Ethical Dilemma In 1984

If we lived in a world of ever-changing lies and were penalized for taking part in our own human instinct and emotion, we would become internally numb. In 1984, Winston Smith opposing Big Brother along with the society he lives in results in many moral and ethical conflicts for himself and who he surrounds himself with. Winston is constantly trying to decide if the problem is within himself, or the world he lives in. These conflicts include the danger of independent thought, the morality of revolting, and the ethical implications that come with his love interest, Julia.

Winston faces immense danger whenever he gets wrapped up in his mind. He starts to ponder about himself and if his personal wants are immoral, along with this follows the fear of being caught by the thought police and becoming non-existent; never is, never was. The telescreens that constantly watch him are constantly having him question the society he lives in and if privacy is immoral. He is trapped between the Party’s principles and his own perception of reality. “The past was dead, the future was unimaginable. What certainty had he that a single human creature now living was on his side? And what way of knowing that the dominion of the Party would not endure forever?” (Orwell 234) Winston does not know what to believe in and is in an on-going state

of mental crisis. He is unable to communicate his true opinions with others in his society, and day-by-day sees them participating vigorously in the Party’s nonsense events and rules. Winston is utterly alone and is heavily conflicted when it comes to thinking for himself and the possibility of being caught that follows. The rest of the society is conflicted in the way that the ones that think like Winston can’t speak up,and the rest are following a de-humanizing government system.
When Winston hears of the possibility of an underground network uprising to overthrow the state, he is intrigued. However, he is faced with moral conflict. Is revolting against a government system that promises to provide so much for you a sin? Winston questions whether he should continuously break the law and conspire against the group of people who claim to be all for the good of the people. He’s internally troubled because he is not sure if going against the so-called “good of the people” makes him a bad person. Winston is sure of the fact that all “information” he is given by the government is false.
“...to hold simultaneously two opinions which cancelled out, knowing them to be contradictory and believing in both of them, to use logic against logic, to repudiate morality while laying claim to it, to believe that democracy was impossible and that the Party was the guardian of democracy, to forget whatever it was necessary to forget, then to draw it back into memory again at the moment when it was needed, and then promptly to forget it again: and above all, to apply the same process to the process itself. That was the ultimate subtlety: consciously to induce unconsciousness, and then, once again, to become unconscious of the act of hypnosis you had just performed.” (Orwell 140) Winston is faced with a difficult decision to revolt or not to, which is brought on in his opposition against his society.
Winston’s love interest, Julia, is one of the many ethical implications that come along with his distrust in the Party. Because it is seen as peculiar/ wrong to be “in love” or show sexual desire towards another, he is heavily conflicted as to if he should pursue this young woman he meets or not. As he goes along with the flow of the relationship, many issues arise. Winston ponders if he really loves her, if she really loves him, what the status of the relationship is, and how much loyalty is involved. How much loyalty is too much loyalty when it comes to individuals in a betraying society? He is unsure if keeping her around, if he really loves her, is best for them both, taking into account that them being together puts them both in danger. An example of this is when they are one day caught by the thought police,
“ ‘It was behind the picture," said the voice. "Remain exactly where you are. Make no movement until you are ordered."
It was starting, it was starting at last! They could do nothing except stand gazing into one another's eyes […] unthinkable to disobey the iron voice from the wall. There was a snap as though a catch had been turned back, and a crash of breaking glass. The picture had fallen to the floor uncovering the telescreen behind it.” (Orwell 310)
Winston Smith, the main character in 1984 endures many mental and emotional conflicts resulting from his oppressive society, including many moral and ethical implications.

These include the danger that follows independent thought, the morality of revolting against a society that claims to be all for good, and the ethical implications having to do with love and sexual desire. He is intellectually distraught between what is right and wrong, and the choices he should be making under such an unreasonable government system. Opposing popular opinion and having your own ideas and thoughts brings along many opportunities for personal growth and

development.