Symbolism and Humanity in 1984 In George Orwell’s 1984, he shows exactly what a negative utopia would look like. It is bleak, controlled, and mindless. Orwell’s reasoning to write this novel was he wanted to show us precisely that so he could let us know that our job as a society is to keep this book from coming true (Gaydosik). From the very start, it is shown that humanity, whether it be the society itself or the mentality of the citizens, has been absolutely stripped away and that anyone who dares to think differently will be punished. In addition, Orwell states in the book that Winston wonders if writing for future generations is a lost cause or not (Dickstein). Orwell uses his characters to portray and symbolize the true downfall of
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Winston has a sliver of hope almost all throughout the book even though he sealed his destiny by purchasing and writing in the diary, and also by having relationships. He does everything in his power to keep his head all the while writing, maintaining his relationship with Julia, even by having simple thoughts, etc. He does all of this knowing whole heartedly that he will eventually be put to death for it (Bechel). He thinks that he and O’Brien both want Big Brother gone, which is why Winston was so shocked when O’Brien turned on him. Winston was told that he will be shown who he really is. By showing him to a mirror upon his punishment, he can see that he has been made into what he fears the most- the rodent (Brannigan). He also feared that nothing will ever change in their society. He feared that at any time something terrible would happen that would kill him (Graves). After being released from the Ministry of Love, he is completely vacant of the man he used to be (Graves). Not a lot of people born after his time can remember certain things the way they used to be. Julia falls into this …show more content…
The paperweight, which is an antique, is an icon for Winston’s love of the past. It is symbolically shattered when he was being taken into the Ministry of Love because with Winston out of the picture, there is no way the past can be preserved now (Brannigan). Even though it was shattered it still represented the life that Winston could have salvaged (Dickstein). The diary that Winston kept is a symbol of rebellion; he is not supposed to even think about purchasing it much less write in it. His intended reader was O’Brien, so he got what he ultimately wanted (Quinn). Accordingly, when he was taken away and his apartment was stripped of everything including the diary, the rebellion was ended effective immediately. The spare bedroom about Mr. Charrington’s quaint antique shop has exceptionally contrasting means of symbolism. That little room was like a safe haven for Winston and Julia. It provided a strong sense of security. They thought there were no telescreens and they could just lie around listening to the sounds coming from outside. It was beyond comforting. It just so happened that the place of their security would be the setting of their downfall. The only place they felt at home was the subsequently the place they broke them down to nothing but shells of what they used to be. When they were both released from the Ministry of Love and saw each other
Winston has a sliver of hope almost all throughout the book even though he sealed his destiny by purchasing and writing in the diary, and also by having relationships. He does everything in his power to keep his head all the while writing, maintaining his relationship with Julia, even by having simple thoughts, etc. He does all of this knowing whole heartedly that he will eventually be put to death for it (Bechel). He thinks that he and O’Brien both want Big Brother gone, which is why Winston was so shocked when O’Brien turned on him. Winston was told that he will be shown who he really is. By showing him to a mirror upon his punishment, he can see that he has been made into what he fears the most- the rodent (Brannigan). He also feared that nothing will ever change in their society. He feared that at any time something terrible would happen that would kill him (Graves). After being released from the Ministry of Love, he is completely vacant of the man he used to be (Graves). Not a lot of people born after his time can remember certain things the way they used to be. Julia falls into this …show more content…
The paperweight, which is an antique, is an icon for Winston’s love of the past. It is symbolically shattered when he was being taken into the Ministry of Love because with Winston out of the picture, there is no way the past can be preserved now (Brannigan). Even though it was shattered it still represented the life that Winston could have salvaged (Dickstein). The diary that Winston kept is a symbol of rebellion; he is not supposed to even think about purchasing it much less write in it. His intended reader was O’Brien, so he got what he ultimately wanted (Quinn). Accordingly, when he was taken away and his apartment was stripped of everything including the diary, the rebellion was ended effective immediately. The spare bedroom about Mr. Charrington’s quaint antique shop has exceptionally contrasting means of symbolism. That little room was like a safe haven for Winston and Julia. It provided a strong sense of security. They thought there were no telescreens and they could just lie around listening to the sounds coming from outside. It was beyond comforting. It just so happened that the place of their security would be the setting of their downfall. The only place they felt at home was the subsequently the place they broke them down to nothing but shells of what they used to be. When they were both released from the Ministry of Love and saw each other