Essay Sample on Love & Obedience in 1984: Winston & Julia's Rebellion Against the Party

In the dystopia, 1984, by George Orwell, the aspect of love and obedience is depicted through the interaction of Winston and Julia. Winston has a deep thought on how to make life better for the future generation and save himself and the broader community from the grip of the Party which is unleashing a totalitarian form of leadership to torment the people. On the other hand, Julia has no clear understanding of her rebellion against the Party. The insufficiency of obedience towards the Party by Winston attracts severe torture after he was arrested for being disloyal to the regime. This thesis essay demonstrates the extent the government can go in ensuring that physical and emotional aspects of life are conditioned to suit their totalitarian tendencies. The brutal nature of the regime is depicted when Winston is subjected to extreme torture in Room 101 and unwillingly developed love towards Big Brother. The phrase, "a place where there is no darkness," which was told to Winston by O'Brien symbolizes the Ministry of Love, the prison where he gets mistreated for being disloyal to the Party (Awan & Raza, 2016). Moreover, the government uses telescreen to monitor physical movement of the people and uses strict rules to condition emotional attachment between men and women. Also, it is depicted from the dystopia that disloyalty and disobedience towards the Party attracts consequences on the people.

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The regime led by Big Brother enforces authoritarian rules that govern and controls the life of every citizen. Any form of disobedience and disloyalty to the party is met with brutal force. The regime uses telescreen to monitor the physical movement of people. The love affair between Winston and Julia could have flourished it not for the strict regulations set out by the regime. In Winston's dream, he is told by O'Brien, "we shall meet in the place where there is no darkness" (Awan & Raza, 2016), this illustrates the brutality of the regime in dealing with those perceived to be rebellious to the Party. The conditioning of their emotional attachment illustrates the regime's oppression on the people in expressing their feelings towards each other through the sexual relationship. "Sexual intercourse was to be looked on as a slightly disgusting minor operation, like having an enema" (Awan & Raza, 2016). This quote depicts the thoughts of Winston about his wife and it further symbolizes the actions of the Party in conditioning the natural human facets to control the people.

It is worth to note that, human naturally thrives in interaction and connection to one another through the aspect of love. Obedience towards the regime appears to be forced down the throat of the citizens as they employed the use of fear to disorient any feelings of love between men and women. Winston and Julia rent a room which they feel is secret and safe, but they later realize that their every movement is monitored. The disloyalty and disobedience towards the Party shown by Winston and Julia lead to their arrest, and they are thrown to the Ministry of Love where they are brutally tortured. "More commonly, people who had incurred the displeasure of the Party simply disappeared and were never heard of again" (Awan & Raza, 2016). This quote illustrates the sufferings that people who oppose the Party experience and this also symbolizes what will befall Winston. In the words of O'Brien to Winston in the Ministry of Love, "If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face, forever" (Awan & Raza, 2016). This shows the brutal plan by the Party to suppress the citizens.

It is imperative to note that, the love affair between Winston and Julia is what sealed his fate. Winston's demeanor appears to be stable, and even if he could not have met Julia, his hatred and disobedience towards Big Brother appeared not to decline. This however changed after he was taken to room 101 where his belief and views towards Big Brother morphed into love towards the Party. "He had won the victory over himself. He loved Big Brother" (Awan & Raza, 2016). This quote illustrates how the regime succeeded in ensuring that people stay loyal to the Party's ideals and its totalitarian policies. Disloyalty is further depicted between Winston and Julia when they both betray each other after being subjected to torture. "Do it to Julia! Do it to Julia! Not me! Julia! I don't care what you do to her. Tear her face off, strip her to the bones. Not me! Julia! Not me!" (Awan & Raza, 2016) The government in its crackdown against the perceived opponents breaks the relationship between Winston and Julia. The regime is aware of the instability of their government, and they force down their principles on the people to forestall any form of rebellion and disobedience towards the Party.

Conclusion

In conclusion, dystopia 1984 explores how love and obedience influence human interaction and the actions of the regime in dealing with disloyal citizens. The love affair between Winston and Julia is viewed negatively, and the regime intervenes on their relationship after it has shown signs of flourishing. Disobedience towards the regime attracts severe punishment where Winston and Julia are subjected to torture after it becomes apparent that they are disloyal to the Party's doctrines. The government capitalizes in unleashing fear towards the citizen since it believes that human would always prioritize their well-being when faced with tough situations. The regime utilizes telescreen in controlling the people's movement and ensuring that human physiological and psychological connection through love is stifled to promote their totalitarian tendencies.

Reference

Awan, A. G., & Raza, S. A. (2016). The Effects of Totalitarianism & Marxism towards dystopian society in George Orwell's selected Fictions. Global Journal of Management and Social Sciences, 2(4), 21-37.