In George Orwell's 1984, Winston Smith cannot escape state domination. But its inability is not solely due to the power of government. On the contrary, even if he had the opportunity to leave Oceania, his actions indicate that he would not have the personal beliefs and character to do so. His lack of courage and the absence of a clear “good” in Oceania make it difficult for Winston to succeed against Big Brother – and so, instead, he succumbs. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Of course, Winston rebels against the state. It is particularly interesting to note that Winston works at the Ministry of Truth as a revisionist writer of historical facts and that the first act of rebellion he commits involves the act of writing. Driven by a feeling of isolation from society, Winston performs the ultimate act of estrangement: writing a diary. Not only is it a solitary act, but it is also a relatively safe one. For Winston, the consequences of openly expressing heretical ideas are too risky; he wants to resolve the contradictions and problems of his society, but he wants to do so with a certain measure of security. However, writing down your thoughts remains a dangerous act. Although Winston's initiation into rebellion may seem tepid at first glance, it is in reality quite subversive: the mere act of putting criticism on paper constitutes a sentence of torture. So, even though he tells himself that it is safe, Winston intuitively senses this danger. So from this point on, Winston must weigh two considerations: the thrill and necessity of his rebellion, and his fear of being caught. The tension that drives Winston's actions throughout the story arises from this duality. A similar theme of contradiction is emphasized through Winston's workplace, the Ministry of Truth. The title is of course ironic: it symbolizes the lack of courage shared by all members of his society. After all, when one is never certain of historical events, even factual ones, it is rather easy to forgive people for their refusal to express their beliefs. The genius of the state lies in creating a situation of perpetual insecurity of the type that forces Winston into the unenviable state of catatonia. This false reality in Oceania is so ingrained and so vital that even Julia contributes to the uncertainty by confessing: “You thought I was a good party member, pure in word and deed. Banners, processions, slogans, games, community hikes, all that. And you thought that if I had a quarter of a chance, I would denounce you as a thought criminal and have you killed” (101). Even Winston, who is part of the process that reshapes and shapes history to keep it constantly "up to date", can distinguish between conscious memories and propaganda. He recognizes, for example, that “The party had invented airplanes” is propaganda and not the truth (127). The state's blurring (and erasure) of reality makes Winston fearful, which results in deep self-loathing and muted hostility – which are, ironically, transformed into an impartial love for Big Brother. Forced into betrayal, Winston is rejected by O'Brien who was having the party. O'Brien enlightens Winston by informing him that this is simply a blip on the radar. As with any authoritarian political power structure, Winston's audacity to rebel against what those in power view as a perfectly balanced utopia cannot be tolerated. The threat of torture by Big Brother's henchmen is certainly a punishment, but it is also an instrument of coercion...