The Failure Of Trust In Nineteen Eighty Four By George Orwell

As Walter Anderson philosophized, “[w]e’re never so vulnerable than when we trust someone—bust paradoxically, if we cannot trust, neither can we find love or joy”. According to this quotation, trust is vital in allowing others into one’s life and creates an individuality that is brought with private relationships. At the same time though, it is at the peak of trusting others when one is the most vulnerable to betrayal and deceit. In Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell, the ruling government, known as the Party, viciously suppresses any trust in others; however, it pushes the trust in Big Brother, the figurehead of the government. The Party employs the manipulative technique called doublethink, to simultaneously encourage and eliminate trust

Firstly, Winston realizes the Party’s stress on trusting solely Big Brother; however, he is led to trust others in attempt to bring happiness and purpose into his life. Secondly, Winston meets a woman named Julia, whom he grows to trust and love completely; although the love Winston has for Julia causes him to be vulnerable to the Party’s manipulative methods. Finally, Winston betrays and is betrayed by Julia and learns to trust Big Brother, which consequently leads to the demise of his life and will to live consciously. Ultimately, Orwell describes that in a totalitarian world, trusting others can be destructive towards one’s life and will to live.
Firstly, Winston realizes the Party’s focus on trusting only Big Brother and no one else. Despite this convention, he yearns to trust others to add purpose and happiness to his life. Immediately starting the novel, it is introduced that in the Orwellian world of Oceania, Big Brother and the Party are all powerful and Party members should trust and love him. The familiar line of “Big Brother is watching you”

As expected, the Party captures the couple and both are tortured by the Party in attempt to change their negative connotation surrounding Big Brother. Winston immediately confesses his crimes, although he still clings on to the hope and trust he has in his love for Julia which prevents him from giving into the Party’s initial torture. However, Winston does not expect the Party to be aware of the depth of his trust; it was their plan all along to capture Winston at the peak of his relationship with Julia, The Party captures Winston at that moment because they know that his trust in Julia is at an optimal level for exposure. By targeting that trust, the Party is able to stop that trust dead in their tracks and instead manipulate it towards Big Brother. Eventually, Winston follows this path and betrays Julia. The Party destroys his love by exposing his deepest fear of rats. This leads Winston to realize that his love for Julia is not all powerful and eternal since he is able to give it up so readily in order to save himself. After being released, Winston sees Julia and she describes that she betrayed him as well. She comments that in regards to the betrayal,
At the time when it happens, you do mean it. You think there’s no other way of saving yourself, and you’re quite ready to save yourself that way. You want it to happen to the other person. You