1984 by George Orwell
I admit I'm not quite content with the ending of this novel. Like many other optimistic readers, I hoped for Winston to be able to successfully rebel against the Party, escape the Ministry of Love with his head still on his shoulders, and with Julia by his side. Quite frankly, none of these events occurred. In the end, it was as if the Party had once again reiterated the idea of limitless power. Literally, in order to establish a uniformed society the Party was practically brain washing the society through acts of torture in order to get them to follow their rule. And in the end... nothing is resolved. It kills me to think that nothing ever gets better for Winston or Julia, and that they have lost their sense of self and identity for nothing. "He gazed up at the enormous face. Forty years it had taken him to learn what kind of smile was hidden beneath the dark mustache,"(Orwell, 297). Here Winston is, thinking he finally understand big brother and loved him, when in all reality he is a brainwashed fool. He wasn't insane when he came into the Ministry of Love like they told him, but him definitely came out insane.
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Blog #3
1984 by George Orwell
The plot twist with O'brien became even more surprising when readers learn that O'brien is an operative of the Ministry of Love and has been for some time now. O'brien looks over Winston's torture sessions and informs Winston that his crime was refusing to accept the Party’s control of history and his memory. Through O'brien's torture on Winston, Winston begins to develop a love for O'brien because although O'brien is initiating the pain, he is also the one who stops it. He even goes as far as to convince himself that O'brien isn't the source of the pain. Through spending time with O'brien, Winston learns the Party's ultimate tool for power. Instead of destroying enemies, the Party converts them, similar to what is happening to Winston. Slowly but surely, readers can see and feel Winston's rebellious will dissolving. As the torture continues and Winston becomes more and more brainwashed by O'brien, a change in Winston Occurs. He no longer feels anger or hatred toward Big Brother, but gratitude and security. At the end of the novel, Winston thinks to himself, "He had won the victory over himself. He loved Big Brother,"(Orwell, 298). Although this may seem like a happy ending, I actually found it quite depressing. No longer does Winston see this corrupt society for what it is, but is rather living in a dream like haze created by Big Brother.
The plot twist with O'brien became even more surprising when readers learn that O'brien is an operative of the Ministry of Love and has been for some time now. O'brien looks over Winston's torture sessions and informs Winston that his crime was refusing to accept the Party’s control of history and his memory. Through O'brien's torture on Winston, Winston begins to develop a love for O'brien because although O'brien is initiating the pain, he is also the one who stops it. He even goes as far as to convince himself that O'brien isn't the source of the pain. Through spending time with O'brien, Winston learns the Party's ultimate tool for power. Instead of destroying enemies, the Party converts them, similar to what is happening to Winston. Slowly but surely, readers can see and feel Winston's rebellious will dissolving. As the torture continues and Winston becomes more and more brainwashed by O'brien, a change in Winston Occurs. He no longer feels anger or hatred toward Big Brother, but gratitude and security. At the end of the novel, Winston thinks to himself, "He had won the victory over himself. He loved Big Brother,"(Orwell, 298). Although this may seem like a happy ending, I actually found it quite depressing. No longer does Winston see this corrupt society for what it is, but is rather living in a dream like haze created by Big Brother.
Blog #2
1984 by George Orwell
The reoccurring themes of physical pain and control constantly appear in this last section. The party believes that through torture, they can control the minds of their subjects. Through the use of physical pain, the party is able to destroy and alter human reason, which readers see happen to Winston when he betrays Julia. Winston states, "Do it to Julia! Do it to Julia! Not me! Julia! I don't care what you do to her. Tear her face off, strip her to the bones. Not me! Julia! Not me!"(Orwell, 2860. It is in this moment that the party has officially taken over Winston's mind. Beforehand, even while in the Ministry of Love, Winston had not betrayed Julia for he loved her and wanted her to be safe. When Winston throws Julia under the bus, the one person he truly loved, the power of the party is revealed. This ties back to the idea that physical pain eliminates human rationality. Even though Winston had just proclaimed his love for Julia moments before, under the pressure of torture and physical pain, Winston is able to deny his love for Julia and even ask to put her through the pain instead of him. Winston is a prisoner of his own body. He will do anything, say anything or be anything when his psychical self is endangered.
The reoccurring themes of physical pain and control constantly appear in this last section. The party believes that through torture, they can control the minds of their subjects. Through the use of physical pain, the party is able to destroy and alter human reason, which readers see happen to Winston when he betrays Julia. Winston states, "Do it to Julia! Do it to Julia! Not me! Julia! I don't care what you do to her. Tear her face off, strip her to the bones. Not me! Julia! Not me!"(Orwell, 2860. It is in this moment that the party has officially taken over Winston's mind. Beforehand, even while in the Ministry of Love, Winston had not betrayed Julia for he loved her and wanted her to be safe. When Winston throws Julia under the bus, the one person he truly loved, the power of the party is revealed. This ties back to the idea that physical pain eliminates human rationality. Even though Winston had just proclaimed his love for Julia moments before, under the pressure of torture and physical pain, Winston is able to deny his love for Julia and even ask to put her through the pain instead of him. Winston is a prisoner of his own body. He will do anything, say anything or be anything when his psychical self is endangered.
