1984 Part I, Chapter 6

Journal 6  What establishes trust? How would a friend gain your confidence?

Part 1: Chapter 6  Winston is writing in his diary about his experience with a prole prostitute.  Why tell this disgusting story?  What does this tell you about the reliability of Winston’s narrative?

Part 1: Chapter 6  Your worst enemy is your own nervous system  Spasm  Twitch  Quiver  Unconscious habitual ticks  The most deadly danger of all is talking in your sleep because you can not guard against it.

Worksheet  Questions 2-4  Page WO 64, WN 64

Part 1: Chapter 6  This is an illegal act  However, while it is forbidden, the Party doesn’t crack down too hard.  It was dangerous, but not life and death.  “Tacitly the Party was even inclined to encourage prostitution, as an outlet for instincts which could not be altogether suppressed.”

Part 1: Chapter 6  The act is not the worst as long as it was furtive, joyless, and with a prole.  Unforgivable crime is with another Party member  “The aim of the Party was not merely to prevent men and women from forming loyalties which it might not be able to control. Its real, undeclared purpose was to remove all pleasure from the sexual act.”

Part 1: Chapter 6  Thinking of the story of the prostitute reminds Winston of his WIFE Katharine  “Marriage is to beget children for the service of the Party”  Artificial insemination would ideally take over marriage, but not a plausible goal  Marriage is approved by the party, but not approved for those who seem to care for each other

Part 1: Chapter 6  “The Party was trying to kill the sex instinct, or, if it could not be killed, then to distort it and dirty it” (WN 66).

Part I, Chapter 6  Winston and Katharine were together for 15 months and have been separated now for 11 years  Katharine was a tall, fair-haired girl, empty headed, has no original thoughts, only parrots what the party says (“The human sound track”)  Katharine winced and stiffened when Winston touched her, pushed him away while pulling him towards her, simply submitted to him  Even though she seems to not enjoy sex, she still demands that they try to make a baby and do their duty to the party on a schedule

Worksheet  Questions 5-11  Page WO 67, WN 67

Part I: Chapter 6  Finishes the story of the prostitute  Painted white face  Uses scent (perfume)  She is old  Wrinkles  White hair  No teeth  He had written it down, but it did not make him feel better.