1984 Final Writing Assignment

The doctrine that O’Brien proclaims to Winston in 1984 plays a major role in maintaining the system of oligarchic collectivism and in Winston’s ultimate fate

We understand that Winston was a confused fatalistic character who basically struggled with optimism and hope, and desperately tried to relate what was happening during the present time to vague memories and events of the past. Throughout the book us readers did not have a clear image of O’Brien until he actually became apart of the larger plot in which we gained more knowledge and understanding about the role that he played in manipulating Winston and spelling out the system of oligarchical collectivism for the reader. I believe that in the speech posted where O’Brien lets Winston know where he went wrong is clever, yet maniacal.

We have come to realize that if anything, Winston at least tries to think on his own as an individual without rendering himself subject to though police. O’Brien realized this about Winston when he manipulated him, setting himself in a position where he appeared to be just about everything that Winston idealized. It’s sad and ironic that O’Brien opened up by expressing how Winston was flawed in trying to think as an individual and not conforming to the ideals and principle set forth by the Party. Its hard not to feel bad for Winston, especially when he’s in a situation where its seems as though during a time as such where the population was bound and crippled by mental oppression and where people were forced to believe anything other than truth with no opposition, the only way out would be to realize, that there is no way out but to conform.

Throughout the speech that O’Brien gives he uses that same tactics that the Party uses to manipulate the minds of its residents, especially when O’Brien begins to talk about reality. Honestly I believe that most of the people living under the rule of the Party are confused which is when its so easy for them to believe what the Party tells them. In regards to Winston’s confusing and his ultimate fate, I believe the case is different. When O’Brien goes on to say “When you delude yourself into thinking that you see something, you assume that everyone else sees the same things as you…It is impossible to see reality except by looking through the eyes of the Party.” He not only makes Winston feel as though he was alone in his “rebellion” but he also in a way shows how Winston inversely chose to ignore reality. You see, through Winston’s dreams and visions, he knew that he would eventually be perused and captured. Whether or not he knew if it would be O’Brien who would be his captor was unknown, but this just goes to show that Winston’s inability to accept or distinguish between a false reality, and the hard truth resulted in his torture and his overall conformity and complete trust in the Big Brother and the Party.