Question

Has anyone read 1984?

Answer 1

Or at least Part 2 of the book.

Answer 2

I am asking for any thoughts on Julia as a character, specifically regarding her morality.

Answer 3

I remember reading that book a couple years back or so. In my opinion Julia really only rebelled against the Party for her own personal sexual desires. If I recall correctly she even slept with other Party members too before she actually fell in love, only to betray Winston because of her fear for her own self. She's selfish, plain to see...only really rebelled with Winston for her own sexual desire.

Given the totalitarian viewpoint forced onto everyone, I'm not even sure what "morals" that society and type of government was trying to even coerce.

Answer 4

Would you argue that there are no morals at all, in such a society?

Answer 5

As there were no laws to establish a sense of morality, as they had been done away with a long time ago.

Answer 6

Yeah that's what I would argue. They had such a rule-governed society with no real "freedom" of choice for the people to even choose what is ethically and morally correct.

Answer 7

In the book, there is a character known as Julia. She has had sex with "scores of men" and currently in Part 2 of the book, she is with the main character and narrator Winston Smith. Do you think that such behavior is immoral?

Answer 8

@NelsonTA

Answer 9

ummm idkkk

Answer 10

Immorality is essentially not conforming to the standards of morality.

Morality is basically the difference between good and bad. With moral being good, or 'ethical," and immoral being bad or 'unethical.'

This is why sometimes when you watch TV and perhaps a lawyer did some shady things to get evidence, they would say he did some "unethical practices.'

Answer 11

Yeah i knew that I just cant decide whether it is immoral or not... (I am ABSOLUTELY RUBBISH at deciding things)

Answer 12

Breaking it down to it's core component, I am asking you if a young female adult sleeping with "scores of men" is ethical, or unethical.

Answer 13

Well yeah i guess it is unethical bc that isnt right to just sleep with "scores of men"

Answer 14

Another point then.

Prior to Winston and Julia's first sexual encounter, she gives him a slab of chocolate which she obtained from the black market (an illegal market).

In the book, it says black market, yet Oceania (the country they reside in) has no laws.

Is this still ethical, or unethical, even if there are no laws against stealing?

Answer 15

No because taking something without the other person's knowledge or consent is wrong still

Answer 16

In Oceania, the government has no laws, yet vaporizes (kills and erases the existence of people) who go against the government. They are known as the Inner Party, and run things behind the scenes, brainwashing the people, and pumping out propaganda from the "Ministry of Truth."

Julia in the book later stole goods such as tea, coffee and other treats from the Inner Party. Is this ethical or unethical?

Answer 17

in my opinion, it is unethical

Answer 18

Even if you steal goods from the "bad people" and give it to the "oppressed people" it is still unethical?

Answer 19

hmm thats tricky... bc you are doing something wrong but for a good cause so I have no idea

Answer 20

Sort of a Robin Hood like situation.

But would it help you make up your mind if I told you that Julia has had sex with "scores of men" as well as showing evidence of having manipulated and used them for her own desires. There is evidence she is doing the same to Winston. Additionally, her first lover at the age of 16 committed suicide, to which she called a "good job" since the police would not uncover her name.

Answer 21

Ig so? She doesn't seem to be that good of a person by what you are telling me

Answer 22

A positive factor then.

When Julia and Winston are laying in bed, a rat springs out from a hole. Winston has a horrifying fear of rats, and is terrified. Julia, having expressed disinterest in Winston's conversation about the government, then comforts him, and even tells him that she will seal off the hole.

What does this fact do to your opinion?

Answer 23

it confuses me bc she doesnt seem to be a good person so I feel like maybe she might be just doing nice things just to manipulate him

Answer 24

She risks death by continuing to meet with Winston. This all started with her passing him a note in the crowd with the words "I love you." She had been watching Winston for some time, which he had noticed. He thought she was a spy, for the government. At the time, Winston began doing something known as doublethink, which was a thought crime. Essentially, it is when you think something, and also the direct inverse of it.

For example: The Oceania government is good! The Oceania government is bad...

Remember, the people are brainwashed with propaganda in the book. Yet Winston started coming to his own realizations of how corrupt the system was.

This is all to say that during this time when Winston thought Julia was a spy, (since he was the narrator), he had expressed thoughts of wanting to rape and kill her. Does it change your opinion now knowing that Winston had these thoughts?

Answer 25

Woah idk

Answer 26

Do you still consider Julia immoral, if the person she is manipulating and using, is immoral himself?

Answer 27

i guess so? I guess they are just both immoral

Answer 28

It's a good book

Answer 29

Humans are all "immoral" if you put things in that sense. Morality is something only humans recognize

Answer 30

Oh yes, 1984 and Fahrenheit 451 are my favorite classics o-o
Favorite quote from it: "War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength."
and yea, no morality, the setting is just messed up, i mean, it's dYsToPiAn