Reading Blog # 3: 1984

Big Brother has won. By the end of the book, the Party has brainwashed so many people that very few people will think for themselves. And the people that actually do think are so few in numbers that they are powerless to change anything in society. Although Big Brother has failed to completely eliminate thought crime, they are able to suppress the "criminals" so that they have no impact on the overall society. The Party is even capable of brainwashing some "criminals" into thinking that they love Big Brother. Winston says, "Until they become conscious they will never rebel, and until after they have rebelled they cannot become conscious" (Orwell 70). This quote shows the helplessness of the people in having an impact on the government. The only way the Party can be brought down is, as Winston said, for the proles to rebel. The proles are not considered "people" so therefore, they don't abide by the Party's "laws". The proles have the ability to think for themselves and if they could realize their power, they could have an impact on the entire society. I think, in the end, Winston resolves to not think. He would rather become unconscious and simply follow the Party rather than think and stand up for what he knows is the truth. Ultimately, this shows that Big Brother has won. The Party may not have completely brainwashed Winston, but they convinced him that it is more worthwhile to simply remain unconscious. Throughout the novel we have experienced Winston's desperation for people to wake up and realize that everything the Party says is lies. But, in the end, Winston says, "Two gin-scented tears trickled down the sides of his nose. But it was all right, everything was all right, the struggle was finished. He had won the victory over himself. He loved Big Brother." (Orwell 297). If he were to allow himself, I think Winston would still see that Big Brother and the Party are evil. However, instead he convinces himself that the struggle was against himself and that he actually loves Big Brother. This is what the Party wants, and therefore Big Brother has won.