Jozef Malesa was once a beloved figure within the Party, a son of two old activists and a worker of heroic reputation. He was chosen to be destined for great things, specially educated and pushed forward to positions of responsibility in the Party. However, he eventually decided to return to his role as a simple bricklayer due to ethical pressures from the bureaucracy above him.
He found the Party's dealings with people to be lacking in direct contact and was disturbed by the way they dealt with people, especially their lack of direct contact. He thought workers knew better than the leadership many times, but that wasn't the way power flowed. He was uncomfortable with compromises to his idealism and remained committed to social justice.
Jozef's great pleasure in life was laying brick. He found the work satisfying and fulfilling, which is why he was such an obviously superior worker in the first place. He joined his friends for the May Day rally, where his comfort and confidence in his place in society caused him to defer to no man, certainly no rat-faced men in overcoats with red armbands.
Overall, Jozef Malesa was a complex character who was torn between his commitment to social justice and his desire to maintain his status within the Party. Despite his flaws, he remained committed to his beliefs and worked towards making a difference in society.
