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I understand that Parson's children turned him in for talking bad about Big Brother in his sleep, but I'm still somewhat confused. Why does Parson say that he is still proud of his kids and sees a bright future for them? Is this just showing how Parson is crazy, or am i missing something?
Parsons is disgusted at himself for uttering "Down with BB" - he recognises that he's committed the worst thoughtcrime imaginable.
He is proud of his kids because he thinks they will become model citizens and have a great life.
IOW: yes, he's crazy.
The Parsons demonstrate a family in which the children are very powerful, and willing to rat out anyone to the police whom they think unorthodox toward the party in any way, it's not due to the children in this family but to the way they are brought up, in particular by their father and by the school and a youth organization they are in, named the Spies, their father is a real orthodox party-follower, he is really an uncritical guy toward the party and loves the party enormously, and wish to live according to its principles as much as is possible for him and certainly for his family, Mrs. Parsons is afraid of her own children, because I think she already knows that her children might one day denounce her husband, herself, or anyone else she loves or cares about to the police, I think that's the main reason why she is depressed, the party really has a strong grip on children in general, and the children in general are very much 'in love' with the party, and wish to do whatever is possible for them to please the party.
As the generations pass, the people of Oceania are more and more brainwashed by the party. These citizens become more and more 'perfect' in the eyes of the party, because they were taught this way of life from a young age. Mr. Parson wants to be a good member of the party, so he is disappointed in himself when he learns that he allegedly talked badly about Big Brother in his sleep. His children turned him in because they are 'perfect' members of the party and want to serve Big Brother to the highest of their ability, even if it means turning in their own father. Mr. Parson is proud of his children because they serve the party even to go against family values, and Parson wishes he could be that dedicated to the party.
Although brainwashing works it is expensive since it requires political education, consciousness raising (or lowering), and other forms of social construction. It is not natural.
I've often thought children were the key to its breakdown since they were the main unknown continually being added to the system. In this case Parson's children fit in very well, but in general would they?