Socratic Seminar Reflection #3

Malaika Hall

English/per.3

May 12^th 2014

Socratic Seminar #3 Final Reflection

            In our third Socratic Seminar for the novel 1984 we finally begin to embark towards the end of the novel. While I generally kept my own opinion my peers showed me new ways to look at Winston as he progresses from discrete attempts to learn the truth about Oceania to direct acts against the party. I was even forced to think of things I hadn’t such as maybe Winston and Julia aren't meant to be together.  Since Julia and Winston really have any other people to choose from maybe they are only attracted to each other because they are against the party. This could be supported by Julia not having the same interests as Winston.  My peers even helped me to strengthen my previous ideas. For example the “Big Brother” party purposely waited until Winston had hopes of successfully destroying the party to reveal that they had been watching him all along. This would make defeat more devastating for Winston. 

The statement that Winston and Julia are not compatible was very accurate to me. Even though they definitely fell in love it was a lack of free spirited people that ultimately drew thew towards each other. Other than their similar desire to rebel against the government there was no real evidence of compatibility. Regardless of this Party allowed their illegal love affair to go. I believe the party is less focused on keeping their comrades in line but releasing the need to do so. Any one that they needed to be forced to obey laws was simply killed. This is most limey the fate of Winston and Julia. I disagreed with the statement that Winston and Julia needed to be more carefully and if they had been they wouldn't have gotten caught. Careful or not it was specific places like Mr. Charringtons shop that were all over the Prole area. Places where it was believed they weren't being watched they in fact were. The party was cunning and there was literally no privacy any where. There most likely isn't a place they couldn't go that hadn't been thought of. 

Being able to make our own questions was very helpful for the seminar. We were able to focus on parts of the book we really understood and could connect with. Also even though having a long reading was harder it allowed us to have more to discus. This made the conversation much more interesting. Finally having a half time where we could reflect on how we were doing was very important. We were able to get the opinion of our peers so we could come back and have a better discussion. This allowed us to have a deeper conversation.

While making our own questions was helpful it also limited us in a way. Everyone comes up with similar questions and the second group becomes a sort of repeat. Also a better distribution of people would be helpful. There was a clear difference between the first and second group where the first conversation was more interesting and heated. A better distribution of people may influence other to speak up more and be apart of the conversation.