|
|
Nineteen Eighty-Four ~ A study of Winston Smith George Orwell wrote the political novel, Nineteen Eighty-Four to illustrate the consequences if the state gained too much power and control over its citizens. Orwell conveys this idea through the experiences of an individual who dares to think freely in a world where freedom of thought can be considered a crime. This individual is, Winston Smith, and although he is centrally controlled by the government, as are all the other characters, he possesses some individuality. This proves to be his eventual downfall. He works at the Ministry of Truth, rewriting records of the past, where he begins to feel that the past is better than the present. There is nothing particularly significant about Winston’s physical appearance. He is 39 years old, is quite small and not very strong. He is red faced, has fair hair and has a varicose ulcer above his right ankle. Like everyone else he wears the compulsory blue Party uniform. Winston however is not only physically malnourished but also mentally malnourished. He doesn’t have much contact with other people and so physically and emotionally he has a constant hunger. He craves physical health and mentally tries to escape from a wicked system of ideas. Winston hates the Party and Big Brother. “…he had also been writing, as though by automatic action. And it was no longer the same cramped awkward handwriting as before. His pen had slid voluptuously over the smooth paper, printing in large neat capitals- DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER Over and over again, filling half a page.” (P.
|
