Julia seduces several men throughout the novel. How do you think she views them? How do you think each views himself? How does Orwell's version of these characters differ from Newman's?

Julia seduces several men throughout the novel. How do you think she views them? How do you think each views himself? If you've read "1984", how does Orwell's version of these characters differ from Newman's?

Like any human, Julia is searching for connections and love. Unfortunately, in Oceania those are almost impossible to find and even if somehow a relationship occurs, it is never safe or secure. In the opening pages Julia has an encounter with O"Brien, an Inner Party member. She knows he would be an ideal "friend" providing her with perks like better jobs or better homes but "the thought of approaching the man made her flesh crawl". Julia finds Winston attractive and then internally reminisces about the death of her father at hands of the Party and then all the "uncles" who came to visit her mother at night. As she has more frequent sightings of Winston she constructs a fantasy that "He wanted her and would have her...There was nothing she could do about it. He would have his way." This seems to be her way of absolving herself of any guilt or blame. As she thinks about previous lovers she reveals they always made the first move and she "loved..because she was forbidden to do it". Given that she lost her virginity at 14 to a sixty year old Party member, one has to assume it was without her consent-which together with the environment she lived in would explain her attitudes toward sex. I think each of her partners views himself as an ideal partner for her-Winston specifically wants to save her. Orwell differs as he only gives us the male point of view. For example, Winston shares with Julia that initially he wanted to rape and murder her and Newman gives us both sides of the story-the he said and the she said.

Julia sees it as a point of pride that she can outwit the system, or so she thinks, and that is a satisfying form of resistance. It also gives her something akin to a hobby, a way to amuse and challenge herself. And as she says, she enjoys the sex, some of it at least. It feeds her vanity too. Since her first abusive exploitation at the age of twelve, I think it has the effect of a drug, especially since she is the one in charge, using the men, no longer the victim. But in a perverted way, for her as well as the men, it is a way of filling the emotional void in a loveless, joyless society—the semblance of intimacy and connection with another.

I am not sure ‘seduce’ is the correct word. Both parties are desperate to connect in anyway. Oddly it is the only way where you have a better chance of your partner being as guilty as you and not as likely to be a snitch. Turns out Julia was wrong about that.

Julia is a complex character in some ways as she says she enjoys sex (which I believe she does) but she also wants a connection with someone that she chooses and is not told by Big Brother. Julia also likes to defy the rules and this was one way she thought was safe.

With the exception of Winston, I thought Julia looked at the other men as dispensable. Though it’s hard to say that this is related to having lost her virginity as a young teenager, her she seemed to consistently take control of the details for each date with regard to time, place and routine when each meeting occurred. Newman’s version of the men in Julia’s is much more graphic and detailed and makes them appear shallow.