Torture In George Orwell's Novel 1984

While war and its violence are often viewed as horrible acts against humanity, the novel 1984 depicts war and things such as torture as a necessary tool to control its subordinate citizens. This use of constituting violence as a positive feat, further emphasizes the evils of an omnipresent power controlling over people. Torture may be an advantageous method to control it's people in the novel 1984, but the negative effects it has on Winston display the evils of total control as well. Control in this novel would consist of brainwashing and forbidding certain activities. For example Winston, the main character, and other characters of the novel are taught that if they disobey the government's laws, they will be killed and their personal data will be obliterated from history. As described in the novel, “The two aims of the Party are to conquer the whole surface of the …show more content…
Both of these connect to the central theme of rebellion. In the novel 1984, Winston carries out acts of rebellion as he writes in his diary all of his non conformed thoughts. During the exposition of the novel he begins his diary “By sitting in the alcove, and keeping well back, Winston was able to remain outside the range of the telescreen, so far as sight went. He could be heard, of course, but solong as he stayed in his present position he could not be seen. It was partly the unusual geography of the room that had suggested to him the thing that he was now about to do,” (Orwell 12). In order to write his rebellious thoughts he had to day out of sight from anyone who might turn him in for freely thinking and/or not agreeing with the Party/Big Brother. While the journal may not be an effective form of rebellion, Winston is still rebelling against what is being pushed upon him and has freedom of his own thoughts unlike others in the