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Totalitarianism In 1984

1109 Words5 Pages

Most individuals are guided on a day-to-day basis by fundamental, self-determined beliefs and values – those values constantly being refined and becoming more deeply entrenched in life. But, however firm one’s moral compass is, depression and trauma permanently alters one’s consciousness. In the dystopian novel “1984”, the author, George Orwell, reveals the sadistic consequences that can be the ultimate result when thoughts intrinsic to human nature are persecuted. The novel illustrates a negative utopian picture, a society ruled by rigid totalitarianism. The protagonist in this novel is Winston Smith, an editor in the Ministry of Truth who is responsible for rewriting history. Winston does not completely accept the ideology that is fed to …show more content…

It is a powerful symbol manifest of Winston’s relationship with Julia, along with his hopes and aspirations. Inside the paperweight, the coral seems to be larger than life. This signifies that Winston’s small hopes were magnified; like how the opulence of the glass paperweight made the object seem magical – alienated from the mundane nature of Ingsoc. Winston, with a dogmatic fervor, believes that the mind is solely commandeered by the individual. This is encapsulated through the nature of the paperweight. The “strange, pink, convoluted object” that is encased and protected by glass represents the complex intricacies of the human mind and Winston’s belief that the mind is tenable against external forces. This idea is further reinforced when Winston, through Orwell, states, “Nothing was your own except the few cubic centimeters inside your skull,” (Orwell 29). Despite this belief, the paperweight is also delicate – well depicting the fragility of humans. When the Thought Police arrest Winston, the paperweight is smashed. This foreshadows the breaking of Winston’s spirit and mind, as well as depriving him of his humanity. When the paperweight is destroyed, it marks the last time that Winston and Julia hold mutual feelings of love for each other. Winston realizes his enlarged dream of a non-totalitarian Ingsoc was hopeless and futile. When the paperweight shatters, it literally depicts the shattering of Winston’s

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In this section, Winston’s entire out look and thought process changes extremely quickly and determinedly. Once he starts to interact with this girl who he seems to keep bumping into to, the whole course of Winston’s outwardly obedient but internally disobedient behavior becomes much more actively counter regime than it ever had before. This drastic change begins even in his first interaction with the mysterious girl who falls in front of him in the hallway at their office, “A curious emotion stirred in Winston’s heart. In front of him was an enemy who was trying to kill him; in front of him, also, was a human creature, in pain and perhaps with a broken bone. Already he had instinctively started forward to help her” (107-108).

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Winston fails to stay true to his belief of staying loyal to Julia going against how a hero is someone who is idealized for being moral. As part of the Party’s plan to reintegrate those who have rebelled against them, the final step is going to room 101 that holds “the worst thing in the world” (283). Winston and Julia have fail to betray each other throughout their obscure time in the Ministry of Love until one of Winston’s greatest fears, rats are literally brought to the table. Winston fears rats more than anything and he did not want to interact with them in any negative way causing him to yell out “'Do it to Julia! Do it to Julia!

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The demeanour of the black-uniformed men suddenly became more subdued. Something had also changed in Mr Charrington’s appearance. His eye fell on the fragments of the glass paperweight. (pg 282, ebook)” Winston was introduced to Mr. Charrington 7 years ago, the fact that the Party knew of Winston's rebel tendencies before he even knew about them himself shows that the Party has no weak points in their security.

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Extreme surveillance and conditioning of the people makes it incredibly hard to rebel. This is one of Winston’s biggest problems. He knows that there are people like him out there, but he does not know how many there are and where they are. Despite this, Winston fully embraces his rebellious nature. He repeatedly questions the Party’s actions and criticizes the state of the country.

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The paperweight Winston bought at Carrington’s shop is a clear example of a material that was not destroyed in the novel until the thought police saw it. The diary Winston kept is also an important symbol in the novel which shows the audience how Winston tries to write for the future. However, he keeps it in secret because although it is not illegal, he is sure that he will be punished if he is

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The glass paperweight are symbols that are found in part two of the novel which is representative of the past before the revolution and freedom of both Winston and Julia as a small sign of hope for the future. Winston bought the paperweight and thought that it was very old and beautiful, thinking that “It is a little chunk of history that they have forgotten to alter” (Orwell 152).Because of this small piece that was a part of Winston’s life, it made him realize how special Julia is to him and also a symbol of hope thinking that they would be together forever no matter what the government's rules are. As the reading continues on page , the thought police have found Julia and Winston, "Soldiers intrude and one smashes the paperweight... Flinging

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