Journal Questions

Journal 7: “The quickest way of ending a war is to lose it."—George Orwell. In George Orwell's seminal book 1984, he depicts a world of totalitarianism with cruel wars; however, he also creates the protagonist, Winston Smith, who has his independent thinking and fight against this malignant and dilapidated society. George Orwell highlights this society and omnipotent rules by stating that "the quickest way of ending a war is to lose it." Which in this case, the war is the conflict between the independent thinking people like Winston Smith and the Party (Thought Police, Big Brother). Orwell delivers his message that fighting against this invincible society is like passing an everglade with spikes on the surface. Instead of enduring the pain and changing this society, Orwell thinks people should obey the rules and brainwashed by the minister of truth which is the quickest way to relieve their pains. In the end of the book, no matter how hard does Smith fight against Big Brother and the Thought Police, he still brainwashed by the minister of truth. Like in nowadays society for example Cross Country, the quickest way to end and relieve the pain is to give it up (stop running). However, I encourage all of you to keep running.

Journal 11: Get in the mindset of Winston Smith. Make a list of the strangest things you have seen since The Party came into power. If I were Winston Smith, the strangest things I have seen since The Party came into power: writing diary is an infraction in the whole society. we don't have the freedom of speech, don't have the freedom to do what ever we want. Why do we have to follow this non-sense rules and can not express the feeling like love. What is the point of having the Two Minutes Hate and why do people vent if they don't have their own thinking and opinions. The contradiction of all those ministries: the Ministry of Truth, the Ministry of Love, the Ministry of Plenty, and the Ministry of Peace. The Ministry of Truth tells lies and controls the media; the Ministry of Love tortures people; the Ministry of Plenty oversees all the food and supplies; the Ministry of Peace has its military forces. Also the logos in the Ministry of Truth: War is Peace, Freedom is Slavery, Ignorance is Strength. All those Contradictions are the strangest things I have ever seen. Why the room 101—the torture chamber—is the the Ministry of Love. There is no love inside but the world most dreadful torture—fear. Moreover, why is 2+2=5. The society just completely controls our brain with no reason.

Journal 13: During his final encounter with O'Brien, Winston argues that, if all else fails, the inherent nature of the individual, the "spirit of man," is strong enough to undermine a society such as that created by The Party. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Is Winston's belief applicable to the world we live in today? Can you cite example in our own recent history that support or dismiss Winston's belief int he resiliency and righteousness of the human spirit? I disagree with the statement that, if all else fails, the inherent nature of the individual, the "spirit of man," is strong enough to undermine a society such as that created by the Party because even though the inherent nature of the individual is potent, all man is born with pure spirit and thinking (Tabula Rasa); they can influence by experiences and society. In our recent history, for example, the Stanford Prison Experiment, psychologists focus on the struggle between the prisoners and cops, emphasizing the significant of inherent nature of roles when assigning the roles. The experiencers start to adapt what roles they are assigned to and influence by the society and the power of hierarchy. One will unintentionally becomes the role of prisoner and the another one will also unintentionally becomes the role of cop.  Therefore, Winston's argument of "spirit of man" is strong enough to undermine the society like in the book 1984 can not support by the recent history events. "Let us then suppose the mind to be, as we say, white paper, void of all characters, without any ideas:—How comes it to be furnished? Whence comes it by that vast store which the busy and boundless fancy of man has painted on it with an almost endless variety? Whence has it all the materials of reason and knowledge? To this I answer, in one word, from experience." —John Locke