The Parsons
represent what is supposed to be the middle class since they are in an apartment. In his
depiction of them,demonstrates how the basic unit of society, the family, has had its structure
destroyed and traditional values subverted. At the time of 's writing of
which was 1948, shortly after World War II, traditional families were
intact with little divorce; children were respectful to their parents, and the middle class was
growing and prospering. Therefore, this futuristic portrayal of the "average" family
is completely different as it presents a family in chaos.
When Mrs. Parsons
asksto help her with her drain, Winston is reluctant to enter her apartment, or flat, as the
British call it.
Everything had a battered, trampled-on
look, as though the place had just been visited by some large violent animal. ...hockey sticks,
boxing gloves, a burst football, a pair of swety shorts turned inside out--lay all over the
foor, and on the table a litter of dirty dishes and dog-eared exercise books. On the walls were
scarlet banners of the Youth League and the spies, and a full-sized poster of Big
Brother.
After Winston is finished unclogging the drain,
a nine-year old orders him to put his hands in the air. He plays at the horrific things actually
done to the citizens, calling Winston a thought-criminal and a spy. Winston is threatened with
being vaporized or sent to the salt mines. In the boy's eyes, there is "a calculating
ferocity";Winston is glad he does not hold a real pistol because as he leaves, he is struck
in the head with something. Turning, he sees Mrs. Parson holding the boy with a look of
"helpless fright." As he walks farther, Winston reflects upon how nearly "all
children are horrible" and they love the Party and all that is connected with it.
Later, Winston learns that Parsons has been turned in by one of his sons because of
thought crime. The newspapers picture children who "heroes" for having turned in their
parent for thought crime, or some compromising remark.
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