1984 Human Rights Essay

Nelson Mandela once said, “To deny people their human rights is to challenge their very humanity.” But what happens in a society based on the removal and elimination of individual human rights? George Orwell's novel 1984 demonstrates the lengths humans will go to in order to protect their rights. Winston Smith and Julia risk their lives repeatedly to have privacy, intimate connections with others, and control over their own lives.

Winston and Julia experience the human need for privacy; they desire time out of Big Brother’s eyesight. In the beginning of the novel Winston feels the need to express his feelings through an illegal journal that he hides out of the sight of the telescreen so no one can see him. Even though “[Winston] did not know
The Parson’s family, for instance is an example of a nuclear family where intimate connections are absent. As a result, the relationships are based on blame, and accusation, especially from the kids. When the Parson’s boy attacks Winston he says, “You’re a thought criminal! You’re a Eurasian spy! I’ll shoot you, I’ll vaporize you, I’ll send you to the salt mines!”(25). This implies that later on the children will turn on their own parents. Winston’s trust in Mr. Charrington demonstrates his desire for friendship, even though such intimacy is forbidden. When Winston goes to meet Mr. Charrington, and “Mr. Charrington [] made no difficulty about letting the room,” (144), we understand that the two men have an intimate connection based on trust. Winston and Julia’s relationship is a very important piece in the novel. Julia tells Winston that “Confession is not betrayal. What you say or do doesn’t matter, only feelings matter. If they could make me stop loving you-that would be the real betrayal.”(pg) Having a relationship with Julia is desired by Winston, not only because it feels good to be with someone, but he is fighting for a positive aspect of human