Nineteen Eighty-Four Final Writing Assignment

The doctrine O'Brien proclaims to Winston in the passage plays a role in both maintaining the system of oligarchical collectivism upon which INGSOC is based and in Winston’s ultimate fate at the close of the novel. By persuading people such as Winston that their deviant behavior makes them a ludicrous minority, O’Brien convinces them that their thoughts are only felt by them- that they are alone in thinking that INGSOC’s government may be morally erroneous. By saying that this thinking comes from not being “disciplined”, he also insults Winston in many ways. The lifestyle in Oceania is based upon being disciplined. With hunger, pain (both physical and emotional), unhappiness, and a general disconnection from life being constant, discipline is a trait necessary for survival. To belittle Winston’s discipline, O’Brien is taking a direct stab at his morale. The stronghold on INGSOC’s citizens is apparent in O’Brien’s use of language, such as “submission…is the price of sanity.” To be viewed as being sane in Oceania, one must complete submit themselves to Big Brother and all the ideals of the Party. In reality, doing so makes a person anything but sane, as eventually, living this way takes its toll on a person’s mental health. Ironically, at this point, you are seen as being a perfect servant to INGSOC.

Although I am still unclear as to what Winston’s ultimate fate is at the end of the novel, this doctrine applies to it. My interpretation of the end is that Winston is killed or he finally submits himself fully to IGNSOC, therefore killing himself n the inside. In either of these instances, Winston does exactly what O’Brien wanted him to do- love Big Brother and disregard his own thoughts and feelings for those of the Party. By calling it “an act of self-destruction,” O’Brien does not mince words. Literally, once someone gives themselves to the Party, after being deviant, they are then killed. By surrendering to INGSOC and O’Brien and accepting the doctrine put before him, Winston finalizes his own demise.

Totalitarianism in 1984

After reading George Orwell’s novel, 1984, one theme that stood out to me was the manipulation of the government and the complete control they have over the citizens of Oceania. From the introduction of the Newspeak language into English, to the telescreens inside people’s households, the government not only imposes on its people, but also brainwashes them into thinking that this way of life is normal.

At one point in the book, Winston is attending an event for Hate Week. All of the attendees are in a rage over the war against Eastasia. Then, the man who was leading the “hate” got a message from his superiors saying that Oceania was now at war with Eurasia. Almost instantly, the crowd directed all their hate towards Eurasia instead of Eastasia, without even thinking. It was almost a thoughtless action, although it was one full of negative emotions. At this point in reading the book, I realized what a stronghold the totalitarian government had over its people. When humans stop thinking for themselves and can hate anything they are told to without regard or having their own opinion on it, they cease to be humans. This is the point where most citizens of Oceania are at in their lives.