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How Does George Orwell Exist In 1984

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Just as Orwell’s style of writing kills Winston’s freedom, he chooses to write in the first person to show Winston’s psychological breakdown. Throughout the novel, Winston’s view of himself deteriorates as the Party becomes more involved in his life. After being half-starved and beaten for weeks by the Party, Winston takes a look at himself through a mirror: “A bowed, gray-colored, skeleton like thing was coming towards him. . . It was his own face.. “You did it,” cried Winston” (Orwell 223-225). Through the mirror, Winston acknowledges that he is a grotesque creature and a former shell of himself. Furthermore, he blames the Party for the state of his body. By writing in the first person, Orwell demonstrates that Winston’s transformation fuels his self-hate as the Party worsens his life. …show more content…

While being imprisoned by the Party, Winston asks a member of the Party whether their leader is real: “ ‘Does Big Brother exist?’ Of course he exists. The Party exists. Big Brother is the embodiment of the Party.’ ‘Does he exist in the same way as I exist?’ ‘You do not exist’ ” (Orwell 214). Big Brother is a figure that never physically appears in the novel. Since Winston never sees Big Brother, he believes that he is a fictional character. However, Winston is given an abstract answer when asking about Big Brother’s existence. As a result, Winston is left as confused as a three-year-old taking calculus. Orwell uses this vague explanation of Big Brother to show Winston’s confusion and eventual psychological breakdown to the reader. Furthermore, oppression in the form of prejudice or discrimination changes the psychology of those affected. Prejudice is so dangerous it can change humans into

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