1984 Socratic Seminar - 10.23.15

I would describe the ending of 1984 as a sad ending. I would say that it is a sad ending because Winston's originality and hatred for the Party and for Big Brother have disintegrated and he is now left loving both the Party and Big Brother, as seen in the quote, "He had won the victory over himself. He loved Big Brother." (Orwell 173) It is also sad because the reader had expected originally that there would be a sort of uprising within Oceania, but that ending had not been received and it was the complete opposite of what the reader was expecting and wanting. Furthermore, the ending was sad because his "love" for Julia was gone as he would give her up to death as seen in Room 101 when he was about to be killed by rats he said, "Do it to Julia! Do it to Julia! Not me! Julia!" (Orwell 166) So from all of this, I do believe that the ending was sad.