1984 Blog 3

   Prior to the section assigned for this blog, the reader has been familiarizing themselves solely on the character Winston. However, in pages 112-114, through the use of dialogue, setting, and specific details, character Julia and her relationship with Winston are revealed and developed.

   Firstly, the secretive and strategic manner that Julia and Winston interact adds both plot development and foreshadowing.. On page 112 both Winston and Julia are individually using their intuition and knowledge of telescreens and the Thought Police to develop a strategy to interact. In the instance where Winston hopes “that (Julia) would take the hint” in the lunchroom, he relies on her knowledge of being able to comprehend his nonverbal communication and, “sure enough” she used her gut feeling to demonstrate that their careful and subtle communication (thus far) pays off. Every aspect of their interaction has to be carefully considered, planned, and carried out which adds to the development of their seemingly machinelike relationship.  When Winston and Julia risk talking in the lunch room, they have to be especially cautious to escape being discovered by the Thought Police. So cautious actually, that “he didn’t look at her.”  Being limited on time, with “perhaps a minute in which to act” they spoke, “neither looking up (from their meal).” Caution and strategy are both ubiquitous with their relationship.

    The places that Winston and Julia choose to interact enhance the way the reader perceives their relationship. Within the section, the two places of communication are the lunch room and “Victory Square.” The two settings are both similar and dissimilar. Although both of the locations are public and contain telescreens, it is best for the pair to meet in the lunch room when they are remotely alone, whereas in Victory Square, interaction necessitates, “a lot of people.” The locations need to be public enough to escape suspicion of attempting to be alone, but also far enough away or loud enough to escape the hearing range of any and all telescreens. Although they have avoided getting noticed up to this point, the abundance of telescreens and other Party listening devices foreshadows the inevitable: getting caught and being vaporized.

   In conclusion the manner in which Winston and Julia communicate in conjunction with the locations they choose to communicate develop the storyline and demonstrate foreshadowing.