Winston's Search For Justice In 1984 By George Orwell

1173 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: 1984 orwell injustice

In a novel by William Styron, a father tells his son that life "is a search for justice," and in 1984 by George Orwell, Winston is in search for justice in Oceania. In 1984, Winston is a worker at the Ministry of Truth where he has to rewrite events, so that they coincide with what the Party says. The Party in Oceania manipulates everything, so that they seem like they are always right and never get anything wrong. No one in Oceania is free to live the life they want to live, they all live in suffrage without them even realizing it because of the psychological manipulation that the Party has done to them. Everyone is watched 24/7 with telescreens which prohibits them to be free; they are watched to see if they are talking against the government, thinking about betraying the government, and even thinking or doing something that the government does not approve of such as keeping journals just like Winston; keeping a journal was a thoughtcrime that was illegal and could cause you to be killed or disappear. Winston is not like the rest of the civilians in Oceania, he notices things that other who have been poisoned by the Party cannot see. As Winston begins to question things about the government he starts to search for away to search for justice that Oceania needs. Winston begins to search for justice, but in the end he fails to complete his search for justice. Winston's sense of justice has to do with everybody; he feels everybody needs to be free to express themselves without the government having to interfere with everything. "Until they become conscious they will never rebel, and until after they rebelled they cannot become conscious"(Orwell 61). Winston notices that the proles will never have the consciousness that they need to... ... middle of paper ... ... for that little piece of hope Oceania can have. 1984 is a novel that reveals the fear of having a government that completely controls and manipulates everything single aspect of someone's life and their environment. Winston is a character that gains hope that maybe he may be able to change the way the government treats the citizens of Oceania. He gradually begins to become more and more rebellious because the government view Winston as a threat they decide to manipulate him to be like every other brainwashed citizen living in Oceania. Winston loses his battle against the Party which cause his search for justice to collapse. So in the end, a strong totalitarian government can destroy your state of mind from believing something that is truly necessary such as searching for justice to believing that a place that is controlling and manipulative to be the right thing.

Show More
Related

  • Comparing 1984, The Long Watch and The Ones Walk Away from Omelas

    1217 Words  | 3 Pages

    In “1984,” Orwell uses Winston to portray a single individual’s attempt to take action against a powerful government, culminating in his failure and subjugation. His individual efforts failed tremendously due to the overarching power of the Party to control every aspect of social life in Oceania. Orwell uses Winston’s deeply seated hatred of the Party to portray his views on power and social change. Winston’s actions show that even in the direst of situations ...

    Read More

  • Winston’s Struggle in 1984

    1726 Words  | 4 Pages

    George Orwell creates a dark, depressing and pessimistic world where the government has full control over the masses in the novel 1984. The protagonist, Winston, is low-level Party member who has grown to resent the society that he lives in. Orwell portrays him as a individual that begins to lose his sanity due to the constrictions of society. There are only two possible outcomes, either he becomes more effectively assimilated or he brings about the change he desires. Winston starts a journey towards his own self-destruction. His first defiant act is the diary where he writes “DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER.” But he goes further by having an affair with Julia, another party member, renting a room over Mr. Carrington’s antique shop where Winston conducts this affair with Julia, and by following O’Brien who claims to have connections with the Brotherhood, the anti-Party movement led my Emmanuel Goldstein. Winston and Julia are both eventually arrested by the Thought Police when Mr. Carrington turns out to be a undercover officer. They both eventually betray each other when O’Brien conducts torture upon them at the Ministry of Love. Orwell conveys the limitations of the individual when it comes to doing something monumental like overthrowing the established hierarchy which is seen through the futility of Winston Smith’s actions that end with his failure instead of the end of Big Brother. Winston’s goal of liberating himself turns out to be hopeless when the people he trusted end up betraying him and how he was arbitrarily manipulated. It can be perceived that Winston was in fact concerned more about his own sanity and physical well-being because he gives into Big Brother after he is tortured and becomes content to live in the society he hated so much. Winston witnesses the weakness within the prole community because of their inability to understand the Party’s workings but he himself embodies weakness by sabotaging himself by associating with all the wrong people and by simply falling into the arms of Big Brother. Orwell created a world where there is no use but to assimilate from Winston’s perspective making his struggle utterly hopeless.

