Katharine
Katharine was legally married to Winston Smith, as part of what she considered her “duty to the Party.” Though we never actually see her, she is discussed quite a lot throughout the novel. Winston does not believe that she is capable of thought because of her blind devotion to the Party. Even the act of trying to make children was simply an act to be carried out for the good of the Party. Once again, pleasure was not something to be experienced by the Outer Party. At one point, Winston even considered killing Katharine in her sleep, but he did not follow through. Nevertheless, the two were unable to have children and eventually separated. Winston never heard from Katharine again.
Comrade Withers and Comrade Ogilvy
Comrade Withers was previously an important member of the Inner Party. He even received the honourable Order of Conspicuous Merit, Second Class. How- ever, he was eventually vapourised, and became an “unperson.” Winston, as part of his job in the Records Department, has to make a “correction” to the history that details this honour. Instead, he replaces the name “Withers” with “Ogilvy.” This is a clear link to the manipulation of the populace, as well as the mutability of history, both of which will be discussed in the Key Themes Analysis.
Jones, Aaronson, and Rutherford
These three former Inner Party members were wrongfully arrested in 1965 and incriminated themselves for crimes such as murder and treason. They were eventually executed.
However, Winston finds a news clipping that proves the innocence of these three men. Unfortunately, due to the nature of the Party doctrine and desired control over its citizens, Winston has to vapourise this truth by getting rid of it in the “Memory Hole.” Essentially, this history is not considered “fact” any more, because someone would already have made a “correction” that aligns with the Party’s image. The fact becomes “fiction,” and has no place in Oceania.
Bumstead and the Starving Man
Bumstead and the Starving Man are both in prison in the Ministry of Love at the same time as Winston. The man is clearly being tortured by people within Miniluv, so Bumstead tries to give the starving man a piece of bread. He is punished for doing so; his jaw is broken, resulting in heavy bleeding. Some guards were go- ing to take the Starving Man into Room 101 as punishment, the room in which criminals are tortured with their worst fears. However, following Bumstead’s act of charity, the Starving Man is so desperate that he tells the guards to take Bum- stead away instead.
