1984 Journal Topic B

In 1984, Winston is fighting the government of Oceania.  George Orwell creates a horrific prediction of the future by manipulating what are thought of as basic human rights.  Not only can you not reproduce by your interest (whatever that may be), but you can't even think original thought!   And on top of that, if you do defy the government, you are either erased from existence, or tortured into conformity.  Winston rebels against this by having sexual relations for his own reasons, and setting up an alternate, self controlled life.  In order to escape the thought police, he works in secrecy.  Out of cameras views, using doublethink to his advantage.  In order to gain the truth about various records, Winston takes documents from his work and links them together.  This rebellion is very successful, until he is caught.  He had it all going for him, his own passionate relationship, individual knowledge, and an independent (to an extent) life.  But part of the horror of Orwell's created society is the inconsistency of day to day life.  There is no consistency, because the past is constantly changed.  Backbones of the society like language, politics, war, and jobs are constantly changed.  Worst of all, constant surveillance makes citizens uneasy.  The line of what you can and can't do is hazy.  And when Winston is inevitably caught, the punishment is severe.  With torture, they don't just hurt you physically, they mess with your mind.  They make you know that ONLY what they say is true.  And to Winston, this is the most horrible punishment of all.  He knows 2 and 2 make 4, but in the end, if they say it is 5, it's 5.