Totalitarianism In George Orwell's 1984

George Orwell’s 1984 cleverly illustrates the dangers of totalitarianism. The story’s central character, Winston Smith, is faced with several challenges set forth by the ruling government, referred to as the Party. In Orwell’s depiction of a totalitarian state, no individual is capable of having the courage and bravery to face danger. In other words, there is no room for a hero. Although Winston is the novel’s central character, his selfishness prevents him from being a hero. Early in the story, Winston forms a relationship with a girl named Julia. Not only are they sexually attracted to each other, but they also despise the Party. However, they are eventually caught by the Thought Police. Winston is taken to the Ministry of Love where O’Brien, …show more content…
Winston has a firm belief that the totalitarian government, the Party, is corrupt and cruel toward the people. A totalitarian government is a government that attempts to control all aspects of its citizen’s lives. However, by the end of the story, the Party is able to alter Winston’s thoughts toward them. Before his torture at the Ministry of Love, Winston recalls faint memories about his childhood and other memories about a rebellion against the Party. However, now, Winston feels as if he is “troubled by false memories occasionally” (Orwell 298). The memories of a rebellion against the Party come across as irrelevant to Winston, when before, it is all he thought about. At the Chestnut Tree Café, Winston acknowledges that “he had won the victory over himself. He loved Big Brother” (Orwell 298). In other words, Winston accepts the ways and the rules of the party, and decides to continue on with his life, disremembering all of his past. Winston cannot be defined as a hero because of how he chooses to go along with the totalitarian government as opposed to standing up for what he thinks is