fears

[studentn]

as you rpobably know, in room 101 its where you are tortured with your worse fears. i want to know how they know exactley what there worst fears are, of course with winston it was because of the telescreen, but not everybodys fears can be shown on a telescreen. they couldn't have really told anyone because they can't really show emotion, wouldn't telling someone your fear be an emotion?

[deerhoof]

Seeing as how the governments control every aspect pf peoples lives, and they are under constant watch if they are in the party, its hard not to know a lot about what people fear. Winston wasnt afraid of the telescreen. He was afraid of the rats.

Also, if you read far enough, there is a section when Winston does see a rat, and he is repulsed. Julia acts very calmly, but Winston is still disgusted and Julia does not understand.

People do show emotion, thats how they get caught. So then, you could ask how the Party knows that he is afraid of the rats. Thats also simple, because while Winston and Julia conducted their rebellion, I'm sure that the store owner, Mr. Charrington, hear the commotion and was interested. In the end, he gives them away anways, and probably recieves something from it, so why not give them the simple information that the Party really needs to know (Winstons fear of rats).


Just maybe, Winston had been seen as a threat before hand, but they had no way to catch him in the act of if, until they realized his fear.

[Teacher]

The fact that the government knows Winston's greatest fear is proof positive of its extraordinary power and control over us.

[The Atheist]

Just maybe, Winston had been seen as a threat before hand, but they had no way to catch him in the act of if, until they realized his fear.

Good spot!

I'm quite sure that was Orwell's intention.

In the case of Julia, the closest we get to hers is her loathing of Inner Party members and I imagine her Room 101 revolved around that.