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6079 Smith, W
11-09-2005, 05:13 AM
Hi again,
I am a little confused about something in this book. :D :blush: :goof: When Winston is captured by the Thought Police and Mr Charrington comes in and reveals himself as a member of the Thought Police, Winston describes that he had severely changed:
The cockney accent had disappeared; Winston suddenly realized whose voice it was that he had heard a few moments ago on the telescreen. Mr Charrington was still wearing his old velvet jacket, but his hair, which had been almost white, had turned black. Also he was not wearing his spectacles. He gave Winston a single sharp glance, as though verifying his identity, and then paid no more attention to him. He was still recognizable, but he was not the same person any longer. His body had straightened, and seemed to have grown bigger. His face had undergone only tiny changes that had nevertheless worked a complete transformation. The black eyebrows were less bushy, the wrinkles were gone, the whole lines of the face seemed to have altered; even the nose seemed shorter. It was the alert, cold face of a man of about five-and-thirty. :eek: :nod:
The thing that I do not understand is how Mr Charrington got rid of those wrinkles and has grown bigger. How did he do it???:confused: If anyone thinks he or she has a hunch, please share it. Thanks!
W.

leovinus
11-10-2005, 02:11 AM
A prevailing theme in the book is deception and from the beggining the reader is told that the Thought Police are very discreet and you never know who is your friend or enemy. 1984 portrays the Party as an organisation that can do anything; It can even make history and memories dissapear. It would not be difficult for such a powerful entity to mislead Winston, who despite his hatred is ironically a calculated part of the system. This is not an area where one should be searching for a definate & scientific explanation but should rather see it for its thematic and symbolic qualities.

However, I imagine that it would not be too difficult to create a mask with wrinkles or color and crinkle ones skin using various methods (Just look at modern holywood movies). Growing big or small is strictly a matter of perception and, aside from the symbolism behind this, Winston may not have been closely examing Mr. Charrington from the begginging. Mr. C could have simply been bending his knee's and walking as if he was an old and short man (doing this while wearing baggy pants really isnt that hard). I hope that helps, but you really shouldnt be looking at the literal meanings of all of these things. It is the symbolic meaning that counts. You dont hear many people asking how the animals can possibly talk in Animal Farm.

Squigy
11-10-2005, 03:49 AM
Also Winston would think of him differently knowing that he was a member of the Thought Police, perhaps it could be intended to meant to cast doubt in Winston's impressions (as with Julia, and latter on O’Brian)
I may be reading to much into it but it goes with one of the books main themes, uncertainty

6079 Smith, W
11-11-2005, 05:43 AM
;) :D :lol:
Silly me! I guess I believed in wonders or something! Of course it's possible to change the looks of someone so easily. I also now think that Winston was getting quite careless in the end and therefore didn't notice some signs he would have if he would have been more careful!
Thanks alot for your reply!
W.

arcanise
12-06-2005, 04:25 PM
you have to remember that the thought police and the ministries are all basicly keeping the public from knowing the truth and mr. chrrington proboly found the real truth and they probaly took him prisoner and put a imposter in his place to spread more lies.

sarlacc
12-08-2005, 03:13 AM
you have to remember that the thought police and the ministries are all basicly keeping the public from knowing the truth and mr. chrrington proboly found the real truth and they probaly took him prisoner and put a imposter in his place to spread more lies.

Mr. C never really existed. He was only there to root out the thought criminals by offering them a seemingly safe place to hide with someone who appered to not care about the party. However the whole place was an elaborate front to bring thought criminals out in the open to be captured. The Party has planed so far and so well they had this place to catch people knowing that would be the kind of place thought criminals would go to.