Love is probably the greatest emotion that two people can experience. The love that the two main characters in the novel Nineteen Eighty-Four shared for each other differs from what society categorizes as "normal". Winston and Julia had different attitudes toward life, which made them very different. These contradictions however, were what brought the couple together in such a loving way. Winston was a typical man in Oceania that worked every day and was divorced. Julia, on the other hand, was not a typical woman in Oceania. She had the appearance of an average woman. However, she possessed many rebellious thoughts and performed many rebellious activities. Their differences brought the couple together. However, their similarities allowed the couple to continue their love affair.
George Orwell carefully chose the name Julia. It immediately suggests Juliet, the Shakespearean character whose name has become connected with romantic love. This is brought out in the novel, "Winston woke up with the word 'Shakespeare’ on his lips". Julia was a 26-year-old citizen of Oceania who worked in a special department of the Ministry of Truth which produced cheap pornography for the proles. Julia was a bold looking girl with thick dark hair and a freckled face. From her appearance she was a typical woman, however her actions were very distinctive. Her rebellious actions included "scores of illegal love affairs" with men, mainly party members. Julia was basically a simple woman who loved her man and used sex for fun and for rebellion. She was willing to accept the overnight change in Oceania?s history. She did not trouble herself over things she had not interest in. If Big Brother were to say that 2 + 2 = 5, she would not have any problem with it.
The name Winston Smith was also very carefully chosen. It shows both the universality and the uniqueness of the character. "Smith" is the most common English surname in the world, while "Winston", a much rarer common name, suggests Winston Churchill, who was perhaps the most well-known Englishman at the time of the novel's composition. Winston Smith was born before the Second World War, which made him about 39 years old. He worked in the Record Department of the Ministry of Truth. Winston was married to Katherine for about fifteen months before they separated. The reason for their separation was mainly due to the Party. Katherine was a typical woman who had not a thought in her head that was not a slogan. Winston had nicknamed her "the human soundtrack" because she was so brainwashed by the Party. Winston developed critic thoughts against the ruling dictatorship of the Party, having many things which he did not agree with. Winston disagreed with the rule that individual expression was forbidden and his rebellious actions specifically broke this law. Winston Smith, the protagonist of Orwell?s novel, became a Thought Criminal. He had a personal diary, which was forbidden, and he had an illegal love affair with Julia, which was also forbidden.
Winston and Julia were opposites in many ways, but their distinctive characteristics were what attracted the couple so much. Winston had a regular love life that consisted of a wife for many months. When he had met Julia, he was attracted more to her rebellious actions then who she really was. At first Winston disliked Julia; he had a hatred so bad that he wanted her dead. "He had hated her because she was young and pretty and sexless". After Winston had heard that she was not a typical woman, "his heart leapt. Scores of times she had done it: he wished it had been hundreds - thousands of times.". Winston hated typical and normal people, "I hate purity, I hate goodness! I don't want any virtue to exist anywhere. I want everyone to be corrupt to the bones". When Winston and Julia were together, all of society’s pressures were taken off of them, it was like they were truly free for that little time they spent with each other. When Winston had bought a paperweight from an old junk shop he treasures it greatly. It represents the fragile little world that Winston and Julia had made for each other. "The coral was Julia's life and his own, fixed in a sort of eternity in the heart of the crystal".
It is true that similarities are what
bring people together, however in the case of Winston and Julia, their
attraction were their differences. Julia's life differed from Winston's
a great deal, but these distinctive characteristics of Julia were what
attracted Winston so deeply. The way each chose to rebel against the Party
was a characteristic of their personality. Winston was intelligent man
and the way he rebelled against Party was emotional and intellectual. Julia
was a simple woman and the way she rebelled against the Party was primarily
physical. Therefore, the two of them – although different in many
ways – were a perfect love connection.
What's In a Name?
The name "Winston Smith" was carefully chosen. It indicates both the universality and the uniqueness of the character. "Smith" is the most common English surname in the world, while "Winston", a much rarer common name, suggests Winston Churchill, who was perhaps the most well-known Englishman at the time of the novel's composition.
The name Julia was also carefully chosen.
It immediately suggests Juliet, the Shakespearean character whose name
has become connected with romantic love. Julian represents Woman, just
as Winston Smith represents the intelligent Man. - p. 33 - "Winston woke
up with word 'Shakespeare' on his lips"
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