Similarities Between Winston And O Brien

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Isabelle Byrd Ms. Winder English III 5 April 2023 Two Sides of the Same Brain Yin and Yang, protagonists and antagonists, Winston and O’Brien These two men are different sides of the same coin. In the novel, the two individuals are portrayed as very similar. Their most common factor is their intelligence. The story follows our protagonist, Winston, as he rejects and rebels against the Party, a system that mind-controls individuals and whose primary goal is total tyranny and dominance. O’Brien, Winston's friend and ultimate betrayer, is the head of the thought police at the party. Though seemingly different, especially considering the social status in the book and where they are at, Winston and O’Brien in the novel 1984 think the same way. …show more content…

Since the beginning, Winston has felt a connection between O’Brien and him. Despite having visions of him, she says that they will meet in a place without darkness. Because of this, Winston automatically has hope that O’Brien is on his side. Winston trusts O’Brien enough to go to his apartment, which could've ended in exposure for Winston. Although in the novel, Winston usually trusts no one. Even he did not trust Julia at first. However, they have had a bond since the beginning like no one else in the novel. "One is reminded of this in the relationship between O'Brien and Winston, which is the only human relationship in 1984—the Winston-Julia relationship being hollow and merely physical by comparison." Ralph A. Ranald Ralph is explaining that Winston and O’Brien’s connection is deeper than Winston and Julia's ever could’ve been. Julia and he are purely physical, while Obrien and he connect on a deeper level. Fast forward: after being captured, it is shown that O’Brien has stalked Winston for seven years. He can predict Winston; he understands him. It's because he sees a version of himself in him. That is why he took so long with Winston during the process. "There was a link of understanding between them more than affection or partisanship" (Orwell, 25). O'Brien, when interrogating Winston, seemed to know what Winston was going to say before he even said it and even spoke Winston's private thoughts out loud. He is not a physicist, but he knows Winston well enough to guess what he is thinking. This just proves that Winston and O’Brien have this connection like no other couple in the