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1984 Human Nature Analysis

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Affinity of Human Nature and Psychological Torture in George Orwell’s 1984 In the novel 1984, Orwell depicts a society in which the entire people conform to one looming belief. Through the character of Winston, Orwell presents us with a figure to exhibit the important qualities of human nature. Winston’s unique nonconformity in this dystopian society lead to a string of psychological torment inflicted upon him, which eventually molds his thoughts to Party ideals. Winston’s psyche becomes completely stripped from him, resulting in the susceptibility of his mind to be conformed to any desired belief. Human nature requires one to hold beliefs in order to function in daily life (A Treatise). The Party recognizes this fragile aspect, and is successful in creating a society maintained by one predominant theory. George Orwell’s utilization of psychological torture in 1984 takes advantage of the intricate structures of human nature and mind in order to manipulate and alter one’s beliefs and disposition. The changes in Winston’s perspective do not abruptly occur all at once. Orwell illustrates the gradual descent of Winston’s mind into acceptance of authoritarian principles set forth by the Party. The anatomy behind the human mind is what …show more content…

According to the outlook of the Party, the human mind is simply a blank state, a compliant object left to be manipulated (Argyros). This is O’Brien’s main objective during the orchestration of Winston’s torture. “‘Never again will you be capable of ordinary human feeling. Everything will be dead inside you. We shall squeeze you empty, and then we shall fill you with ourselves’” (Orwell 124). Once Winston is broken down, all of his individual beliefs prior to the psychological torture becomes dissipated. The only thing left to occupy Winston’s mind is the love for Big Brother that O’Brien has manifested within

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Ethos Pathos Logos In George Orwell's '1984'

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After being tortured and facing his fear in Room 101, Winston was finally broken and now loves the party’s beliefs and Big Brother. Now we do not see the Winston who was against the party, we see him supporting the party because of manipulation through torture. A stylistic device that is used is pathos. Pathos is shown when Winston expresses his happiness that he was finally broken and free to love Big Brother but the reader feels sorry for Winston for getting extremely tortured and manipulated to support the oppressive party and dictator. This relates back to the thesis as George Orwell is predicting how people will get arrested and be manipulated and tortured to make society follow the government’s beliefs.

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At the beginning of the novel, Winston made it prominent that he dissented Big Brother and his party’s idea. He wrote in his diary, in Book 1 Chapter 1, “DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER…” (Orwell 18). This shows that Winston dissented his country’s government and was willing to rebel for he knew deep inside that

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Humanity In George Orwell's 1984

404 Words | 2 Pages

The novel describes the journey of Winston Smith as he rebels against the Party and tries to maintain his human qualities. By creating a totalitarian government in the novel 1984, George Orwell is able to express how important humanity is to not only Winston but also

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In George Orwell's dystopian novel, 1984, the author uses cacophonous and anaphora diction with rhetorical and imperative syntax to convey the fragility and selfish state of human nature; the author further portrays the immense suffering guided by abused power at the hands of a totalitarian government. An analytical and commentary writing on society, 1984 discusses topics such as the exploitation of and total control in the absolutist manner of tyrannic leadership. Written through the perspective of Winston Smith and his conflict between reality and illusion in a deceptive society, Orwell intentionally warns the future society of these topics. While forcefully observing himself in a mirror, Winston notices that “a…skeleton-like thing was coming towards him… [with] a bald scalp, a crooked nose, and battered-looking cheekbones” and under the layer of dirt, “the red scars of wounds, and… the scraggy neck seemed to be bending double under the weight of the skull” (296-297).

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2740 Words | 11 Pages

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1500 Words | 6 Pages

In the novel 1984 by George Orwell, the main theme is of conformity to the wants of society and the government. Themes of dehumanization of our species, as well as the danger of a totalitaristic state are repeatedly expressed. Orwell demonstrates this theme by using setting and characters in the novel. The setting helps to convey the theme because of the world and kind of city that the main character lives in. Winston’s every move is watched and controlled by the governmental figurehead known as “big brother”.

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1102 Words | 5 Pages

During a daily exercise known as the Two Minutes Hate, all Party members view a video usually featuring a speech denouncing the Party’s ideals and advocating for freedom and democracy. Even though Winston secretly supports these principles, he feels compelled to and even cannot avoid joining the frenzy of the Hate, entering a blind but abstract rage. He mentions that, “And yet that rage that one felt was an abstract, undirected emotion which could be switched from one object to another like the flame of a blowlamp. Thus, at one moment Winston’s hatred was not not turned against Goldstein at all, but, on the contrary, against Big Brother, the Party, and the Thought Police….(Orwell 14). This is how Winston’s fear differs from that of other people’s.

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