Maintaining Pure Power Through Annihilating Relationships

A relationship is an emotional connection between two people. It is an expression of intimacy which is expressed through trust and a free expression of feelings. In George Orwell’s 1984, The Party severs the connection because relationship’s threaten their power. By maintaining it’s citizens, the Party can utilize it’s populace as spies, and turn people against each other. All relationships must be developed in isolation, for fear of immediate vaporization if caught. Winston hates The Party’s annihilation of relationships, so he develops them in private. Winston hates the Party’s invasion of privacy. Relationships function on an element of privacy between individuals. Without the ability to act completely as oneself, a relationship cannot develop as people are fearful of how others perceive them. In 1984, the Party has placed devices capable of recording audi and video in all public and private places. Even inside ones “home” citizens are monitored for details as minor as a nervous twitch. Winston Smith is a middle-aged man living a solitary existence as an employee of The Party. He left his assigned wife because he could not stand her uniformity, and has no friends; he is isolated to himself. “Winston kept his back turned to the telescreen. It was always safer; though, as he well knew, even a back can be revealing” (Orwell, 17). He is aware that keeping his back turned is a way of concealing his emotions and facial expressions; he is intelligent because he does not disassemble his feelings in “public”. However, the need to control everything, even posture, inside the apparent privacy of ones home exhibits the nonexistence of privacy in Orwellian society. Winston is motivated to seek privacy so he can develop a relationship. He needs a relationship not just with others, but himself. By creating a relationship with himself, Winston understands himself. The Party keeps it’s populace in fear of creating this relationship. Winston is petrified that even his back