Part 2: Chapter 7

1) When Winston thinks back to his childhood, how did he behave towards his mother and sister?  Provide details.


Winston behaved very disrespectfully towards his mother and sister as a child, thinking of himself as more important than either of them. He whines and complains, and stomps his feet at his mother when all she is doing is trying to provide food for her children. Winston is very ignorant to the fact that his little sister is ill, taking her chocolate and running away without a second thought. His mother allowed him extra food when he was hungry because he was the boy, and when there wasn't much left she gave her portion to the sister. Winston was very ungrateful to have a mother like that, always asking for more and more for himself.

2) What happens to his mother and sister?

When Winston returns home from running off with his sister's chocolate portion, he finds that his mother and sister are missing. It is possible that they were vaporized, or sent to prison camps. Winston also thinks his sister was left to die somewhere. It is unknown to him what ever happened to them.

3) What does Winston mean when he says, “The proles had stayed human”? (p.172)

When Winston says that, "the proles had stayed human," he is referring to the way that the Party never forced their affection and emotion out of them. The proles still care for their families as best as they can, and they care for each other. Though the proles are poor and starving, they felt more than any of the Party members could.


4) Re-read from the last paragraph of page 173 to the end of the chapter on page 174.  Use a sticky note to tag this part; it will become important later in the book.  What do Julia and Winston believe the Party will never be able to do?

Julia and Winston believe the party will never be able to make someone stop believing something. They say that no matter the torture and questioning they endure the Party will not be able to make them believe any different than they do now.

5) Choose one or two lines that attracted your attention.  Discuss why.

"It was no use, it changed nothing, it did not produce more chocolate, it did not avert the child's death or her own; but it seemed natural to her to do it." Winston says this reflecting on the way his mother cradled his sister after he ran off with her chocolate. I like this line because of the way it depicts the human instinct to care for something or someone that is in trouble, even if they have nothing else to give.