Examples Of Betrayal In 1984 By George Orwell

What is a life without betrayal, without the human tendency to destroy? What would life be if without pain, without the breaking of bondages, without treachery, without defeat? Everything in life follows reasoning for it’s happenings. Betrayal can take up many forms and have a number of alienating effects. In 1984 by George Orwell, the protagonist, Winston Smith, finds himself observing the miniscule details of his society, Oceania. In his efforts to rebel and reveal the true nature of the head of Oceania, Big Brother, he only finds himself broken and despaired by the ones he was most fond of. In further explanation, Winston’s life has been a spiral of people who have entered and parted, without bidding farewells. First, his greed as a young

Maybe not in his lifetime, but his acts of thought crime may one day cause enough ripples to give way to a revolt and overthrow of the Party. Betrayal is highlighted through the manipulative and deceitful government. In Orwell’s 1984, The government is skilled in destroying trust between people, as readers see through O’Brien. The government maintains authority by ruling through fear; the government’s use and fixation to thoughtcrime has only built a larger barrier between citizens and free minds. Thus, this government has only caused citizens to betray one another and has led to the abandonment of trust between loved ones. When Smith and Parsons are both awaiting a trial in the Ministry of Love, Parsons reveals “It was my little daughter...She listened at the keyhole. Heard what I was saying and nipped off to the patrols the very next day. Pretty smart for a nipper of seven, eh? I don’t bear any grudge for it. In fact I’m proud of her” (233). The society has grown comfortable to the rules as a result of the manipulation and fear it has induced on it’s people. There is nothing else that the citizens can discern of besides the government’s domination of Oceania. The government has crafted a solid society that has institutionalized the ideas of secrecy, fear, betrayal, lying, and manipulation. With this knowledge, Winston believes that he is saving humanity. He is willing to give everything up for

His health became better and he gained a sense of purpose and happiness. After all was taken from him in the Ministry of Love, she was the only thing allowing him to hold onto his sanity. Julia released a sense of softness and delicateness into Winston. The trust between these two people grows into something much more than what he had with his wife before she disappeared. Julia, the anomaly in society, reveals the parts of Winston that Katharine causes to retreat, including his hatred of the Party. Julia, whether oblivious or optimistic, plays the game of the party and abides by the the rules because she’d rather live than die trying. In 1984, Julia divulges “Don’t you enjoy being alive? Don’t you like feeling? This is me, this is my hand, this is my leg, I’m real, I’m solid, I’m alive! Don’t you like this?” (136). Furthermore, knowing Julia as a witty and intricate human, Winston puts trust into her, only for it to result in treachery. Julia was the last straw between Winston and complete isolation. After Julia, O’Brien was able to remove his emotions and turn him into a ghost of a man, isolating him completely from any and all forms of pleasure he could have hoped to achieve. Winston yelps, "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!" (289). As a result of Winston’s betrayal, Julia and Winston are