1984 Response on Symbolism

Margot Supple                           

Blog Post #4

In the book 1984, the author George Orwell depicts a totalitarian society ruled by Big Brother and his party that uses propaganda and technology to control its citizens. The book is written through the eyes of Winston Smith, a man strongly against the party and its beliefs. Seen through his view, the party has control of every aspect of the society, from monitoring every piece of land on telescreens to manipulating citizens’ understanding of the past. Throughout the book as Winston's views about the party change, he leaves behind the objects and places that he cherished.

In the beginning of the story most of Winston’s time is spent writing in his diary, a item he bought in a shop down in the poorer parts of town. What Winston writes in his diary shows his true feelings of the party, "DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER." However, he has to hide these ideas, because otherwise he will be persecuted for his beliefs. Crammed in the only corner of his house without a telescreen, Winston writes about how little freedom the government grants its citizens. Later in the book Winston realizes he is writing his diary for O’Brien, a character who Winston believes to be against the party. Winston hopes that O’Brien will agree with his opinions, and that together they can overthrow Big Brother and the party. Writing in his diary shows Winston's thoughts against his corrupt government and that he will stand up for what he believes in. When Winston gets arrested he leaves his diary behind. During his time in prison he is tortured to believe that Big Brother is a strong and respectful leader. The more he loves Big Brother, the less he thinks about his diary, which was a symbol of his lost rebellion.

     

As Winston’s unorthodox actions become noticed, he becomes more of a target for the party and finds himself taking more risks. He meets Julia, a girl who shares his views, and they fall in love. One day Winston wanders into the same antique shop where he had bought his diary, which is very unsafe because the party disagrees with anything that involves the past. Winston rents a room above the shop, and also buys a coral glass paperweight. Describing what he thinks of its symbolism, Winston says: “The paperweight was the room he was in, and the coral was Julia’s life and his own, fixed in a sort of eternity at the heart of the crystal.” When Winston first sees the room he is astonished by the fact that there are no telescreens on the ceilings or walls. The bedroom and the paperweight symbolize a safe house for Winston, a place where he can be free from the constant supervision of the party. When Winston gets arrested, the glass paperweight shatters, symbolizing his safe house breaking apart.

    

In conclusion, as Winston's views on the party change, the places or objects that were his only source of freedom become more distant to him. When Winston learns to love Big Brother, he completely forgets about those symbols that he treasured when he was against the party.