The Singing Prole Woman

[Jackmerius]

What is the significance of the prole woman singing outside the window? Does she represent some sort of rebellion?

[kev67]

I don't think so, but iirc Winston thinks there is hope of bringing down the party if the proles can be incited to revolt. The proles are not as strictly controlled as the outer party members. An outer party member could not sing a song like the prole's because it might be deemed as unorthodox or thought-crime somehow. The song might contain words that are not part of Newspeak, or sentiments that are not officially approved of. The only songs that may be sung are the sort of Hitler-Youth propaganda that the children sing on the train (iirc). The inner party is not as afraid of the proles as it is of the outer party members because the proles are rarely organised enough to revolt, and when they do they are soon crushed. It usually takes some educated leaders to harness them, which is why the inner party monitors the outer party members so strictly.

[kev67]

Come to think of it, the song she was singing had been written by one of the ministries, probably the one Julia works at. Therefore it would not have contained any ThoughtCrime. Nevertheless, no party member could have sang it carefree like the prole.

[Jackmerius]

Interesting. I was thinking along the lines of how the woman could give hope to Winston because the woman could possibly have the children who could possibly revolt in the future. Which make me wonder was she singing the song mindlessly or was she singing it with purpose? I guess this part just kind of confuses me.

[The Atheist]

Her children will never revolt, because they would never be allowed education, weapons, independence, or the ability to gather.

They're cattle - free to sing and dance, but are still beasts of burden used by the Party and will never have power.