1984 pages 157 - 179 week 5

"At last they were face to face, and it seemed that his only impulse was to run away." The 'they' being spoken of here is Winston and O'Brien. The day finally came that O'Brien approached Winston. He brings up the topic of Winston's Newspeak skills and how he writes it very elegantly. O'Brien then invites Winston into his office where he actually gives directions to his house to pick up a Newspeak dictionary. The entire time, Winston is incredibly nervous about what it could possibly mean. As of this point the reader does not know that O'Brien is indeed a member of the Brotherhood and his motives are still questionable. However, from the feelings Winston gives off, it's easy to draw a conclusion that O'Brien is indeed a good man.

In the next section, Winston wakes up with tears in his eyes from a dream he's had. This time, his dream is much more specific and the reader gets to learn about his past. In the period of Winston's dream, the Revolution is just starting. It is a time prior to food rations and total control. It is revealed that Winston's father left at a young age and that his mother, though she fulfilled her duties, became quite depressed. However, Winston was at an age where he was selfish and ignorant to the feelings of others around him. I partly understand young Winston's point of view because he was at a naive age and had grown up with an okay life prior to the war. However, I also agree with Julia and think him to be a "swine" for the way he behaved with his mother and how he treated his sister.

Winston recalls how his mother would hold his sister and "give her love because that's all she had to give" and this sparks an epiphany within Winston. The main lesson Winston, as well as the reader, learns is that the government may be able to control what the Party members do, but the government cannot control their thoughts. I thought this was a very powerful "A-ha" moment that Winston had. I've been thinking the same thought through the entire book and I'm glad Winston finally realized the true power of the party.

I feel that one of the most significant parts of this epiphany is when Winston actually breaks through to Julia. She's beginning to follow him on another level than the one she's been taught by the party. Her accepting the fact that the party can never make her believe their skewed views is almost touching. At the same time, though, I still don't buy that she's been completely converted to Winston's views.

In the next section, we find Winston and Julia at O'Brien's house. When they first enter the house , O'Brien acts oddly disinterested in them, but then the telescreen goes off. As of this moment, Winston doesn't even know what to say. Still, nothing has been confirmed to him that O'brien is a Brotherhood member. The tension and fright of this awkward silence made me really feel the nervousness that Winston was going through. Finally Winston just put everything out in the open about who he thought O'Brien truly was. It turns out that Winston has been right all along and that he was actually accosted for the purpose of joining the Brotherhood.

From there, O'Brien goes into an entire list of questions - some expected some morbid. For example: "If, for example, it would somehow serve our interests to throw sulphuric acid in a child's face - are you prepared to do that?" Winston's reply: "Yes." I suppose it just shows the desperation that Winston has been facing all these years for a way out of the Party life.

Another question posed to Winston is if he and Julia would be able to seperate from each other if the conditions imposed. Julia quickly answers no which I find kind of intriguing. She's been with numerous men prior to Winston, so it almost shocked me to find out she loved him that much - especially considering that she falls asleep whenever Winston talks about something that interests him. What I find most interesting about this, though, is that I belive Winston would have answered yes to the question. I think he is so desperate to be apart of the Brotherhood that he would not say anything which would possibly risk not getting in.

Following the previous question, O'Brien explains that some Brotherhood members actually end up having to undergo a reconstructive surgery for protection and survival. They then start over a new life with their appearance and voice unrecognizeable. One thought popped into my head (and I realize you probably think I'm crazy already) is that maybe Julia is actually Katherine. The way he was bringing Katherine up around Julia followed by this surgery revelation actually does lead me to wonder if Julia is really Katherine with a new outlook on life...

O'Brien then goes on to tell what the Brotherhood is all about. Obviously it is extremely secretive, but it is also untraceable. Each member only knows of 3 or 4 other members so it can never be diminished. It is also revealed that Goldstein is a real man who is alive and is the leader of the Brotherhood. It only adds to the irony of "Big Brother is Watching You." First off, the Party knows that Big Brother does exist. Second, they use it as negative propaganda when really they're the ones watching people, not Big Brother.

After a couple glasses of wine, which Winston doesn't even enjoy, (because the party's heavy gin is the only thing which will put him in a haze) Winston leaves the house. O'Brien turns on the telescreen and everything goes back to normal. What I wonder is if, other than reading the Brotherhood book, Winston will actually be apart of something bigger. How much will being in the Brotherhood change his life if he has to keep it a secret and continue to life among the Party members? Never-the-less, he still has a new perspective on his life which will continue to give him hope as he goes on with his life.