1984 #5

As the novel continues, Winston's resentment towards the Party grows and he becomes more rebellious. After being terrified and alone in his muted version of defiance, Winston finds a companion to revolt with. The dark haired girl, previously hated due to her assumed loyalty to Big Brother, reveals her disgust with the government. She also declares her love for Winston in a secret, but risky exchange at work. Together, Winston and Julia (her name) actively challenge the government's traditions.

Julia confesses her love for Winston because she is convinced that he also hates the Party. Winston chooses to love her back because he is drawn to the fact that she is corrupt. For Winston, "anything that hinted at corruption filled him with wild hope" (125). Unlike Winston, Julia is open and honest about her complete hatred of the Party. She does not hold back once they are alone, and she does not appear to fear the consequences. She "seemed unable to mention the Party, and especially the Inner Party, without using the kind of words you saw chalked up in dripping alleyways" (122). Julia's hate-filled feelings towards the government are appealing to Winston because her honestly is refreshing. Every other Party member is either too scared to speak out against the Party, or too ignorant to realize that the government's actions are corrupt. Julia, in contrast, is not afraid of whatever punishment she could receive and holds back  nothing when talking to Winston.

Although Winston is attracted to Julia because she resents the Party, he also wants to feel and act on love. In Oceania, marriage is only used for practical purposes, to conceive loyal followers of Big Brother. Affection and emotion within a marriage is highly discouraged by the Party, so it does not exist in the country. Winston has already gone through a painful and loveless marriage, where separation was the conclusion. His relationship with Julia directly contrasts his relationship with his wife, Katherine. Previously, Winston had said that he could not touch his wife without feeling uncomfortable: "To embrace her was like embracing a jointed wooden image. And what was strange was that even when she was clasping him against her he had he feeling that she was simultaneously pushing him away with all her strength" (66). The ideals of the Party were engrained deeply into Katherine and she would not willingly show affection towards her husband. Having the experience of a loveless marriage, Winston is more attracted to Julia because she does not suppress her natural instinct to love. Unlike his wife, Julia shows emotional and physical affection without being forced to do so. After years of loneliness, Julia's willingness to make Winston feel loved draws him to her.