Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Final 1984 Blog Post

Has Big Brother won? Why/Why not? Propose a way that the One State can be brought down. What do you think happens to Winston Smith at the end of the novel? Support your answer with analysis of specific quotes from the text.

                No matter how much it seemed like “Big Brother” was going to be defeated in the first two book of 1984, he ended up winning in the end. “Big Brother” started to win when Julia and Winston were caught. They though that they were safe from the Thought police; they weren’t. In book two they unknowingly confessed to every rebellious act they participated in when they spoke to O’Brien, a member of the Thought Police who was caught for his rebellious actions “a long time ago.” “Big Brother” wins when Winston writes, and accepts that, “FREEDOM IS SLAVERY,” TWO AND TWO MAKES FIVE”,  and “GOD IS POWER” on the slate he was given. “Big Brother’s” final victory occurs when Winston is in room 101 about to get attacked by hungry rats and yells, “'Do it to Julia! Do it to Julia! Not me! Julia! I don't care what you do to her. Tear her face off, strip her to the bones. Not me! Julia! Not me!” O’Brien releases Winston for this comment because it shows that he no longer loves Julia and loves “Big Brother.”

                One State can be brought down by “the spirit of man.” Men cannot fear doing what is natural. The rules of One State go against everything that is natural. Men should be more like Winston, unafraid to do what is right. Of course, two plus two is NOT equal to five. But, many men are afraid of what would happen to them if they believe otherwise. Winston, and all other rebels, is tortured into believing in “Big Brother’s” ways; however, most rebels are tortured then killed. If more men had “the spirit of man” the One State would be defeated.  

                At the end of the novel Winston began to live a life like everyone else’s. He may still have the “spirit of man” but he is weaker than before so he can’t show it. He loves “Big Brother”, who he hated in the beginning. The torture he experienced from O’Brien changed Winston. It forced Winston to be weaker and fear rebellion. Sadly, Winston no longer has strong feelings for Julia. When he was following her to Tube Station, he thought about how much he wanted to return to Chestnut Tree CafĂ© and left her. He no longer desired to be with her. Winston may have the “spirit of man,” but after being violently tortured he no longer has to will to do anything rebellious. Sadly, he was shot for no apperent reason and could no longer live out his life. After he was shot, everything about him died with him. His spirit died, and the Party lived on as if Winston had never lived.


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