Proles-Lucky?

[the_river_styx]

"If there is hope", Winston writes in his diary, "it lies in the proles." Why? Is it because The Party thinks so little of them ? To be viewed as an animal, powerless, and helpless, seems depressing. Why on earth would a prole possess hope ? Unless that is the very reason that Winston envies them.To be below even the scrutiny of the government, would that be freedom? I think so, and freedom is something Winston has never had. And hope lies in the proles because they are living their lives almost totally under their own control, and that is a huge miscalculation on the part of the government. the only question I have on this is- why don't the proles do something ? Or are they unfortunately uneducated, and can't ? I would have thought that even the stupidest of people would know when they are being treated unfairly. Maybe they are smarter than I realize, and understand without being told that the freedoms they enjoy will vanish should they call attention to themselves, and they will become like Winston. In that case, they should continue on as they always have, because the fate of Winston, or any other party member is indeed a tragedy.

[The Atheist]

"If there is hope", Winston writes in his diary, "it lies in the proles." Why? Is it because The Party thinks so little of them ? To be viewed as an animal, powerless, and helpless, seems depressing. Why on earth would a prole possess hope ? Unless that is the very reason that Winston envies them.To be below even the scrutiny of the government, would that be freedom? I think so, and freedom is something Winston has never had. And hope lies in the proles because they are living their lives almost totally under their own control, and that is a huge miscalculation on the part of the government. the only question I have on this is- why don't the proles do something ? Or are they unfortunately uneducated, and can't ? I would have thought that even the stupidest of people would know when they are being treated unfairly. Maybe they are smarter than I realize, and understand without being told that the freedoms they enjoy will vanish should they call attention to themselves, and they will become like Winston. In that case, they should continue on as they always have, because the fate of Winston, or any other party member is indeed a tragedy.

The book makes it clear that the proles are watched, but not as carefully. Any prole showing iany inclination to spread anti-Party thoughts would be vaporised immediately.

[thenxtvan-gogh]

Well i believe that the reason the Proles will not get together and revolt is because they are holding themselves back. They do not see the larger picture of what needs to be done, they only see what is infront of them. Yes this may be because they are uneducated. But what if their poverty is actually whats holding them back? In the novel some of the women are caught fighting over pots and pans! Their problem is they can't see past the small material problems enough to form together and fight!

[The Atheist]

Well i believe that the reason the Proles will not get together and revolt is because they are holding themselves back. They do not see the larger picture of what needs to be done, they only see what is infront of them. Yes this may be because they are uneducated. But what if their poverty is actually whats holding them back? In the novel some of the women are caught fighting over pots and pans! Their problem is they can't see past the small material problems enough to form together and fight!

Bingo!

Orwell based part of his prole behaviour on wartime rationing, where it was impossible to get many items we couldn't imagine being without. The same tactic was used economically by USSR.

Note that food isn't in short supply - just the luxury items in life. Hunger makes for revolution.