    Read More

  • 1984 Argument

    914 Words  | 2 Pages

    1984 is a dystopian novel set inn Airstrip One, which used to be Britian. Oceania is always at war with another superpower, and their main goal is to achieve the most power throughout their world. The main character is Winston Smith, a man who works for the party and is supposed to change history to match what the party has told him. Winston lives in a society where he is constantly listened to and watched by telescreens and microphones to make sure he is enthusiastic about hate, and to make sure he doesn’t commit any crimes. Everywhere Winston goes he always sees posters that say, “Big Brother is Watching You.” Big Brother is the party leader that may or may not be real. The official language of Oceania, the country where Airstrip one is located, is Newspeak. Newspeak is the only language in Oceania that lessens it’s words each year so that it is harder for people to commit thoughtcrime. Winston is a dedicated worker, but often thinks about rebellion against Big Brother. Winston idolizes a man named O'Brien that he thinks is part of the Brotherhood, a terrorist group who constantly sabotages the party. Winston begins to like a woman named Juli...

    Read More

  • 1984 By George Orwell

    1084 Words  | 3 Pages

    Things to know: 1984 was a book written about life under a totalitarian regime from an average citizen’s point of view. This book envisions the theme of an all knowing government with strong control over its citizens. This book tells the story of Winston Smith, a worker of the Ministry of Truth, who is in charge of editing the truth to fit the government’s policies and claims. It shows the future of a government bleeding with brute force and propaganda. This story begins and ends in the continent of Oceania one of the three supercontinents of the world. Oceania has three classes the Inner Party, the Outer Party and the lowest of all, the Proles (proletarian). Oceania’s government is the Party or Ingsoc (English Socialism

    Read More

  • The Dystopian Society In The Novel 1984, By George Orwell

    1386 Words  | 3 Pages

    Throughout the book he tries to overcome the government, but in his heart, he knows he has no hope of thriving because “…was already dead” for committing ThoughtCrime and involving himself in acts worthy of death (Orwell 36). All of his character traits combined lead him to his ultimate death. His attraction to beauty makes him keep hold of objects and things considered suspicious, his rebelliousness causes him break nearly all of society’s rules, and his curiosity steers him toward people and places that eventually causes the Winston torture he endures in Ministry of Love. Winston could have had some false hope of a better world where he could get away from all of the harsh rules and regulations of the Party, but in reality, his personality traits dragged him through a life already pre-written and stamped with an early

    Read More

  • The Outer Party Analysis

    805 Words  | 2 Pages

    George Orwell’s 1984 novel goes through the life of Winston, who is trying to resist the power of the totalitarian government of Oceania known as The Party. Although the proles do seem to be marginalized by the inner party, they aren’t aware of it. They are free and have the sense of individualism to live their lives. On the other hand, the outer party is aware of the Party’s manipulative powers, and they are capable of rebellion. Because of this, they are put under severe monitoring.

    Read More

  • 1984

    752 Words  | 2 Pages

    Totalitarianism is one of the main themes in 1984. In WWII Europe, Oceania became the ruling power with the so called “Party” ruling everybody and have the “Big Brother” at its head. Some examples of totalitarianism is how they make people workout, they put tele-screens everywhere to monitor the peoples actions, also they refuse to allow any sexual intercourse outside of marriage. “Winston kept his back turned to the tele-screen. It was safer, though, as he well knew, even a back can be revealing” (Book 1, Chapter 1). This quote represents how fearful Winston is that he ...

    Read More

  • Othello And 1984 Analysis

    2483 Words  | 5 Pages

    However, because it is Winston's own government manipulating him, and the fact that it is them he is rebelling against, this makes 1984 more relevant to today’s society.

