re: #197 SanFranciscoZionist

I have to say, there’s a paper in it for someone about how all these twentieth-century dystopian novels include the male hero finding his individuality through having some sort of societally-unsanctioned sexual relationship with a woman.

1984, Brave New World, We, Anthem…I’m sure there are a lot more.

Aren’t they ever gay? Or too busy running from the Thought Police to think about girls? Or female? Or something? Even Huxley does it, and it takes some doing to create that sort of a situation in a completely promiscuous society.

My interpretation of the escapades between Winston and Julia in 1984 was that it didn’t have so much to do with reclamation of individuality, but was rather a play on the Garden of Eden story. Winston wasn’t innocent by any means, but Julia was the instigator. She tempted Winston with sex, coffee, and other contraband. Ultimately, they were found out by the master of the garden, and were punished for eating the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge, as it were.

In the Ministry of Love they eventually betrayed each other to the master of the garden. “Under the spreading chestnut tree, I sold you and you sold me.” Genesis doesn’t say so, but it’s not hard to imagine Adam and Eve spending some time in Room 101.