At the beginning of Book 3 we find that Winston is caught in a cell which is completely lighted and is surrounded by 4 telescreens leaving no place unwatched. This place is also known as the place of no darkness that O'Brien seemed to be referring to in Winston's dream. In his holding cell Winston meets 3 other people, the Prole woman that shares the same last name as Winston and speculates the idea of being his mother, she is also not very worried of what might happen to her. Ampleforth the poet who got caught for leaving the word god in a works in translation, Ampleforth is terrified of what might happen to him. He also meets Parsons who accepts his punishment of whatever will come to him seeing as he believes that he deserves it, as Parsons is shown to be a strong follower of Big Brother. The question that I have for you is: What do you think the significance of this segment of showing these people in the cell?
I see it as a difference of the three different stages of what the Party can do to you. Firstly, you have the drunk woman, the prole, who seems to not give any attention or care that she is being held somewhat captive by the Party. You can see her inability to care, perhaps it is a act, but I highly doubt it. She simply treats it much liberal than expected : "I wouldn't 'a sat on you, only the buggers put me there. There dono 'ow to treat a lady..." (239). She is upset, but not to the extent where she wants to break free from the cell, which is interesting as we are being introduced to the second person, Ampleforth.
ReplyDeleteWell Ampleforth is pretty mellow about the whole thing too. But he at least has some willingness to get out. Or to make his statement. He says that "There is no difference between night and day in this place" (243). He just exemplified some double think for us, which can be talked about later. But I think that Ampleforth is worried about his well-being but at the same time, is trying to stay calm for his own sake.
Now, the final man to come in, is the most interesting. Parsons, whom we have met in the beginning of the book. Parsons were admitted to the Party by his own daughter, which is some foreshadowing. Parson's wife was worried that "... they [Parson's children] would be watching her night and day for symptoms of unorthodoxy" (26). And now, Parson's daughter was the one who sent him to be interrogated. But with Parsons, he is admitting to committing crimestop. He even says, "... thank you for saving me before it was too late" (245). This is absolutely frightening. The propaganda has seaped into his mind so immensely, that he has forgotten his logic and reasoning for everything.
Therefore, there is a great significance in introducing the other three people into the cell, because they are all contradictory of each other. But even more interesting is how they are contradictory to Winston.