Ashley Jackson June 11th, 2008
English- Final Essay- Choice B Period 1

Conflicts are often created when a person decides to oppose society. The main character, Winston, in the book 1984 by George Orwell, is a prime example of this. Winston’s views differ greatly from that of the society, though he opposes society in a very interesting way. The difference in the morals and ethical behavior of Winston and his society cause not only a conflict between Winston and his society, but also Winston and his own mind.

Throughout the book Winston is in a constant struggle against his society. He is having problems because he does not think the same way as everyone else, or the way everyone else is taught to think. Winston does not believe in blindly following the norms and standards of his society, and he thinks he should be able to think what he wants. By wanting to be different, he is committing what his society thinks of as a crime. When he thinks anything bad about the Party, or Big Brother, he is committing a thought-crime, and therefore going against society. One particular way he tried to rebel against society was to write in a diary, even though he knew it was illegal. Though he knew if he got caught he would be vaporized, he continued to write in it in hopes of one day leaving a ledger of what times were like for someone in the future to find. Another way Winston rebelled was by having sex and a relationship with Julia. Though his methods of going against society were odd, they were what he thought he could do. By going against society in his own way, or at all, implications were obviously going to arise.

One of the main implications of Winston going against his society was that a new conflict arose; that of Winston vs. his own mind. Throughout the novel Winston always stated that he would eventually be caught and that he would then be vaporized. When he finally did get caught, he mind began to deteriorate due to torture. The main goal of his society, the Party, was to try to make him think like everyone else, essentially brainwashing him. Eventually the Party got to him, and Winston broke down and became completely brainwashed. Winston breaking down completely and succumbing to everything the party wanted is a prime example of irony. When the last line of the book states “He loved Big Brother.” (Pg. ) the irony is shown in all it’s glory. During the entire course of the book Winston makes it clear that he despises Big Brother, so when he states that he loves him, it is ironic that the one thing he despised he now loves.

Because Winston, the main character in the book 1984 by George Orwell, decided to oppose his society and have his own ideas and methods of doing things, he was captured and brainwashed into thinking what his society wanted him to. Though his master plan did not work out, Winston did try to follow through and oppose society as much as he possibly could while he was being tortured. Though Winston put up a good fight society eventually won out, and Winston didn’t really have any effect at all on the society. In all actuality, Winston rebelliousness did not affect society at all, just him. When Winston decided to go against his society, his entire life, and way of thinking was changed by that society.