Quotations - 1984, Parsons

Question 1

Parsons - example of brainwashed party member

Hanging

Answer 1

“Did you go and see the prisoners hanged yesterday?” “It was a good hanging”

Shows how disturbing the society is

How violence is included in a normal conversation - normalised

Hanging is approved as a form of entertainment (“good”)

Uses language so the reader knows
how brutal betraying the party would be - the punishment

Question 2

Parsons being proud of his kid for being a spy for the party

Answer 2

“Parsons went on triumphantly: my kid made sure he was some kind of enemy agent”

Disturbing: Parsons is proud.

Gloating over his children being spies and tracking people down to have them killed (when they are so young) - brutal

Triumphantly - epitomises his joy at his children

O uses normality of the spies to show the reader contrast between what is seen as achievement in Airstrip 1 vs 21st Century England.

Uses glorification of death to show reader how twisted and manipulated the people are - BB has brainwashed them!