1984, George Orwell Two Main Characters

In 1984, George Orwell has demonstrated the possibilities of two main characters who have contradicting traits can fall deeply in love. Although they are both secret rebels of the party and they both hate the Party's totalitarian power in Oceania, Winston and Julia still bear a striking difference from each other. They are different in physical appearances, their views upon life, and their motivation towards the rebellion. Despite their contrasting beliefs and traits, the couple still manages to overcome the difficulties lying in front of them.
Physically, the appearance of Winston is exact antithesis of Julia's. Winston is a quiet man at his late thirties. He is very unhealthy, or in a poor physical condition that causes him to cough every morning. Nevertheless, the young Julia is energetic and fresh when being compared to Winston. The way she throws her clothes off shows her confidence and excitement on her sex life and it attracts the old man, Winston, to the pretty looking Julia. "Her Body seemed to be pouring some of its youth and vigor into his." (Page 143) Julia is very energetic compared to Winston, and she brings fresh enjoyment and fascinating excitement into their relationship.
Both Julia and Winston live their lives in a similar way; they are constantly in the danger of getting captured by the Party. However, their points of view of life are very different from each other. Julia simply wants a life without restrictions and limits to her pleasure. She is indifferent and very limited on her desire and expectations towards the government. All she wishes is she can live happily in the present, and does not worry about anything else other than herself. On the contrary, Winston sees himself drenched in a measurable life that, he believes, has to be changed. Believing that there is still hope in his life, Winston secretly wishes to overthrow the government. For instance, he wants to have sex not for his physical desire or needs, yet to rebel against the Party. This indicates that Winston is not like Julia who is a pragmatic woman trying to live in the moment and making the best of her life. He sees things in long terms, and does things not for his own pleasure but for rebellions.
Although both Julia and Winston are secret rebels against Big Brother, they take on different approaches and means of rebellion. The quote "It was something in your face... I am good with people who don't belong. As soon as I saw you I knew you were against them." (Page 128) reveals that both of them have concealed antagonistic idea towards the Party. It is because both of them share the same kind of hatred to the Party. This has allowed them to fall so deeply in love and create the unbreakable bond between the two. They swear to never betray each other, though their personalities and characters are so different. However, unlike Winston, Julia is very self-centered. Even though she is against the Party's way of operation, she has yet not taken any initiative towards the situation to change it. On the other hand, Winston said, "I don't imagine that we can alter anything in our lifetime, but we can imagine little knots of resistance springing up here and there... gradually growing up, and even leaving a few records behind, so that the next generation can carry on where we left off." (Page 162) Winston is the one who is much more concerned about the entire system of the society and the false information given by the government. His speech shows that he is willing to sacrifice himself for the freedom and benefits that human beings deserve to have.
The novel shows how two people that both take on the lives as rebels and contain completely difference in perspectives; however, still be brought together. Their similarities are very limited due to their age difference, physical features, and even their personalities. It has shown that people in the later generations can be brainwashed more easily by the Party than the old time people, such as Winston, who is ready to devote his own life in the exchange of freedom and human rights. Julia, on the contrary, knows nothing and is careless about the truth behind the Party. She only cares about herself and she rebels simple because she does not want to be under control.

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