Themes in the novel

Identity
In the novel, sex is primarily looked down upon by the Party. It itself can be interpreted as a form of expression and individuality. This is intertwined with the theme of Identity. A more obvious explanation for this restriction is the relationships that would be developed as a result of sexual relations threatened the Party by creating a stronger bond from one individual to another individual rather than the party itself.  The Party wanted to control sex as a primary tool to be used by the party for further control of individuals under it.  “The aim of the party was not merely to prevent men and women from forming loyalties which it might not be able to control. It’s real undeclared purpose was to remove all pleasure from the sexual act….The only recognized purpose of marriage was to beget children for the service of the party.” (65) Julia who appears later in the book, seems to have a hold on her identity,  had frequently participated in sexual exploits despite governing rule and the irony of her membership to the Junior Anti-Sex League.
Double Thinking
The main character utilizes double think to not only question the Party but to question himself. The idea of double thinking is considered completely and utterly taboo to the Party because any kind of double thinking was considered a direct challenge to the Party’s authority. “It was like a single equation with two unknowns. It might very well be that literally every word in the history books, even the things that one accepted without question, was pure fantasy. For all he knew there might never have been any such law as the jus primae noctis, or any such creature as a capitalist, or any such garment as a top hat.” (74-75) It appears that Winston has been growing more and fonder of double thinking and questioning the Party in his thoughts.
Memory
The theme of Double think also coincided with the main character’s Memory within certain aspects of the novel. “That was ten- eleven years ago. Today, probably, he would have kept that photograph. It was curious that the fact of having held it in his fingers seemed to him to make a difference even now, when the photograph itself as well as the event it recorded, was only memory. Was the Party’s hold upon the past less strong, he wondered, because a piece of evidence which existed no longer had once existed?” (79) This quote signifies the reality that it is impossible for the Party to completely control a person’s mind. Despite the destruction of the evidence. Winston remembers the people and events which are still ingrained in his mind, although lack of evidence made him doubt the memory. Winston’s job of deleting people from records who were once part of the Party but were vaporized is important because although he is wiping them from archive he is the one doing the action of deleting so he is able to have the memory of evidence.
Continuity
“…she did not understand that to push an inconvenient person over a cliff solves nothing. ‘Actually it would have made no difference,’ he said. ‘Then why are you sorry you didn’t do it?’ ‘Only because I prefer a positive to a negative. In this game we’re playing we can’t win.’” (135) This represents the continuity of Winston’s nature. At this point in the he is still too afraid to act on desires considering that he might as well be dead if he said anything that would offend the Party. It appears that the continuity in his character will last because he believes in the continuity of the power of the Party. The intimidation and manipulation still restricts Winston from gaining any courage to take a stand against the government this far in the novel. Later I feel the continuity will end and Winston will finally act on his thoughts and urges and take a stand against the Party.
Public Sphere
“It was no use. He turned around. A blonde silly faced young man named Wilsher, whom he barely knew was inviting him with a smile to a vacant place at his table. It was not safe to refuse. After having been recognized, he could not go sit at a table with an unattended girl. It was too noticeable.” ( 112) This is an example of the public sphere in that everyone’s lives are open to everyone else’s and the party. Whistleblowing was encouraged by the Party to its citizens and any suspicious activity of a neighbor would be reported for the good of the Party. This can refer to the neighbor backstabbing during Nazi rule in Germany. Neighbors would report on each other as seen with German citizens exposing and handing over Jewish people to the Nazi’s out of fear for their own image to the Nazi government. The use of fear and oppression will filter out those opposed in view or action.