Big Brother Analysis in in 1984 Essay Example

“Until they become conscious they will never rebel, and until after they have rebelled they cannot become conscious(70)”. Winston's character development can be shown with how he views Big Brother throughout the novel 1984. Winston, in part one and some of part two of the book; is shown to be extremely confused about where his loyalties lie in accordance to the party. Furthermore, in part two of the book, he decides to rebel against Big Brother by committing a thought crime.In the conclusion of the novel, Winston is tortured and eventually returns to “loving” Big Brother.

Winston, in part one of the book 1984; showed his love and confusion about the party and Big brother by displaying through his work in the ministry of truth and how he reacts to Goldstein during the minute of hate. Winston is described as working for the ministry of truth and being very cautious of breaking protocol for fear of punishment.  This is displayed by the quote “Only the thought police matter”(2) and shows how fearful Winston is of the power that the party has over the people.

This is further displayed with what Winston writes when he first receives the diary which mentions that if he is found guilty of thought crime than they would shoot him in the back of the head. Winston is also shown to be working in the ministry of truth which rewrites certain events in history to aide in the party's mission to have complete control over people. Winston's reaction to Goldstein's speech during the minute of hate started out with him being angry at Big Brother for reasons not explained but soon morphed into hate for Goldstein for being against the party ideas(13). Winstons love of Big Brother” is shown through how he reacts to party enemies, his work in the ministry of truth, and how he was fearful of breaking protocol.

In part two of the book, Winston starts to resent Big Brother to the point where he starts to rebel against the party. Winston’s rebellion started out with small yet very incriminating acts such as buying a dairy and writing “down with big brother”(18) he continues to write down meaningless paragraphs such as” they are going to shoot me” (19) and the  significance of “April fourth, 1984”(8) could be considered “rubbish”  and memories such as when Winston attempted to have intercourse with his wife. These writings are considered to have been thought crime due to how they blatantly go against the party and lead to a bigger rebellion.

These writings also show the importance of memories to a society whose memories are constantly changing and being controlled through media such as newspapers and books (9). This eventually leads bigger rebellion such as Winston receiving a note from Julia saying “I love you”(108) and eventually to Winston and Julia meeting up and having intercourse(131). Furthermore, Winston’s biggest act of rebellion was when he met up with O’Brien to join a group of rebels known as the brotherhood. He then got the book explaining what the party aims to accomplish.  Winstons love for Julia plays an important role in him rebelling against “Big Brother” since the party cannot stop Winston and Julia's love shows the physical and against Big Brother. Winston’s actions such as him buying the diary and his love for Julia in part two show the mental and physical rebellion against big brother and display Winstons new found hatred for Big Brother.

In part three of 1984, Winston is caught along with Julia and forced back into the party and loving “Big Brother”. This is portrayed by the significance of “two plus two equals five”(277) and ultimately Winston’s betrayal of Julia(285}. The use of two plus two equals five is used to symbolize the process of Winston rejoining the party. Winston, when asked by O’Brien; what two plus two is Winston responded with four which showed what Winston thought was the truth. O’Brien proceeded to tell Winston that his answer was his own truth and that two plus two is five and that four was the wrong answer by using methods of torture such as shock therapy to convince Winston that he was wrong. Winston rejoining the party is shown with him finally admitting that two plus two is, was in fact, five and that he was wrong to think otherwise. Winston’s betrayal of Julia is also used to show that Winston has been indoctrinated back into the party. 

Julia portrays the physical embodiment of Winston’s rebellion and so when Winston betrays Julia he also betrays his rebellious tendencies and ultimately rejoins the party. Winstons love of big brother is shown at the end of the book by how he goes back to a somewhat normal but empty life almost like how Winston is just a shell of his former self and how at the end of the book it is said that “he had won a victory over himself” and that he now loved Big Brother(298). Winston going back to loving Big Brother is shown with how life is at the end of the book and how he proclaimed his love for Big Brother. Winston is shown to be manipulated into believing the party by the use of torture. His change is portrayed by the use of two plus two equals five and how Winston's betrayal of Julia.

In conclusion, Winston's character development is shown throughout the book by using how he feels about a Big Brother to convey the change in character. In part one of the book, Winston is shown to be a loyal party member and perhaps somewhat confused about “Big Brother”. In part two of the book, Winston starts to mentally and physically rebel against the party by doing stuff such as having intercourse with Julia and buying a diary and writing incriminating stuff such as “down with big brother” and the fear that he would be shot in the back of the head by the thought police. Winston’s biggest act of rebellion happens when Winston visits O’Brien and joins the brotherhood which is a rebellion that goes against everything that big brother stands for. Furthermore, in part three of the book, Winston is re-indoctrinated into the party and begins to love big brother.

This is shown by the normality and dullness of Winston's life after getting out of the ministry of love and how at the end of the book he mentions that he had won a battle against himself and that he now loved big brother. The quote “Until they become conscious they will never rebel, and until after they have rebelled they cannot become conscious” means that everyone can have a certain belief and that no one can truly rebel since truth is an opinion and can never be exactly the same to people. Rebellion happens when a multitude of people agree on a certain truth but a small possibly only one person believes a truth that could be different than what the masses believe and choose to pursue there own path to explore the truth that they have discovered and dare to believe in no matter the persecution and the possibility of death that awaits them. Winston had the courage to go against the crowd a follow his own truth no matter what happened to him in the end.