The Redirection Of Passion In George Orwell's '1984'

The redirection of passion is used to fuel complete love for Big Brother. The Party scorns emotional and physical intimacy. They ingrain chastity and abstinence into the minds of children and discourage personal commitment and relationships. When Winston describes his sexual relations with his wife, Katherine, he mentions that they have a “frigid little ceremony” and that “She hated it, but nothing would make her stop doing it” because it is “[her] duty to the Party” (139). Big Brother’s promotion of abstinence through various media, education, and community groups results in Katherine’s resentment of sexual intercourse. Due to the never-ending bombardment of propaganda and the encouragement to join the Junior Anti-Sex League, she has lost the ability to have feelings and love for others. Her
During a conversation between Winston and Julia, she explains that “when you make love, you’re using up energy; and you don’t give a damn for anything… [The Party] can’t bear you to feel like that. They want you bursting with energy. . . . If you’re happy inside yourself, why should you get excited about Big Brother . . . and all the rest of their bloody rot?” (139). The term “making love”, which refers to sexual intercourse, implies deep emotional connection. Big Brother does not approve of the emotional connection because it prevents people from devoting themselves entirely to him. The Party needs the undivided love of every Party member in Oceania to gain absolute loyalty from them. Despite the great efforts of the Party, some individuals, such as Winston and Julia, are rebellious in nature. They ignore the “Party’s sexual puritanism” (139) and begin their own love affair. To conquer ones who are rebellious, Big Brother resorts to the physical method of control: