On the surface, Tom Parsons is a simple character. As a reader, we do not get to know him on a personal level. All we know about him is that he is a fervent believer in the doctrine of Big Brother and that his daughter turns him in to the Thought Police. He is also, according to Winston, fat and sweats copious amounts. However, he is crucial to the story in that he is the embodiment of the mindset of the Party members. He is fervently devoted to Big Brother, a fact which Winston despises him for. His entire family is the model of a perfect family: a son and a daughter who are ardent supporters of Big Brother and who are Spies. Parsons also fits the ideals of Big Brother in that he constantly leads community hikes and activities, and is the treasurer for his block for Hate Week. His doublethink is beyond reproach, as he follows the sudden change of enemy in the war without missing a beat. Living conditions are by our modern standards horrible, but Parsons does not complain. When he is turned into the Thought Police, he is grateful that he is caught before he causes any damage to the Party society. He is even proud of his daughter for having the intelligence to turn him in. All in all, Parsons is the embodiment of Big Brother's ideal Outer Party member.
Despite Parsons' portrayal as the embodiment of a loyal member of the Party population, he also provides the reader with hope for the fall of Big Brother. At the end of the novel Orwell reveals that Parsons is turned into the Thought Police by his daughter for muttering “Down with Big Brother” in his sleep. At least subconsciously, Parsons is not the perfect party member that he appears to be on the surface. By writing such an end for Parsons, Orwell is suggesting that no matter how tight a tyrant’s grip on the population may seem, the population will always find a way to improve their lives. After all, if Parsons, the model citizen of Oceania, subconsciously rebels against Big Brother, who could say that every single citizen of Oceania is not opposed to Big Brother’s rule? This supposition, paired with the notion that the Appendix is written in the past tense, leads the reader to come to the conclude that Big Brother’s fall is eminent. Parsons' friendliness towards Winston not only provides another aspect to Parsons' character, but also adds hope to the otherwise gloomy novel. Despite Winston hatred towards Parsons, Parsons has always been friendly towards Winston. Parsons even reprimands his own children, the apples of his eye, for having shot at Winston with a slingshot. This seems to surpass the camaraderie expected between fellow citizens of Oceania. Given Parson’s attitude towards Winston, one might start to think that friendship is possible under Big Brother’s rule. All in all, despite Parsons’s apparent adherence to Big Brother’s doctrines, he is a symbol of hope for the end in the reign of the Party.
Have you considered that Parsons' wasn't saying this in his sleep, that his daughter was lying because in her paranoid, hyper-vigilant state, she sought to denounce her father as an enemy? This is what is strongly implied throughout the novel, that children are turned on their parents by a Party that wants to destroy the traditional family unit and make all love and devotion towards Big Brother.
ReplyDeleteTwo points. First, in reply to Williams, there was no need for his daughter to have lied since the telescreen would've heard him talking in his sleep. This was a risk mentioned earlier in the book.
ReplyDeleteSecond, in reply to the original post, I must admit I never thought of Parson's "crimethought" as suggesting hope. In retrospect, I see your point. It does seem to suggest (setting aside the Appendix being written in past tense, which suggests nothing in terms of hope) that even the most loyal adherents of Ingsoc may secretly wish to oppose the Party. That said, it does not suggest that Orwell meant that there was any hope. Parsons was of an older generation in which the last vestiges of "old think" were retained. Also, as made abundantly clear through O'Brien, any hope was futile. The only hope, if any, lay with the proles.
Lastly, it is interesting that although Newspeak was touted as eventually rendering crimethink impossible, the phrase Paraons uttered ("Down with Big Brother") is a perfectly good Newspeak phrase. This at least suggests that crimethink is always possible no matter how much the Party would try to destroy it through Newspeak.
I beleive what was meant in saying that crimethink would be destroyed is that someonone would not be able to describe why they don't like big brother. The thought wouldnt be elaborate and the person would not be able to think about any reasons that they dont like big brother.
Delete"...leads the reader to come to the conclude that Big Brother’s fall is eminent." Not "eminent." IMMINENT. Also, "the conclusion," not "the conclude."
ReplyDeleteYou are all too optimistic. I see this more as the last nail in the coffin than I do opitmistically. Even if there is a subconscious hate for Big Brother, there is no way of controlling it to the point that the entire middle class revolts. I see this more as a warning that NO ONE is safe. Earlier in the book, Winston thinks to himself that most of the people he knew would be arrested, but not Mr. Parsons. There is no way he could be arrested, for he is too loyal. However, even the most loyal to the party will have their downfall. No one is safe. No one
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ReplyDeletedown with big brother are the exact same words that winston writes earlier on in the book
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ReplyDeleteI am interested in Parsons because of what I interpreted to be the reason that he said “Down with Big Brother” in his sleep: Parsons hates “Big Brother” and the Party because he resents what they have done to his children, whom he clearly loves as much as a normal father... Notice that practically the only thing Parsons talks about in 1984 are his children and how “keen” they are to adhering to the doctrine of the Party and Big Brother. On one hand, Parson is glad that his children are good citizens after having been effectively brainwashed since that ensures some level of their safety -- but deep down inside, Parson despises Big Brother and the Party for what they have done to his children... Thoughts?
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