O'Brien
O’Brien is an Inner Party Member whom Winston comes to greatly admire. He is described as a brutally ugly man with an imposing presence. Winston believes that O’Brien may also harbor anti-Party sentiments and becomes fixated on the idea that O’Brien may be a member of the Brotherhood. Winston is proved correct when a few months after his affair with Julia begins, O’Brien approaches and invites him to join the Brotherhood. However, after Winston and Julia are arrested, O’Brien reveals that he was always a Party loyalist. O’Brien takes the lead during Winston’s rehabilitation, “saving” him and making him into the “perfect” Party member.
Most of the information about O’Brien is unreliable. However, his status as an Inner Party member offers a glimpse at the privileges enjoyed by the upper echelons of Party membership. O’Brien lives in relative luxury, with access to good wine and cigarettes. He can even turn off his telescreen if he wants to. The freedoms enjoyed by the Inner Party in comparison to the Outer Party and proles suggest that maintaining the status quo is ideal for most Inner Party members.
O’Brien makes it clear that he has watched and studied Winston closely over the years. He knows exactly what to say in order to trap Winston, such as quoting what Winston has said on other occasions. His habit of adjusting his glasses endears him even further to Winston, who views the gesture as friendly and disarming. O’Brien intentionally positions himself as a mentor figure, someone who will teach and guide Winston through both rebellion and rehabilitation. Winston trusts O’Brien—even when Winston is being tortured, he still views O’Brien as his “protector” and “friend.”
O’Brien claims to genuinely care about Winston. O’Brien believes their minds are similar and says he took a special interest in Winston because he admired him. Though he tortures him, O’Brien says it will make Winston a better Party member. He views Winston’s rebellious thoughts as a disease and hopes to “save” him. O’Brien proves masterful at doublethink and genuinely believes that 2+2=5. In his mind, definitive reality does not exist; the Party shapes reality. Winston is astounded by O’Brien’s “lunacy” but also impressed by his intelligence. For Winston, O’Brien is his intellectual superior. As a result, Winston is unable to entirely resent him. Despite everything, O’Brien makes Winston feel understood.
O’Brien’s true relationship with the Brotherhood is left open to interpretation. He claims that The Theory and Practice of Oligarchical Collectivism, allegedly written by Emmanuel Goldstein, was actually written by the Party. He refuses to confirm or deny the Brotherhood’s existence for Winston. However, when Winston expresses his belief that O’Brien has been caught by the Party, O’Brien remarks that the Party “got [him] a long time ago.” By one interpretation, this line implies that O’Brien has always been loyal to the Party. However, it can also suggest that O’Brien was rehabilitated and indoctrinated into the Inner Party. This leaves open the possibility that he was once a member of the Brotherhood or at least resisted joining the Party.
Ultimately, O’Brien’s defining characteristic is his dogmatic belief in the Party. He believes that so long as someone is committed to the Party, “then all that they are will continue to be so long as the Party exists.” He believes that Big Brother will live forever. The Party has no grand mission or purpose beyond obtaining power for power’s sake. According to O’Brien, “If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face—for ever.”
Expert Q&A
In George Orwell's 1984, where does O'Brien think reality exists?
O'Brien in 1984 believes that reality is shaped by power and exists within the mind, as dictated by the Party. He argues that reality is not external but is controlled by the Party's influence over human consciousness. This notion allows the Party to redefine truths, such as stating "two plus two equals five." O'Brien asserts that the Party's control over reality is not solipsism but an exertion of power, demanding internalized belief from individuals.
Why didn't O'Brien immediately arrest Winston in 1984 after discovering his rebellion?
O'Brien doesn't immediately arrest Winston because the Party aims to psychologically dominate and brainwash dissenters into loving Big Brother, rather than simply eliminating them. By delaying the arrest, they allow Winston to develop false hopes through his rebellion and relationship with Julia, making his eventual capture and emotional crushing more effective. This approach ensures that any rebellious spirit is thoroughly extinguished, as demonstrated by Winston's eventual submission and love for Big Brother.
What does Winston feel when he meets O'Brien and receives the dictionary?
Winston feels a mix of trust and fear when meeting O'Brien and receiving the dictionary. He suspects O'Brien might oppose Big Brother and sees him as a potential ally, taking O'Brien's mention of Syme as a sign of trust. Despite feeling hopeful and excited about possibly joining the resistance, Winston is also aware that this could lead to his destruction, embodying the concept of "doublethink" with simultaneous hope and dread.
How does O'Brien demonstrate the "mutability of the past" to Winston in Book 3, Chapter 2 of 1984?
In Book 3, Chapter 2 of 1984, O'Brien demonstrates the "mutability of the past" to Winston through psychological torture. He shows Winston a photograph that contradicts the Party's narrative, then destroys it, claiming it never existed. O'Brien insists that the past can be altered through "doublethink," emphasizing that if everyone forgets the true past, a false memory becomes the accepted reality, thereby forcing Winston to accept this manipulation to avoid further torture.
Why does Winston believe O'Brien has spoken to him and how does he feel at the chapter's end?
Winston believes O'Brien has spoken to him because he perceives O'Brien as someone who shares his subversive thoughts, reinforced by a dream where O'Brien says, "we shall meet in the place where there is no darkness." Their conversation confirms Winston's belief in a conspiracy against the Party. Despite this, Winston feels fear at the chapter's end, knowing rebellion leads to capture and punishment, foreshadowing his eventual fate in the Ministry of Love and Room 101.
In 1984, how does O'Brien exhibit doublethink during Winston's ordeal?
O'Brien exhibits doublethink during Winston's ordeal by demonstrating the Party's power to control reality and truth. He forces Winston to accept contradictory beliefs, such as Oceania's perpetual war status, the non-existence of historical figures, and distorted mathematical truths. O'Brien embodies doublethink by acknowledging the existence of a photograph that proves innocence, then destroying it and denying its existence. This manipulation illustrates the Party's ability to reshape reality and enforce ideological compliance.
How does O'Brien's lifestyle in 1984 demonstrate hypocrisy?
O'Brien's lifestyle in "1984" illustrates hypocrisy through his luxurious life as an Inner Party member, contrasting sharply with the poverty of Outer Party members and proles. He has access to rare commodities, a personal butler, and the power to turn off his telescreen, highlighting the Party's double standards. Additionally, his claim to lead a rebellion against the Party while enjoying its privileges further underscores his duplicity and deceptive nature.
How do Winston and O'Brien's perceptions of Big Brother contrast?
Winston and O'Brien have contrasting perceptions of Big Brother. Winston initially hopes Big Brother is benevolent, but his view changes to outright hatred as he dreams of overthrowing him. O'Brien, on the other hand, appears to share Winston's contempt but ultimately reveals his ambivalence. O'Brien's true interest lies in maintaining control through the idea of Big Brother, showing no genuine emotional attachment, unlike Winston's evolving emotional struggle.
What motivates Winston to visit O'Brien in 1984, and what limits does he set for his involvement in the Brotherhood?
What is O'Brien expecting to accomplish by sending Winston, who hates Big Brother, to room 101?
O'Brien sends Winston to Room 101 to force him to confront his worst fears and ultimately convert him into a loyal follower of Big Brother. The Party's goal is not just obedience but complete emotional allegiance. By facing his greatest fear, Winston betrays Julia and emotionally succumbs to the Party, finally accepting Big Brother into his heart. This process ensures Winston's transformation from a rebel to a devoted supporter.
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