1984 By George Orwell: A Look Into The Future?

A Look into the Future? Often times, people conform to the norms of society while inwardly questioning those very same norms. In 1984, George Orwell characterizes Winston Smith as a man with individuality, yet he fits in like a puzzle piece in a time and situation where being oneself is not accepted and is punishable by law. He has thoughts that question the government’s ways and ideals, and even makes an exertion to record them before the Thought Police intervene. Throughout the novel 1984, Winston outwardly conforms to the expectations of society. He makes conscious efforts to maintain a straight face in order to fit in with everyone else and with what the government deems suitable. This demonstrates that Winston is simply trying to
survive in the society he lives in, even if it means suppressing his emotions and conflicting, questioning thoughts. The fact that Winston is a participating member of society even more so shows that he is covering up who he really is and wants to be. An example of the tension someone such as Winston Smith faces while outwardly conforming while inwardly questioning is from Chapter 1, Part 7.
"In the end the Party would announce that two and two made five, and you would have to believe it. ... And what was terrifying was not that they would kill you for thinking otherwise, but that they might be right. For, after all, how do we know that two and two make four? Or that the force of gravity works? Or that the past is unchangeable? If both the past and the external world exist only in the mind and if the mind itself is controllable— what then?" A huge point that is made here is what the government says is what the truth is, even if it isn’t actually and realistically truthful. This is also where Winston questions the government even more than before, doubting its ways while at the same time doubting his original uncertainty, arousing internal conflict. Winston knows that the government’s tight grip on society is flawed in more ways than one – such as the surveillance, physical control and psychological control – so he distrusts what he is being told and secretly believes what he thinks on his own. This contributes to the meaning of the work by showing just how controlling and devastating the totalitarian government can be towards individuals and society as a whole. As Winston faces this conflict of trying to follow the norms all while trying to keep his individualism, only struggle and confusion will arise from it, creating a chaos in an organized
system. When one faces great internal conflict such as Winston Smith does in 1984 due to his outward conformity and his internal questioning of what he is veiling himself with, they can find themselves in a difficult position. "It [is] like swimming against a current that swept you backwards however hard you struggled...” But if you “...suddenly decid[e] to turn round and go with the current instead of opposing it,” your situation seems to be exponentially easier (Chapter 3, Part 4). However, the illusion of going with the flow of the crowd – and in Winston’s case, what the Party (governmental body) sees as acceptable – is that one loses their sense of uniqueness and even their humanity. They simply become lumps of wet clay ready for forming by the hands of the authority. However, if one can see past the mask they are forced to wear, they can regain their identity. This idea that Orwell gives rise to helps to show any reader that despite their strife to find who they are, they are gaining strength by “swimming against [the] current” (Chapter 3, Part 4). Winston “obeyed the Party, but he still hated the Party... He knew he was in the wrong, and he preferred to be in the wrong” (Chapter 3, Part 4). As I’ve stated previously, he knew the government system had major faults. But in his situation and how society worked in the year 1984, he knew it would be physically safer for him not to stray from the norm, but psychologically, Winston ran free. Faced with such tension of internal unrestraint and external imprisonment, Winston Smith fought himself throughout the novel. To obey, or to disobey? Should I follow my heart or the crowd? He skirmished with these conflicting thoughts within the entire novel, which showed just how difficult going against the norms can be. Regardless of the situation one is in, the tension-created conflict can still be just as strong. The struggle is all too real. By outwardly conforming, one relinquishes their humanity and their sense of being unique as well as their freedom. This leads people to believe what this superior entity – whether it be the government, a famous person, or even a group of judgmental teens at a school – to follow whatever it says is the right way of dressing, talking, even thinking. This control creates fear of abnormalities and when someone’s thoughts stray from the norm, it in turn creates conflict within oneself. Who likes conflict, be it internal or external? Not many so then they don’t let their questioning thoughts get the better of them and the higher entity can still maintain its tightened grip it has on society. As George Orwell says in his book 1984, “Until they become conscious they will never rebel, and until after they have rebelled they cannot become conscious” (Chapter 1 Part 7). If one does not learn to trust one’s inclination of what they feel is true, the fear will continue to reign.