Exile In 1984

George Orwell’s 1984 features a society corrupted by government dictatorship. The protagonist Winston Smith goes through an internal conflict with recalling his childhood, as well as an external conflict with the Party [government], illuminating the meaning of the novel as a whole. In the novel, Winston demonstrates how the freedom included in his earlier years continuously haunt him and lead him to commit crimes that eventually land him in prison where perpetual torture becomes a norm. Edward Said has emphasized that exile is both an “unhealable rift” and an “enriching experience.” While these two phrases contradict each other, Said is correct in his belief that the two adhere to one another. Winston’s experience with exile from his past is
During this part of the novel Winston goes through constant torture, along with being exiled from his dystopian world. The journey he takes in prison and the torture chamber [Room 101], assist Winston to understand “power is not a means; it is an end,” and that “one does not establish a dictatorship in order to safeguard a revolution; one makes the revolution in order to establish the dictatorship.” “The object of persecution is persecution. The object of torture is torture. The object of power is power,” (263). Winston’s agony rewards him with what he initially wanted all along, which could be described as what caused his past to vanish. The Party seeks power for its own self-interest, maintaining absolute power means no one can challenge it. It keeps its civilization in isolation and away from the past so that they are unable to compare themselves to other societies that may have the rights and freedom they deserve. O’Brien reinforces Winston’s comprehension with what shall happen to the future by stating, " 'If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face—forever,' " (267). These chilling words by O'Brien to Winston while in the Ministry of Love demonstrate the ruthless plan for domination being carried out by the Party. From here on Winston catches on to the Party’s idea of tyranny, paving the way for him to agree to nonsense such as “2 + 2 = 5”. Winston’s experience can be considered enriching if looked at a theoretical point; in theory manipulating him to not necessarily love Big Brother, but understand its madness helped him survive the Ministry of Love and regain his freedom by symbolically being shot in the head, ending his past rebellious life and beginning his Big Brother oriented after