Winston and Julia have different outlooks on life that definitely shapes how their relationship works. Winston is that one friend who wants to run the XC workout and actually improve while Julia wants to grab some bread from Jimmy John's first.
Back to 1984, both agree that the party's regime is bad, but Julia is more about those small acts of rebellion than bringing the whole system down, and is bored by Winston's jabberings about the book. I'm not even sure she wants to actually instill change. Winston, though, is totally ready to just frick everything up, and perhaps understood his relation with Julia was something that would have to end.
Their relationship seems quite flawed because of this disconnect in their motives and goals. Julia is much more of a realist, while Winston is living in his head. In your XC metaphor, I'm definitely a Julia - bread is the #1 priority at all times.
ReplyDeleteWinston definitely wants to carry sticks from the stick place to build a house on top of the hill at the Arb. Julia's more the kind of person that runs mile repeats at easy run pace.
ReplyDeleteOk but from personal experience, is being Winston any more fulfilling than Julia? Seems like pain that I'd rather not have. Orwell writes her as such a sad and flat character but honestly I think she's way more interesting than stupid Winston
DeleteI agree, Alice. Winston's ideals are admirable, but also seemingly impossible to achieve. He will never feel fulfilled unless he is able to achieve this goal. Meanwhile, Julia is able to feel satisfied with just her personal rebellion (which makes her a much more believable character in my opinion).
DeleteCan't we do both? Can't we do the XC workout and then get bread? But yes, I think your analogy is apt. Winston is trying to look at the big-picture (though maybe not all that effectively) while Julia's in it for the now.
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