John Sees Mrs. Cangialosi English 12E 3 May 2023 Senior Research Paper By examining the characters of Thomas and Winston with the higher-ups, the effects of their characteristics on other characters, and the impact of the government on the general population, "The Maze Runner" and "1984" illustrate the importance of individuality and memory while also highlighting the similarities and differences between the two novels. Thomas and Winston compare well due to the nature of the environments they were placed in. Both characters have to deal with tyrannical governments and have to create their own ways to escape and thrive with what they were given. Their characteristics allow them to succeed and help the people around them throughout each novel. …show more content…
This thoughtcrime is what causes Winston to ponder these thoughts by himself and makes him more independent. Winston thinks about how everyone in Oceania is a corpse waiting to be sent to their grave because it is impossible to escape the thought police. (Orwell 97). The importance of individuality is represented through Winston’s thoughts. He knows what is wrong with the society he lives in which makes him different from all of the other people he lives with. His individuality is highlighted in his differences from the rest of the population. One of the men in prison with Winston at the end of the novel was arrested for thoughtcrime. Thoughtcrime is having any thought in your brain that The Party does not like or approve of. The man, Parsons, said that he was so thankful that they caught him before it was too late. (Orwell 294-295). The government takes so much control of the people that even when they are in jail and are inevitably most likely going to die, they are still happy because they think the government has saved them. Parsons is a perfect example of how the Party has too much power and extreme control over its citizens. Thomas had just seen a griever and what it could do to a human and he wanted now more than ever to become a runner. He felt this strong desire and obligation to become a runner of the maze. (Dashner 24). Thomas’ individuality is highlighted …show more content…
This internal constant thought causes him to realize what is real and what is fake in his world. In Newspeak, the language of Oceania, DOUBLETHINK is when you hold two contradictory ideas in your mind simultaneously and accept both of them. (Orwell 270). The Party uses this to create a strong hold over the people. It is one of the strongest techniques that is used to control everything that goes on in the society of Oceania. “Individuality has been replaced by an absolute conformity to the rules of the Party, with compliance monitored by the ever observant telescreens, in which even thoughts that differ from party orthodoxy are fatal crimes” (Burt 3). Daniel Burt gives a short synopsis of some of the branches of government of the Party and explains what they do. In this case, he is speaking about Individuality as a whole and how it is affected by the rules of the government. This amplifies the importance of Individuality because if there was no individuality then Winston would not have ever gone against the Party with Julia. “This was the great abiding lesson of my boyhood: that I was in a world where it was not possible for me to be good.” (Burt 2). Orwell states how he thought he couldn't be good growing up through wars and such. This relates directly back to Winston as he said that he feels no matter what he cannot win. Orwell’s personal