*Assignment Details: Connections
*Read pp. 60-87 (dark)/pp. 69-104 (light)
*Respond (if you want)
*Discussion Tomorrow
*Blogger Bonus: What do we learn about the Proles in this section of the reading?
*Objective: During reading, use strategies to self-monitor comprehension, question to clarify, reflect, & draw conclusions
3 comments:
In this section, we learn that the Proles are 85% of the population of Oceania. Winston believes that if the Proles banded together, they could demolish the Party and Big Brother. Since the Proles outnumber the Party members, this is probably true. The Party does not consider the Proles human. The Proles aren't worth conditioning or training. As the Party states, "Proles and animals are free" (Orwell 72). Proles are allowed to marry and divorce without approval from the party. The Prole districts are where the rocket bombs usually hit. This keeps the Proles angry enough to support the government so they can win the war or at least get back at the enemy. Even though the Proles don't have much, they don't let that get in the way of living their lives to the fullest. They seem much happier than the Party members. There are very few telescreens in the Prole district. Mr. Charrington tells Winston that telescreens are too expensive, so they must have a choice about having one in their homes. The Party leaves the Proles alone for the most part. There are a few Thought Police who arrest any Proles that may be able to cause trouble. As long as the Proles work, breed, and don’t cause trouble, they’re left alone.
Christine B. 7th hour
In this section we learn a lot about the proles. It started off by saying that the proles made up eighty-five percent of the population of Oceania and Winston thought that if there was any hope in destroying the Party, it was up to the proles. We also learn that the word steamer was a nickname which, for some reason, the proles applied to the rocket bombs. Winston said that the proles were nearly always right when they gave a warning about a steamer and that they seemed to possess some kind of instinct which told them several seconds in advance when a rocket was coming. We also found out that the lottery was the one public event to which the proles paid serious attention. Winston thought that the lottery was the only reason why some of the proles continued to live. We learned, but don’t know if it’s true or not, that today forty percent of adult proles were literate and that before the Revolution there were only fifteen percent that were literate.
Michelle B, 5th Hour
We learn that the Proles make up 85% of the population of Oceania. Winston believes that they have enough manpower to overcome the Police. However, the Proles don't feel the need to react to what the Party is doing, because they don't even know the Party is being cruel to them. According to page 72 Orwell says, "The great majority of Proles did not even have telescreens in their homes. Even the civil police interfered with them very little"(72). This shows that the Proles had more freedom than most of the Party members, but don't have the awareness to realize it. Orwell also mentions how the Proles could divorce and promiscuity would go unpunished. It is also noted that the Proles paid serious attention to the lottery and knew when bombs were coming, just seconds in advance. Many Proles did not have telescreens in their homes, because they were to expenisve to afford, which Mr. Charrington tells Winston that they had a choice of one in their homes.
Mark W.
7th hr
(Sorry I forgot to put my name and hour)
Post a Comment