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1984 Winston's Villainy

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1984 Winston's Villainy
Big Brother Is Watching

1983. From a novel or play of literary merit, select an important character who is a villain. Then, in a well-organized essay, analyze the nature of the character 's villainy and show how it enhances meaning in the work. Do not merely summarize the prompt.

In George Orwell 's novel, "1984", the reader is able to relate to O 'Brien and seems to understand him. However, by the end of the novel, the reader questions whether he/she really knows O 'Brien at all. One thing the reader does know is that O 'Brien has a manipulative and cunning nature that contributes to his villainy. His determination, intelligence, and the aura of mystery about him enable O 'Brien to accomplish his goal of bringing down anyone who opposes …show more content…
This had a powerful impact on Winston. A perfect example of this occurs when O 'Brien is torturing Winston, and he talks to Winston with "the air of a teacher taking pains with a wayward but promising child" (204). O 'Brien adopts this friendly and compassionate tone in order to guide Winston to the answer he desires. Winston 's refusal to cooperate is so upsetting that "O 'Brien 's manner grew stern again" (205). He then proceeds to torture Winston until Winston repeats the correct answer to O 'Brien 's satisfaction. O 'Brien uses this method on Winston throughout the book to trick Winston into feeling safe and secure enough with O 'Brien to open up to him. Why did this continue to work? It worked because O 'Brien was able to manipulate Winston 's need to find someone to talk to who understood him. For Winston, "it did not matter whether O 'Brien was a friend or an enemy" (208). The important thing was "O 'Brien was a person who could be talked to" (208). Orwell wanted the reader to understand the lengths a person would go to, even facing the possibility of death, when their lives are suppressed by a government or entity. By sharing his fear of a totalitarian society and unveiling its nature, Orwell hoped to prevent the spread of …show more content…
O 'Brien managed to give others the impression that he was up to something causing them to believe he was against the Party. His mysteriousness leads Winston to place his trust in O 'Brien in the hope that O 'Brien shared his rebellious thoughts. Winston had "a hope-that O 'Brien 's political orthodoxy was not perfect. Something in his face suggested it irresistibly" (13). The mysterious nature of O 'Brien made him the fixation of party members who dreamed of a rebellion. However, this mystery that draws in the rebellious is the same mystery created by the Party to catch the unfaithful. This shows the reader the true horrors of a totalitarian government as there is nobody that can be trusted, even those who appear to be the most
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