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  • Essay / Psychological and Physical Suffering in “1984” and “Stasiland”

    While some of the damage suffered by totalitarian governments appears to be only temporary, most forms of harm turn out to be more permanent and lasting. As explored by the characters in Orwell's dystopian novel 1984 and Funder's journalistic tale Stasiland, psychological suffering has greater long-term effects than physical suffering. Non-permanent damage is presented throughout the texts as temporary, short-lived and unnecessary relief in the scheme of things. Factors determine the extent of a person's suffering at the hands of the state, such as the severity of relationships with others, the individual's faith and loyalty to the government, and how even the most faithful can face disastrous consequences for their actions. to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay Although physical and psychological suffering is shown in both texts, there is evidence that physical damage is the most difficult to overcome. Even though Miriam suffers from scars on her hands from climbing the wall and brutal treatment in prison, psychological torture such as lack of sleep has cost her even more, because "lack of sleep also causes a number of of neurological dysfunctions, the longer it lasts", and it is obvious that the effects of his emotional torture in prison continue. Similarly, Winston was physically tortured in imprisonment, although it was the use of fear (threatening him with rats) that triggered the conversion of his morals and beliefs to "become loyal" to Big Brother. His former partner Julia, although suffering from facial scars from rats, lost her love and trust towards Winston due to his betrayal and not torture. In this sense, psychological damage has a greater impact on individuals than the physical damage they face. Non-permanent damage, or relief from harm caused by the state, is presented in both texts as temporary and short-lived. From the beginning of the text, Winston suffers from a varicose ulcer. Winston's varicose ulcers are an expression of his constantly repressed humanity: repressed emotions, actions, and sexuality. Orwell continues to refer to the ulcer throughout the work – "his veins had swollen with the strain of coughing and the varicose ulcer had begun to itch", but the ulcer is not mentioned during of his rebellious escapade with his lover Julia. It is only a temporary relief, as state control returns and Winston's suffering continues, something has been "killed in (his) bosom from which (he could not recover") as he had tried to do it with the ulcer. Similarly, Julia in Stasiland has decided to physically escape her painful memories by moving to San Francisco, but it is suggested that her damage is irrecoverable. The fact that she works in a feminist bookstore suggests that she still clings to the event she endured and still yearns for meaning. She is grateful that they “honor their victims here” and, in a sense, feels “much more at home than in my own country.” Despite a sense of closure, Funder suggests that Julia was so severely traumatized and her trust so deep. betrayed that she will have difficulty healing psychological wounds. This confirms his comment to Funder: “I think I'm definitely psychologically damaged!. She laughs, but she means it. The sense of disabling damage or injury in both texts has either. are doomed to failure or have the.