1984 blogs part 2
1984 by George Orwell
Winston has been placed in a disturbing and disgusting cell filled with other criminals. These criminals are not allowed to converse with one another, they cannot cover their faces, or even place their hands in their pockets. There is constant chatter of the supposedly torturous and inhuman Room 101. When Winston asks O'brien what is to be found in this room, O'bien answered with the ominous response of "you know what is in Room 101, Winston. Everyone knows what is in Room 101"(Orwell, 260). Later on in the novel, when Winston is in Room 101, O'brien reveals a large cage full of rats. It can be drawn that Room 101 simply is where a persons worse fears come alive, which can explain why Winston saw rats. It was the threat of these rats eating him alive that eventually led him to betray Julia. This actions pretty much completes and "cures" Winston, leaving him as a lover and supporter of big brother. His rebellious side is not longer present, along with any physical or mental attraction is Julia. He has become just another devoted follower of big brother.
Winston has been placed in a disturbing and disgusting cell filled with other criminals. These criminals are not allowed to converse with one another, they cannot cover their faces, or even place their hands in their pockets. There is constant chatter of the supposedly torturous and inhuman Room 101. When Winston asks O'brien what is to be found in this room, O'bien answered with the ominous response of "you know what is in Room 101, Winston. Everyone knows what is in Room 101"(Orwell, 260). Later on in the novel, when Winston is in Room 101, O'brien reveals a large cage full of rats. It can be drawn that Room 101 simply is where a persons worse fears come alive, which can explain why Winston saw rats. It was the threat of these rats eating him alive that eventually led him to betray Julia. This actions pretty much completes and "cures" Winston, leaving him as a lover and supporter of big brother. His rebellious side is not longer present, along with any physical or mental attraction is Julia. He has become just another devoted follower of big brother.
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Blog #4
What a shock it was when Winston and Julia are caught. The moment was so calm and simple that i was taken by utter surprise when they hear the voice on the telescreen. How inhuman that all these people whom they've come to trust and rely on are actually traitors. I had a slight inclination that O'Brien was secretly working against Winston, but I was shocked to learn that Mr. Charrington was a ,member of the thought police. From the beginning, Julia and Winston knew that they would eventually be caught for comitting various crimes, but as the book progressed, I truly believed that they couple had a chance of possibly defeating the Party. They had been successful thus far, and I began to believe maybe Winston and Julia really will start the rebellion. Obviously this idea was wrong. "We are dead," the couple announces only a few minutes before they are caught (Orwell, 220). How ironic that the couple doesn't even realize how on target they truly are.
Blog #3
Julia and Winston travel to see O'Brien together, where they both admit that they are enemies of the party. O'Brien swears them in to the order of the rebellion. Although this excites Winston and Julia, they are aware of how this will only further lead to their death. Through the diary, his relationship with Julia, and his proclamation as an enemy of the Party, Winston has dug himself in a irreversible hole. Both Julia and Winston confess that if they are tortured, they both will rat the other out, but they still love one another... what? This only foreshadows what horrors are to come for the doomed couple. Readers also learn a bit more about Winston's past in this chapter. Apparently he stole from his family and then never returned. The frequent mention of Winston's family makes me wonder if readers will ever learn exactly what happened to them. These flashbacks must mean something important and I believe this will be revealed soon in part three. The the last thing O'Brien says is "Thee place where there is no darkness, (Orwell, 178). This only makes Winston Trust O'Brien more.
Blog #2
1984 by George Orwell
In order to maintain his newly found love affair, Winston rents the empty room above Mr. Charrington’s shop (another bad idea). This apartment becomes their source of freedom, where they can break away from party obligations and pretend to live normal lives. On one occasion though, Winston finds a rat in the room and immediately becomes horrified. This is insignificant at the time, but later foreshadows what Winston will encounter when he and Julia get caught. Interestingly enough is the contrast found between Winston and Julia. Winston is primarily concerned with rebelling against the party and discussing the corruption of the party, whereas Julia only rebels through her sexual acts. Julia is rather uncommitted to hating or supporting the party. She enjoys her acts of rebellion, but is ultimately unconcerned with how the Party runs things. I think it bothers Winston that she is so passive about the Party, but regardless he loves her. The plot really gets rolling when Winston has his first real encounter with O'Brien. During his brief conversation with O'Brien, O'Brien states, "The Tenth Edition in not due to appear for some months, I believe. But a few advance copies have been circulated. I have one myself. It might interest you to look at it, perhaps?"( Orwell, 158). It is obvious that O'Brien is speaking of Goldstein's book that was mentioned earlier in the novel. If only Winston knew O'Brien was not a man to be trusted.
In order to maintain his newly found love affair, Winston rents the empty room above Mr. Charrington’s shop (another bad idea). This apartment becomes their source of freedom, where they can break away from party obligations and pretend to live normal lives. On one occasion though, Winston finds a rat in the room and immediately becomes horrified. This is insignificant at the time, but later foreshadows what Winston will encounter when he and Julia get caught. Interestingly enough is the contrast found between Winston and Julia. Winston is primarily concerned with rebelling against the party and discussing the corruption of the party, whereas Julia only rebels through her sexual acts. Julia is rather uncommitted to hating or supporting the party. She enjoys her acts of rebellion, but is ultimately unconcerned with how the Party runs things. I think it bothers Winston that she is so passive about the Party, but regardless he loves her. The plot really gets rolling when Winston has his first real encounter with O'Brien. During his brief conversation with O'Brien, O'Brien states, "The Tenth Edition in not due to appear for some months, I believe. But a few advance copies have been circulated. I have one myself. It might interest you to look at it, perhaps?"( Orwell, 158). It is obvious that O'Brien is speaking of Goldstein's book that was mentioned earlier in the novel. If only Winston knew O'Brien was not a man to be trusted.
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