Oh, They Know.

I believe that most people in 1984 know very well what is going on. Winston does, and I'm absolutely sure that there are more people like him, just too scared to say anything. The government has forced all of its people to become scared of it. From what Winston has said, he knows perfectly well that the government and the way of life didn't used to be like the way it is now. He can't remember the way it was when he was younger, which seems strange to me, but he does know that it was different. He is also not sure that the way things were when he was younger was better or worse. The government says that before the revolution things were worse, and they are making everything better, but Winston isn't sure he believes that. I'm curious about why he, or anyone else for that matter, can't remember his childhood. But for the most part, I think a lot of people know that something is up with the government and things shouldn't be the way they are. People just don't know how it really should be, so they don't say anything.

There are some people, however, who don't know that something is strange about the government. People like Winston's neighbor, Parsons, think that the government is great and everything is going good. I have absolutely no idea how people could think that everything with the government is okay. To them it might just be what they grew up with, and they don't know any better. They might actually believe that life was worse before the revolution. The people who are content with the government right now are people who are easily persuaded, and don't think for themselves at all. They take what the government says and eat it right up. I don't know if the government has done something to everyone or not to make them not remember the way things were before, but that is the only thing I can think of as to why some people aren't aware of what is going on with the government.