Loss of Humanity in 1984

A detailed Summary of Loss of Humanity in 1984

Our humanity is every thing that makes us human; our emotions, dreams, sexuality, opinions and aspirations. If these were to be taken away, we would become adverse mutations of ourselves. That is what happens in George Orwell's 1984. . In 1984, Orwell discusses the dilapidation of society under a totalitarian regime. The loss of humanity in this novel has horrendous effects on society. The media used to communicate the adversities are relationships and sexuality and how their distortion affects the entire emotional workings of society.

In 1984, Oceanian society is without emotion and any true relationships. There is no true emotional or spiritual connection between any two people. The party achieves that by destroying the basis of all human emotion and intimacy, which is love and marriage. Love is forbidden in Oceanian society, and marriages are meaningless when it comes to intimacy. As Orwell puts it, "But a real love affair was an almost thinkable event." (Orwell, 1984, 71) Marriage is simply a protocol to purify pro-creation. The marriages had to be approved by the party, and "permission was always refused if the couple concerned gave the impression of being physically attracted to one another. The only recognized p

Along with love and marriage, the Party attempted the same with sex. "The Party was trying to kill the sex instinct, or, if it could not be killed, then distort it and dirty it."(Orwell, 69) Sex became like marriage, a vessel for pro-creation. According to the Party, sex was not supposed to be pleasureful but rather a task to be done. Winston Smith's wife Katherine phrased it as "our duty to the Party." Orwell describes sex between Winston and Katherine as mechanical and platonic. "To embrace her was like embracing a jointed wooden image. And what was strange was that even when she was clasping him against her he had the feeling that she was simultaneously pushing him away with all her strength. The rigidity of her muscles managed to convey that impression."(Orwell, 70) The use of words like rigid and wooden further conveys the sad state of sex in society. The inclusion of pleasure in sex is what makes it human, as we are the only species other than dolphin who perform intercourse for pleasure. This absence makes the citizens of Oceania inhuman and comparable to any vermin.

As this society is desensitized and sexless, people are unable to form any intimate relationships with each other to truly be friends or more. Winston and Julia's relationship is based on rebellion, something they share; citizens of Oceania don't have any feelings to share except the Hate that is shoved down their throats. So like Winston and Julia, they don't have any true relationships. They don't really care for each other. So when Syme, Winston's co-worker di

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Approximate Word count = 1048
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English