Response 1

I have currently started reading the book 1984 as a class project. I just stated to dig into the book and I am already very intrigued by it.  In class we were given a brief overview of the book and the major concepts that were addressed in it.  I was puzzled by some of the vocabulary and terms that we covered in class.  It was not until I started reading that I began to understand their true meaning and how they would be portrayed in the book.  I find the setting of the book very peculiar.  It makes it sound like the conditions of the outer party are not very ideal.  I picture the setting similar to how I pictured the setting of the Divergent books.  I realize that there are many differences in the two books, but I also see some similarities that are already evident.  Both take place in a city that is industrial but yet has some ruins as well.  In 1984 I picture each of the different Ministries similar to the different factions in the book Divergent.  I am interested to see if my projection is true or if the two books will start to stray away from each other.  I could not imagine living like Winston does.  I realize that we are under surveillance here in America as well, but not to the level that is shown in the book.  When Winston talks about the posters of Big Brother everywhere I think of the situation in North Korea where the dictator is praised and worshipped.  I also see many similarities other than the posters concerning North Korea and 1984.  The children are brainwashed at a young age and taught to love and worship the government and the dictator.  I was shocked when it mentioned in the book how the parents would become afraid of their children.  The way that Mrs. Parson's children were behaving was completely different than children act today.  I understand that children get wild and out of hand and I also understand that children play war, but the way that the children accused of thought crime and the hostile things that they were doing reflect that of a child who has been taught that hate and violence are good.  I feel like these children have no morals other than that which the government allows and their parents have no control over their behavior or beliefs.