no better than to follow rules and not commit crimes. Big brother actually becomes an older brother to the young children as they need someone to guide them as you said. Your analysis on the so-called cult when the kids mold their lives to that of Big Brother was also good.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate how you chose a quote that really brings attention to the children being used as tools for propaganda for the party. Your response shows that you are really thinking about the quote which I admire!! You comparing the children to something like a 'cult' was a great way to put it. I never thought of that. They really do resemble a cult to an extent so thank you for the comparison!
ReplyDelete