1984 Forum

I have to write a paper on the difference between the nature and city settings and how it affects the characters. Any ideas?

Look at the difference between the two settings. The city is gray, boring, inhibiting and uncreative. Whereas in the country, people can love, can have freedom, can choose and be alive. It is something to desire, the libedo of the physical world. What the city does to you, the country can take away and make well. It is the promised land, the area where people can be natural as animals and who they should be.

I agree with George and will add a few more ideas.  The city is dusty and uniform--everyone is identified by dress.  Out in the Golden country, the air is fresh and there are no telescreens  Winston and Julia enjoy privacy to converse and to interact as they choose.  There are birds and flowers and peace--not news bulletins and thought police and rocket bombs.  To Winston, it feels like the past.  Without knowing quite how or why, he feels that he should pick flowers for Julia. 

While the city is more "civilized," the outdoors is more human.

Oh--one more thing I forgot to mention, about clothing: Out in the Golden Country, Julia flings off her uniform.  Winston feels that in that one simple gesture she is flinging off the Party.  Just another example of being more natural out there and more constricted in "civilization."

Thanks, Coco. That's really helpful.