The Parsons Children

[EnglishGeek]

It has come to my attention that all parents recognize that they may fear their children one day due to their credibility in the eyes of the Party. Children can report their parents at anytime for Thought Crime. The example given in the book is the Parsons children whom their mother fears. In this futuristic setting do the parents consider this possibility when they want to have children? It’s quite a tough choice considering the penalty for Thought Crime. Any thoughts?

[bookwyrm12]

I don't think parents consider their children turning on them until they are born. Based on what was mentioned of Winston and his wife, Katherine's, relationship, the parents would be more concerned about "fulfilling their duty to the Party" than being turned in. Winston, at the very least, did not make any mention of considering the possibility during his marriage. On top of this, Katherine would have had children regardless due to her faith in the Party. I think if the pair is devoted enough to the party, or brainwashed enough, they would have children, like the Parsons. Only people like Winston that didn't accept or were incapable of doublethink would worry about this.

[Floral]

In my personal opinion, I don't think that the parents consider that possibility when they want to have children. I think that they feel that they have a duty to create more "members for the Party" so it doesn't really matter what they think/how they feel. With the present government control of "Big Brother", emotions are not present due to the psychological control that has been put on the people of "Oceania". So, because the people are controlled with how they love, when they love, what they love, that feeling of worry cannot be present because there isn't a norm to compare it to. They don't know how to individually process the feeling of love. In this sense, I do not think that parents consider this form of betrayal that could come out of their own children when considering having children.

[Limoncello]

I think it may be something that parents don’t know to think about. When it is announced that the chocolate rations is being “raised” to 20 everybody forgets or doesn’t realise that it’s really being lowered. They believe everything that big brother and the party say. Maybe it’s the same with the children. The party wants more children to be spies and so people of the party may think that by having children they are only doing something good and they may not know or realise that the children will most likely turn against them.

[dark chocolate]

I don't think it crosses the parents' mind, mothers love their child before they're even born and the people of Oceania are so brainwashed they can't even think for themselves. Even though some parents must've witnessed others being turned in by their children, the Party can easily manipulate those kind of events. Also, most of them only care about "Fulfilling their duty to the Party" as Winston's wife Katherine said. Mrs. Parsons fear of her children must have developed as they grew up and she realized what the Party was using them for. The idea that her own children could and would betray her with no hesitation was not something she would've considered when she was with child.

[awesomeAA]

Parents may realize this but in a way do they really have an option? The main purpose of marriage is to have children for the party. No one even questions the fear between children and parents due to the fact that they have no recollection of life was like before the revolution. The Parsons and other families never felt the pure love between a family. With out this love and caring tendencies it makes it easier for a child to manipulate their parents. No one openly questions what Big Brother puts out so why would people even take issues into consideration? As children grow the fear will grow. But, what can you really do? Nothing.