8 Comments
Jun 18Liked by Melissa Petrie

This explains a lot. Perhaps one of Orwell's greatest insights – that there is an «outer party» that, despite possessing a nominal status, lives under harsher material and behavioral constraints than proles – comes from being born in an «outer party» family.

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Yes, this is a great point!!! This has never 'clicked' in my mind until right now. Thank you!

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Wow, beautifully done Melissa. You are touching on important influences and character traits. Not enough to tell the whole story, but fleshing him out and giving probable/understandable details that will make his later choices resonate. I want to read the next chapter! Very happy for you, and congrats on getting this off the ground!

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Thank you so much, Michael! I’m trying to follow your advice about the Hero’s Journey—I’m glad it’s making you want to keep following along.

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Jun 18·edited Jun 18Liked by Melissa Petrie

I'm glad I found your work. Great stuff.

I know this is off topic, but it is on theme I think. For those that haven't, have a look at Ape and Essence (Huxley's post-Brave New World dystopian future). I warn those not familiar with it, it's got some very disturbing imagery.

If you're from New Zealand, especially Canterbury (yes, where the earthquake was, the mass shooting was, the pyramid is at the airport, a sculpture constructed from the steel frames from the WTC is. Yes, that Canterbury) search this link for either proper noun. You might be interested in Huxley's vision.

https://ia601405.us.archive.org/10/items/HeliganSecretsOfTheLostGardens/HuxleyAldous-ApeAndEssence.pdf

There's probably also a link at Anna's Archive to a better copy but after a quick look at the above pdf it looks ok.

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Interesting!! This is the first I'd heard of Canterbury (and any of the strange things that happened there—that's wild!).

John's read Ape and Essence, but I haven't, and will probably give it a read after this comment. Some parts of this blurb ring startlingly true.

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Jun 19Liked by Melissa Petrie

Oh yes, we're at the centre of things here. The gateway to Antarctica "don't you know" (channelling 'Lord Peter Wimsey').

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I always enjoy an obligatory biographical section.

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