1984 by George Orwell
...inston works in the Records Department in the Ministry of Truth, where he changes the past to whatever the Party decides. However, he is very much against them. Winston stays on the seventh floor of Victory Mansions which is a dull, dreary, sombre place, with a disgusting smell of: “Boiled cabbage and old rag mats.” The only colour in the place was an extremely large poster of Big Brother, with eyes that appeared to be following you. On it was a caption which read, “Big Brother is Watching You”. This, along with the large telescreens everywhere that watched your every move, made Winston feel small and insecure. I don’t find this fair as your home is somewhere in which you should feel safe and secure and be free to say or do whatever you want, not be constantly watched and be in danger of being arrested or killed if you speak out of line. Like Victory Mansions, the Ministry of Truth isn’t a pleasant place. Posters and telescreens were everywhere and the dull and depressing underground canteen was dirty, disorganised and crowded: “A low-ceilinged, crowded room, its walls grimy from the contact of innumerable bodies; battered metal tables and chairs, placed so close together that you sat with elbows touching; bent spoons, dented trays, coarse white mugs; all surfaces greasy, grime in every crack; and a sourish, composite smell of bad gin and bad coffee and metallic stew and dirty clothes.” This is not the sort of place in which you would want to eat and socialise. The food was quite disgusting as well: “He began swallowing spoonfuls of stew, which, in among its general sloppiness, had cubes of spongy pinkish stuff which was probably a preparation of meat.” This place makes Winston feel as though he has been treated unfairly and deserves better. Although he has no memories of a more pleasant place, he still feels like he has been cheated of something which he has a right to. I think these are appalling for the workers. They could at least have the decency to give the place an occasional clean, spread out the tables and bring in better food. Both his home and his work place have a definite negative effect on Winston. We know that Winston is clearly against the Party. However, after his attempt of rebellion, he and Julia are caught. Winston was kept in a high-ceilinged cell with no windows and bright white walls, one telescreen on each. After weeks of torture and near starvation, he is treated well, until he shouts out: “Julia! Julia! Julia, my love! Julia!” After his sudden outburst and admitting that he accepted the Party but hated Big Brother. He is taken to Room 101 by O’Brien, where he was faced with his greatest fear – rats. Eventually, after much protest, Winston betrays Julia by yelling: “Do it to Julia! Do it to Julia! Not me! Julia! I don’t care what you do to her. Tear her face, strip her to the bones. Not me! Julia! Not me!” I was disgusted by both Winston’s betrayal and by O’Brien. In O’Brien’s case, I don’t understand how any human being can torture and starve another – put them through so much pain – just so they can gain some power and make their own “perfect” world. Personally, I couldn’t bear living in a society where I have no freedom whatsoever – not even the freedom to think! As for Winston, I think that his betrayal of Julia shows that he is weak. He may have been faced with his greatest fear which causes him to have a sort of break down, but that doesn’t mean ...