1984 Homework:

Note: Do not use any outside sources to help you with this assignment. To complete this, you

are using the text and your brain – that’s it (but plenty!).

Following up from our debate on Friday, please fill in this chart with at least THREE direct quotes

you would use to defend each side.

Winston truly loves Big Brother at the end Winston does not love Big Brother at the end

(In reference to walking with Julia)

“Uncalled, a memory oated into

“…but suddenly this process of

his mind” (Orwell 371).

trailing along in the cold seemed

pointless and unbearable” (Orwell

370).

“…the nal, indispensable,

healing change had never

“He pushed the picture out of

happened” (Orwell 375).

his mind. It was a false

memory” (Orwell 372).

“He had not stirred from his

seat, but in his mind he was

“He had won the victory over running, swiftly running, he

himself. He loved Big Brother” was with the crowds outside,

(Orwell 376). cheering himself deaf” (Orwell
375).
 Now, after considering the evidence for both sides, answer the following questions: How should
readers interpret 1984’s ending? How does this interpretation help make Orwell’s larger argument or
theme? Write 1-2 paragraphs.

Readers should interpret the ending of 1984 as a warning for the future of society, where people
fall into hating their own personality if they do not conform. At the end of the novel, Winston
makes the claim that he “has won over himself.” This shows how Winston was forced to
become hateful of his original personality, even so far as to see his original attitude as
anathema. Orwell makes a larger argument about how society should not move to hating itself,
as they will become brainwashed by society to work against their own morality.
Track the three main scenes about Winston’s mother in the novel:

Location of passage Paraphrase the memory Key phrases that stand out to
(include pg. you
number here)
Part 1
3
Chapter: ____ Winston
hissister I his mother as at the lives of his mother
Page: ____
3 a saloon on a sinking shipHois watching sister hadboon tohis
sacrifice

as they sink dap.rs up own

them from sight favor

hid

forname butnodimsof
pain
emotion

Part 2 home cream sin

y
Chapter: ____
Winston
is at his swing

Page: 205
____ by his mother He a sissa paceas he is
wants

biggerHo runs awaywithhis hissister

he could nothelp it n sithe
www hadthe rent to it

his sism wasdying

Part 3 sans
dream of himself
in not doing anythingman

Ying hi
the Gowan Connybeing solo loud Hismom
alwayshappy
dreams winhis
Chapter: ____
mom
Page: 347
____
Now, in 1-3 paragraphs, consider the larger significance behind these three memories. Make a
unified argument!

Winston secretly understand that what the party is doing is unjust by

witnessing the su ering of his mother. He is sad to see her and his sister
drowning initially, because it is a metaphor for the oppression of the
party that he can do nothing about. He has dreams of peace with his
mother and memories of regret from stealing the chocolate because he
understands that humans cannot live without su ering (the regret) but he
ultimately desires satisfaction with his family (the Golden Country). This
shows a deeper idea of Winston’s subconscious not being controlled by
the party, because dreams are often in uenced by subconscious
thoughts, memories, and desires.