1984
In George Orwell's 1984, Winston Smith feels frustrated by the oppression and rigid control of the ruling Party of London, which prohibits free thought, sex, and any expression of individuality. The people of his nation, Oceania, are watched every minute of every day by "Big Brother", an omniscient leader who can only be seen on "telescreens," but never in real life. Winston illegally purchases a diary in which to write his criminal thoughts, and becomes fixated on a powerful Party member named O'Brien, whom Winston believes is a secret member of the Brotherhood, the legendary group that works to overthrow the party. He takes part in an affair with Julia, a co-worker, which is of course, a terrible crime. In the long run, Winston commits a form of suicide through his actions. Judging by Smith's behavior, he would rather rebel against "Big Brother" as long as possible and accept the consequences for his actions, than fall victim to the Party's control over all thoughts and indi!viduality. This essay will attempt to outline Winston Smith's progression form a neurotic, paranoid man, to a man who protests against a quasi-utopian society and a totalitarian government. Even at the beginning of the novel, Winston does not want to sa
"You might dodge successfully for a while, even for years, but sooner of later they were bound to get you" (19). What they were doing was dehumanizing man completely. Orwell might have thought this could possibly happen in the future because of World War II, how Hitler had brain washed many people in to believing that Jews did not belong and that their population should be wiped out. If one man could do such a thing then why not think a whole group or party of people could possibly do something in a similar way. In the last scene, Winston is taken to the dreaded Room 101, where his worst nightmare, the most horrible thing that could happen to him, does. A cage full of rats is strapped to his face, when finally, his spirit is broken and was "filled with the party", and he is released to the outside world. His spirit was not broken because of the cage of rats strapped to his head, it was when he said, 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!" Winston Smith: "Have you done this," speaking of sex, "before?" "His heart leapt. Scores of times she had done it; he wished it had been hundreds- thousands. Anything that hinted at corruption always filled him with a wild hope."(104) Knowing he will be punished, he falls in love with her. Winston cannot stop this love he has for Julia, and even though the Party outlaws such relationships, Smith feels he has nothing to lose. This is where his opposition toward the party becomes a verbal and physical act. "Thoughtcrime was not a thing that could be concealed forever. You might dodge successfully for a while, even for years, but sooner or later they were bound to get you." Winston Smith: "I hate purity, I hate goodn
Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1212
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
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