A Question On Julia's Character.

[nerdyarmadillo]

Julia and Winston always seem like a very mismatched couple, to me. Winston has such passion, and fear, and hatred. Julia is apathetic about much of the 'horror stories' of erased history told to her by Winston. She cares little about the erasing of history, about being vaporized, about anything. I just wish to know why she has such apathy for such things.

Why doesn't she care the way Winston cares?

I had asked my teacher about this, and he did not have anything more than a guess, so perhaps someone could give me their insight also?

Thank you.

[Granny5]

Julia and Winston always seem like a very mismatched couple, to me. Winston has such passion, and fear, and hatred. Julia is apathetic about much of the 'horror stories' of erased history told to her by Winston. She cares little about the erasing of history, about being vaporized, about anything. I just wish to know why she has such apathy for such things.

Why doesn't she care the way Winston cares?

I had asked my teacher about this, and he did not have anything more than a guess, so perhaps someone could give me their insight also?

Thank you.

I think any answer will be the readers guess. I believe that Julia was just immature. She had not known of anything of the 'real' history in her youth. She had grown up in the system, remember. So it would be hard for her or anyone else to have strong feelings about something they knew nothing about. If she had known parents or grandparents who recalled the past, maybe she would have had a yearning for the truth, but there really was no 'turth' in her world growing up. Also, Julia's age may have played a part in her feelings. She was quite a bite younger than Winston and younger folks, even in our world, have different priorities. Maybe later in life she would have developed feelings for other things like Winston, especially if they had lived a life together.

[Bookworm24]

Julia is quite a bit younger/ more immature than Winston. Winston can remember things that make him question BB. Julia has basically grown up in the system so she doesn't really care/question the past.

[The Atheist]

I'm not sure it's right to put it down to immaturity of character, Julia exposes her hatred of the Inner Party when W asks if she's ever slept with any of them, and when she produces the chocolate, she shows passion for things which affect her and her desires.

Essentially, she is just a simpler person than W, with sensual desires - food, chocolate, coffee, sex - as opposed to W's need for equality and freedom.

There's a lovely parallel with starving Africans in 2007.

Children die in their hundreds every day through hunger, neglect or lack of clean water. Very few people are passionate about it, while the enormous majority of people are pathetic to it.

Different people - different passions.

[reader1111111]

I've been studying 1984 for a while now, and i think i understand the differnece between Winston and Julia's rebellions. If you go to the chapter where they meet up for the first time, Julia basically says that she rebels to feel alive, because she doesn't want to simply be a robot in the regime. Winston tells her (not sure of quote) that the more men she's had, the more he loves her, because she is corrupt. He loves the idea that within the party there are people who rebel, as the only way to bring it down is from within. He wants it to rot from inside. Winston actively rebels agaist the regime, with his diary as well, and by commiting 'thoughtcrime'.
Oh and also people have mentioned the age thing-that's a good point too- Winton still has memories(vague ones) of when the regime was taking hold, but Julia is too young.
Sorry if that's a bit rambling! If you're still not suer, go on www.sparksnotes.com, click on literature and 1984 is summarised and explained there.
Hope this helps! Remember that there are loads of different interpretations.

[thescholar]

Julia is consumed by eroticism and sexuality... she has little regard for the "big picture." in this way, Orwell continues to illustrate that even the rebels don't possess "true understanding" like Winston does.

[KurtDunn]

Julia's character could also be a representation of the aimless rebellion of youth.

[groovygal]

I think that Julia does not care so much as to Winston does to Big Brother. She is too young to understand what is happening and is essentially brainwashed into thinking that nothing will happen to her and Winston. Such as to getting vaporized or killed and forgotten.