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Book 3 Chapters 1-3

"The Party prisoners were always silent and terrified, but the ordinary criminals seemed to care nothing for anybody. They yelled insults at the guards, fought back fiercely when their belongings were impounded, wrote obscene words on the floor, ate smuggled food which they produced from mysterious hiding-places in their clothes, and even shouted down the telescreen when it tried to restore order. On the other hand some of them seemed to be on good terms with the guards, called them by nicknames, and tried to wheedle cigarettes through the spyhole in the door. The guards, too, treated the common criminals with a certain forbearance, even when they had to handle them roughly."
Image result for prison riotThis quote comes at the beginning of Part 3 Chapter 1. Winston has just awoken from an abduction by The Party and has been placed in a jail cell with other people that are deemed criminals. Winston notices that there seems to be a distinct division on how others have treated the situation they were in. The Party Prisoners, I assume, are people who have subconsciously thought to rebel against The Party and have been ratted out by others. They seem to be afraid of Big Brother and the Party so they feel scared and terrified. However, the other kind of prisoner, the more reckless kind, they have committed crimes like murder, rape, and vandalism don't really fear Big Brother and The Party. Even though they are already captured, they act as if they are still in control, and in some sense they are. They cut deals with guards so they could turn a blind-eye and constantly challenge the rules of The Party.
I believe the second kinds of prisoners are the true rebels. These people have been at battle with the law, and they are currently are still doing it. They disrupt the flow that The Party is trying to establish and they are successfully doing it. They establish a system of their own inside of a labor camp, and even the guards are apart of it. To me, these people, though they have committed crimes, may be the future of a free Oceania.

Comments

  1. JNguyenMiddleCollegeDecember 10, 2017 at 9:55 PM

    I can see how the people who are reckless believe that they are still in control. Making deals with the guards to turn a blind-eye seems to be interesting thought because they might be able to achieve a lot if they are consistent about it.

    ReplyDelete
  2. UnknownDecember 11, 2017 at 2:56 AM

    The way you connect with the book and your adjectives is what kept me reading your blog could use some work on giving other people a chance this was an amazing read

    ReplyDelete
  3. UnknownDecember 20, 2017 at 10:52 AM

    The way you interpreted the quote was simple and very understandable! I agree how the second kind of prisoners who raped, vandalized, stole, etc. are the true rebel for the fact that they aren't scared of The Big Brother. The fact that they make deals with the guards can lead to the prisoners to being successful and achieving something. Winston now sees who are they two types are prisoners that are within the cell.

    ReplyDelete

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