Compassion

Compassion for others, especially those you are generally attached to, your friends and your family, is a diminishing characteristic in the populace of Oceania in 1984. Winston claims that he despises the dark-haired girl with every fiber of his being. She is what he thinks is going wrong with the younger demographics. They have devoted their entire existence to the Party. Even though he despises her he still feels for her when she falls in the hallway. He even goes as far as to help her. This is what separates Winston from the majority of the Party members. He still retains the sentiments of a different time: one when people were not afraid of what others could do to them.

Empathy and love are abating characteristics in the people of Oceania. The children of this society are Party-serving drones. Every action they partake in is to glorify or help the Party. They have no sense of loyalty to their own family or friends. They just feel devotion to Big Brother and the Party. This attribute has forced parents to not love their children, but fear them. People are losing many traits which make them human. Winston differs from the younger generation in this way. He still cares about others in a meaningful way. He shows compassion for Julia when she falls, even though he hates her. Their relationship that develops later also seems to be one-sided. She is much younger than Winston and therefore was raised in a time when empathetic traits were vanishing. Her manner expels a feeling that Winston is just another affair she is having with a Party member while Winston is becoming attached. He can't stop thinking about her. Winston still has a sense of compassion and affection that Julia lacks. He feels for many people while she exudes selfishness.

The population of Oceania in the novel, 1984, has changed from generation to generation. Each generation is becoming more and more self and party-serving. Winston is quite a bit older than Julia, and a lot older than the children of society. The fear of what will happen to those who disobey the Party has changed people into self-serving survivors. They don't care what happens to others as long as they survive.