Dialectic Journal #2

“Do you remember, “he said, “the thrush that sang to us that first day at the edge of the wood?”

“He wasn’t singing to us,” said Julia. ”He was just singing. He was singing to please himself. Not even that. He was just singing.”

MEANING: This was a conversation between Winston and Julia. They were looking at why the man was singing to himself. They were looking at why the man was singing and they found that he was because he could. He was doing it because he had the ability to do so. He had the freedom to sing even if it was against the law; he still has the freedom to sing even if it was against the law; he still has the freedom to do whatever he wants on a human standpoint. And it’s saying he doesn’t need any rational or irrational reason to sing—he’s just doing it. I believe this quote is when Winston and Julia realize that as humans they have the ability or freedom to do whatever they want but as a member of society/the party their freedoms are limited.

APPLIES TO MODERN WORLD: This quote applies to our modern world and society because in our country’s society today our freedom is limited but still as humans we can do anything we want. In our modern world people do things sometimes without rational; they do things for no reason like singing or going for a drive or talking with people. They do things because they can; they have the ability to. In 1984 when the society was singing the man was breaking the law, but it didn’t matter; he didn’t care; he just did it. Him singing for no reason in is like someone killing for no reason in our society.

Jin Jingzhi Interview Response

Dear Jin Jingzhi
You lived in a very historical time and had experienced many hardships in your life. I praise you for sharing the life you lived and the powers that made made it difficult at times. You and your family were constantly being challenged by the government yet you stayed strong and did what you needed to do. Its very hard for me to imagine life as hard as yours. Were you loyal to the communists because you feared them or because you believed in their ideas? Did you ever have thoughts of joining the rebels because of the constant accusations on your families wealth? Did you ever fear that with out your husbands financial assistance that you would have to change your lifestyle?
Before the communists took over you and your husband were doing pretty well off but that started to change once they had complete control over the country. They owned your husbands company and you were a representative for congress. Then the red guards came and stripped your home apart and accused you of hiding money. Your husband was thrown in prison for being an opposer of the communists. Two of your children were taken away to the peasant villages to work and you were still strong. You've lived an amazing life and you have seen and experienced mass amounts of emotional strain. I praise you for living your life like a warrior.