Sex and Freedom in Early Book Two

     Some things I noticed in the beginning of Book Two were the bits on sex that made me a slightly uncomfortable while reading. For starters, Winston admitting to Julia his horrific desires/fantasies regarding her, only to be met with her laughing delightedly felt like a weird and gross decision on Orwell's part. Generally reading about what Winston says he imagined is uncomfortable to me, but the way he says it like it's no big deal, as well as her reaction, make my experience less even less enjoyable. After this, I didn't particularly like Winston describing Julia's sexual habits as foul and impure, but I recognize that this is attributed more to the values ingrained in the dystopian society in which they live rather than Orwell's personal biases. 

    I also feel like for a society with such stern control on human freedoms, Winston and Julia being able to sustain their relationship and activities for so long seems unrealistic. At the beginning of the book, Winston was basically saying that he accepted death after starting his diary, and one would think that in a society where thought police exist, he would not still be around so long after starting it. Not only has he avoided punishment for that offense, but he is currently engaging in a loving affair with another member of the party, something that seems incredibly against this society's values. Given that he talks about not being able to do his job on account of the feelings Julia's note evoked in him, it feels preposterous that he has not yet been found out. Not to mention Julia has been doing this sort of thing since way before she even gave him the note.

    Anyway, I'd love to hear your thoughts on these things, or anything else in the reading that you might have found interesting.