Julia

One of the most polarizing characters in 1984, by George Orwell, is Julia. She is first introduced as a mysterious character that follows Winston around: “The girl with dark hair was sitting immediately behind” (11). Soon after this, Julia makes contact with Winston and convinces him to come meet her in private so that they can make love. Winston has very complicated feelings towards Julia, that seem to shift with relation to his hatred of the party. Winston confronts Julia about how many times she’s had sex before and responds: “His heart leapt. Scores of times she had done it; he wished it had been hundreds--thousands. Anything that hinted at corruption always filled him with a wild hope” (125). This is a weird reaction to have about a lover. In a very animalistic sense, humans want to feel as if their sexual interactions are unique and special, especially since these two claim to be in love. This passage struck me as odd because Winston seems to enjoy the act of defiance more than the sense of intimacy.

It seems as if Winstons emotions slowly change as he spends more time with Julia and starts to value her personality. Eventually they meet up again out at an abandoned church and, “The sat talking for hours on the dusty…” (129). As Julia and Winston start to interact more, they enjoy each others company. At this point I am still confused as to whether or not Winston likes her because she is dangerous and forbidden, or because they connect on another level.

Winston and Julia are offered a chance to become a part of the Brotherhood later in the book. O’Brien asks them a series of questions to gauge their seriousness in the organization. He asks, “‘You are prepared, the two of you, to separate and never see one another again?’...’No.’ he said finally” (173). This is a big revelation in Winston’s emotion with regards to Julia. He has finally gotten access to a strong rebellion movement that he doesn’t need Julia for. Although it takes much deliberation, he agrees that his desire to be with Julia trumps his dedication to The Brotherhood.

Finally, Winston is captured at the end of the book and his faith in Julia is put to the final test. After a long period of torcher, he is asked a few questions by O’Brien. “‘Can you think of a single degradation that has not happened to you?’...’I have not betrayed Julia’” (273). Not twenty pages later, Winston finally gives Julia up as he is being tortured, “Do it to Julia! Not me! Julia! I don’t care what you do to her. Tear her face off, strip her to the bones. Not me! Julia! Not me!” (286). I am hesitant to say that Winston’s love for Julia is symbolic of something more than just love. It does heavily coincide with his philosophy with respect to truth though. Before he meets Julia, he only disagrees with the party in his mind and his journal. As they fall in love, he starts to passionately disagree with and disobey the Party. He essentially gives up Julia when he is tortured into becoming an obedient member of the party. This reinforces my thought that he is in love with Julia because she is forbidden, not because he enjoys her personality.