1984 Ending

The novel ended very differently than how I had expected. Winston's story ends leaving the reader with little hope for the future. It was disappointing that although Winston hates the party from the beginning, it finally defeats him because he loves Big Brother in the end. Throughout the novel, I was hoping for Winston to gain the courage to start a rebellion, but the party is watching him and anticipating his action the entire time. He seems to think carefully and secretly, but instead he falls directly into the party's trap. I was shocked to discover that O'Brien is a member of the Thought Police because I thought he would be an ally, like Julia. It is strange that Winston continues to revere O'Brien while he is torturing him. I like how Orwell ties in the one question Julia and Winston refuse to do, which is to separate and betray each other. Room 101 is where the worst thing in the world is located, which finally breaks people psychologically by defeating their last hope. Winston says he does not actually love Julia and he has already told the O'Brien everything about her. However, to finally accept the party, Winston has to want Julia to be punished in place of him. Now I understand why everyone follows the party, even though many people are discontent, after reading about Winston's experiences being tortured. I do not think that Big Brother or the Brotherhood exists, and they are both creations from the party to stay in control. When Winston asks about the existence of Big Brother, O'Brien avoids directly answering the question. He is a symbol used to unite people with common devotion to this figure. Also, the Brotherhood is a scheme invented by the party to enrage party supporters and find opposition. The party seems invincible and it has found a way to remain perpetually in power.