1984 The Proles Quotes

The Proles

Quote 4

"‘Down with Big Brother!’ Yes, I said that! Said it over and over again, it seems. Between you and me, old man, I'm glad they got me before it went any further […]."

"Who denounced you?" said Winston.

"It was my little daughter," said Parsons with a sort of doleful pride. "She listened at the keyhole. Heard what I was saying, and nipped off to the patrols the very next day. Pretty smart for a nipper of seven, eh? I don't bear her any grudge for it. In fact I'm proud of her. It shows I brought her up in the right spirit, anyway." (3.1.48-50)

With children, the success of the Party’s plan manifests further in that the children serve as extra surveillance forces for the Party. Indeed, the child of Party member Parsons is so overcome with love for and indoctrination by the Party that she surveys and turns in her own father in for thoughtcrime.

The Proles

Quote 5

"‘Down with Big Brother!’ Yes, I said that! Said it over and over again, it seems. Between you and me, old man, I'm glad they got me before it went any further […]."

"Who denounced you?" said Winston.

"It was my little daughter," said Parsons with a sort of doleful pride. "She listened at the keyhole. Heard what I was saying, and nipped off to the patrols the very next day. Pretty smart for a nipper of seven, eh? I don't bear her any grudge for it. In fact I'm proud of her. It shows I brought her up in the right spirit, anyway." (3.1.48-50)

The children of Party members such as Parsons are so overcome with love for and indoctrination by the Party that they survey and turn in their own parents for thoughtcrime.

The Proles

Quote 6

"That's a first-rate training they give them in the Spies nowadays – better than in my day, even. What d'you think's the latest thing they’ve served them out with? Ear trumpets for listening through keyholes! My little girl brought one home the other night – tried it out on our sitting-room door, and reckoned she could hear twice as much as with her ear to the hole." (1.5.67, Parson)

Its reach not limited to technology, the Party employs children against their parents as another way of behavior surveillance. There is simply no loyalty to speak of.