Children in 1984

Big Brother and the Party's rule of Oceania are having a drastic affect on the children in society. Winston had blocked out the memories from his childhood. He did not remember the day his mother disappeared until a dream kindled its return. Hunger had plagued the days prior to the strict regulation of the Party. Most of the population was going hungry. The last time he saw his mother, he was being a selfish brute. He denied his sick, baby sister food because he wanted it all. He felt that he deserved the chocolate more and took it from his sister's hands and ran off. He never saw his sister or mother again.

The children of Oceania in 1984 are just as self-serving if not more self-serving as Winston was that day. All actions are made for their own survival or the glorification of the party. It is an honour to be a part of the Youth League or the Spies. These children would be happy to turn in their own parents, the people who raised them, if they were doing anything a little unorthodox. Children have lost almost all loyalty and compassion. The Party sees it better that way. This way they become devout followers of the Party platforms. They are good Party members who do nothing wrong. It's easy to brainwash a child because their ideas are not fully developed. They are susceptible to the influence of their environment. They are growing up in an environment where loyalty to no one but the Party is glorified. Naturally, they would want to become a rewarded citizen. Winston, as a child, also exhibited some of these qualities, but the disappearance of his mother probably changed him. A child losing their parent wouldn't understand that it wasn't their fault until they were grown. As far as he knew, it was because he wouldn't share the chocolate. He still felt some loyalty to his family. In 1984, the children seem to have lost this loyalty. This idea of the perfect Party member that Big Brother is promoting could become the Party's undoing.

The Party is promoting no love or loyalty for any other human. If the world continues in this direction, why would anyone want to get married? If you are not supposed to care for anyone else, why would you want to have sex? Why would you want to have children? It might be your "duty to the party" (page 139) but it can also be someone else's duty. It's hard to convince someone to do something they have absolutely no desire to do. People fear their own children. They will most likely be the ones who turn you in. Why take that risk? Even if you are a devout Party member, the smallest thing could send you to the Ministry of Love, to your death.

Children are becoming drones of the Party. They don't have any loyalty to anyone but the party. They are an easy demographic to manipulate as their opinions and ideas are not developed. The environment can influence them to become whatever the Party wants. Programs like the Youth League and the Spies promote the development of good Party members. Winston was spared losing the characteristics of loyalty, love and compassion but as each generation ages, they lose these characteristics.