Examples Of Betrayal In 1984

Abandoned Faith

Psychologist Steven Stosny says: “Trust cannot be expected to return fully, until self-compassion and core value have grown larger than the fear of being hurt yet again” (“Trust and Betrayal”). This is true in a literal sense for Winston Smith in the dystopian novel 1984 by George Orwell. His “self-compassion” and fear of being hurt again led to the betrayal to Julia in Room 101. While the society in 1984 was pernicious and remorseless, Winston decided to alienate himself from the majority and remind himself of times when he was young and things were normal. It was no surprise that The Thought Police was invariably vigilant and caught Winston with these “illegal” concepts and beliefs prior to his knowledge. In such a society

Orwell’s first significant example of betrayal begins when Winston acknowledges that Parsons was betrayed by his own child. Parsons himself does not believe that his child betrayed him, rather he believes that she had done him a service. Although Parsons was asleep and unconscious at the time, he mumbled words that were in opposition to Ingsoc, they were still declared illegal and Parsons gladly accepted his given punishment. “Steven Alan Hassan, director of the Freedom of Mind Resource Center…argues that…brainwashing can be linked to a dissociative disorder, in which one’s consciousness, sense of identity or behavior is altered,” (Flora). The children in 1984 are therefore identified much like their parents—as indoctrinated so much as they are willing to betray those who have raised and cared for them since birth. This betrayal is seen as a betrayal of justice for Ingsoc, and adds to the contorted mood of loneliness displayed throughout the novel. The children of Oceania give Winston an uneasy, desolate feeling that reparation for this society is way past overdue. Once in prison, Winston sees someone he recognizes—Ampleforth who is a poet that works in the Records Department. Ampleforth explains that he

It was not until O’Brien summoned Winston to Room 101, where he used the last string of hope Winston had—only able to function because of a vague feeling of trust—in order to finally and actually ostracize him. His initial “morbid self-isolation [comes] from shunning social contact due to anger toward the world,” (Diamond). When O’Brien speaks of essentially taking over the world through war and indoctrination as seen in the Ministry of Love, Winston simply refutes and expresses that alienation as such would eliminate the free will of mankind and is virtually impossible. The hope that Winston had for the Proles and the rest of humanity was obliterated time and time again with O’Brien’s torture. This repetitive destruction adds to the novels entirety as a desolate, dystopian novel. Towards the end when Winston hears of the war on the radio, “he reassures himself of both the great victory he has won over himself and his newfound love for Big Brother,” (“1984 Book Three: Chapters