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1984 Literary Essay: Winston Smith, Hero or Not?
The 1984 novel by George Orwell, published in nineteen forty-nine, serves as a caution against totalitarianism. Orwell dystopia pressurized a deep down impression on the readers, and his intentions uniquely got into people’s culture. The novel’s title and several of its ideas, for example, Big Brother and Thought Police, are really understood and recognized for current political and social abuses. Envisioning a future state that bans individual loyalties while manipulating memory, this paper looks into how Orwell wrote the nineteen eighty-four as a political declaration against totalitarianism.
The novel is placed in 1984 in Oceania, one of the three conflicting totalitarian states; the others include Eurasia and Eastasia. Oceania is ruled by the all and ever controlling Party, which has indoctrinated the people into thoughtless obedience to Big Brother, its leader. The Party has come up with a propagandistic language called the Newspeak, which is majorly made to alter free thought and enhance the Party’s doctrines. The Party’s words comprise doublethink, which is considered in its slogans; freedom is slavery, war is peace, and ignorance is power. The Thought Police are responsible for maintaining control and continued surveillance within the Party.
The book’s heroic figure, Winston Smith, is a party functionary dwelling in London, which is still affected by nuclear war after the Second World War. He is more attached to the Outer Party, and his work is mainly rewriting history to the Ministry of Truth, bringing it with the modern political thinking. However, Winston’s thirsty for decency and truth in society results in him being seen as rebelling against the government. He opposes the Party’s rule despite understanding that he is a thought criminal and definitely would be caught not long.
Winston goes ahead and starts a love affair with Julia, who was a young woman, and they both rent a house in a place surrounded by Proles. This intimate affair of Winston and Julia is firmly forbidden by the Party; therefore, the two are defiant to the state’s rules and obligations. Additionally, Winston shows interest in the Brotherhood and is both unaware that they are carefully watched. O’Brien, who is a spy for the Party and a secret member of Brotherhood, approaches Winston. He seems to be searching for the thought criminals, whereby Winston is one of them. Eventually, Winston and Julia are caught and taken to the Ministry of Love for reeducation. The torture, imprisonment, and reeducation for Winston are directed to destroy his humanity and dignity and do away with his stand on independence. Winston is taken to Room 101, where he encounters rats; he expresses feelings of fear and storms into betraying Julia, an act which leads to his release. Later, Winston encounters Julia, and none seems to be interested in the affairs of each other. Instead, Winston eventually loves Big Brother.
Generally, the 1984 book by George Orwell is an illustration of a state in which people are closely monitored. Thinking differently will result in torture, and that propaganda and thought acts as a reminder of government uncountable evils. Winston hates with passion the totalitarian control and repressions that his government practices. He stands out as a heroic figure as he risked his life process and acts as a symbol of civilized life values.