    Read More

  • George Orwell 1984 Analysis

    1399 Words  | 3 Pages

    George Orwell’s dystopian novel 1984 follows the psychological journey of main character Winston. Winston lives in a utopian society called Oceania. There, the citizens are constantly monitored by their government coined “Big Brother” or “The Party”. In Oceania, there is no form of individuality or privacy. Citizens are also coerced to believe everything and anything the government tells them, even if it contradicts reality and memory. The goal of Big Brother is to destroy individual loyalties and make its citizenry only loyal to the government. In Orwell's novel 1984, he uses Winston's psychological journey to stress the dangers of individuality in a totalitarian regime because it can result in death. Winston’s overwhelming desire to rebel

    Read More

  • 1984: Oppression Of Truth

    1571 Words  | 4 Pages

    In the novel 1984, Orwell produced a social critique on totalitarianism and a future dystopia that made the world pause and think about our past, present and future. When reading this novel we all must take the time to think of the possibility that Orwell's world could come to pass. Orwell presents the concepts of power, marginalization, and resistance through physical, psychological, sexual and political control of the people of Oceania. The reader experiences the emotional ride through the eyes of Winston Smith, who was born into the oppressive life under the rule of Ingsoc. Readers are encouraged through Winston to adopt a negative opinion on the idea of communist rule and the inherent dangers of totalitarianism. The psychological manipulation and physical control are explored through Winston's journey, and with Winston's resistance and ultimate downfall, the reader is able to fully appreciate O'Briens reasoning, "Power is not a means, it is an end."

    Read More

  • 1984 by George Orwell: The End of Freedom of Speech

    1600 Words  | 4 Pages

    In the novel 1984, George Orwell predicts the world’s future, when human rights, such as freedom of speech, do not exist anymore. Everyone has to obey the government. The government controls its citizens’ lives. No one speaks up against the government yet because they do not even have a chance to make up a thought about it. The government dominates the citizens’ thoughts by using technologies and the thought polices to make sure no one will have any thoughts, that is against the government. George Orwell wrote:“Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make four. If that is granted, all else follows,” (Orwell.2.7.69) the government tries to control Winston knowledge and change it to fit into the purpose of the Party. To Winston, O’Brien said: “Whatever the Party holds to be truth is truth. It is impossible to see reality except by looking through the eyes of the Party.” (Orwell.3.2.205). As a citizen, no one get to look at or tal...

    Read More

  • The Themes Of Individualism In George Orwell's 1984

    1560 Words  | 4 Pages

    George Orwell uses Winston to represent truth in a deceptive world in his novel 1984. In Oceania, Big Brother is the omnipotent and all powerful leader. Everything the government dictates is unquestionably true, regardless of prior knowledge. Even thinking of ideas that go against Big Brother’s regime, or thoughtcrime, is punishable by death. Winston serves as the dystopian hero, longing for freedom and change. Orwell uses Winston to emphasize the importance of individual freedoms, as they give us the ability to fulfillingly lead our respective lives.

    Read More

  • Justice in George Orwell's 1984

    1280 Words  | 3 Pages

    The concept of justice is an important subject in George Orwell’s 1984. Justice is defined according to Plato as “the interest of the stronger”. Justice plays a big role in 1984’s society. Justice is understood differently by the protagonists of the text than how it is represented by the societies in which they live.

    Read More

  • A Comparison Of Totalitarianism In 1984 By George Orwell

    1266 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the novel 1984 by George Orwell, a character known as Winston lives in a complete Totalitarianism community in London. A Totalitarianism community is one that a ruler, or group of rulers, controls all aspects of people 's personal and public lives. In 1984, Winston struggles to follow and obey the government’s orders and is constantly afraid that the ministry of truth (like a police department) will come and bust down his door in the middle of the night. Until one day they do. They take him away to a special place and when he comes back he is a different person. Ironically, while Orwell wrote the book, he lived in a time when a totalitarianism

    Read More

  • Identity in 1984

    2487 Words  | 5 Pages

    By enforcing these simple laws and regulations, the government is able to keep a tight grip on its people, with few ever releasing themselves from its grasp. Winston Smith, on the other hand, seeks to know the truth behind the government, he is constantly questioning everything and repressing all the ideas forced upon him. Winston “seeks truth and sanity, his only resources being the long denied and repressed processes of selfhood” (Feder 398). All identity is gone in this place called Oceania, and for the sake of Big Brother and its continuous control of the people, it will never exist again. In 1984, the absence of identity strips the people of all creativity and diversity, as well as takes away any chance the society has to advance as a people or in the area of technology.

    Read More

More about Winston's Search For Justice In 1984 By George Orwell

Open Document