The Ending of "1984"

I was actually very disappointed with the ending of the novel. Throughout the novel I was hopeful that Winston was a glimmer of hope in the horrid dystopia and that he would some how find a way to prevail against the evil that surrounded him constantly. When he met Julia it seemed as if going against the party may actually be a slight possibility, and in the least she at least brought meaning back to life for Winston. It was also extremely disappointing to find out O'Brien's true nature although he did seem questionable all along and it seemed to good to be true for Winston to have found an ally in him and a tie to the brotherhood.

Winston's initial strength at the beginning of part three of the novel was surprising and seemed as if it could be another slight glimmer of hope. Throughout the novel he did not seem like he would be able to take the beatings described in the last few chapters of the book. That bit of hope was ultimately diminished also when he surrender to the torturing by rats that occurred in room 101. I was disappointed to see him ultimately betray Julia and himself as well.

At the end Winston has lost himself and come to conform to everything that he once hated. He know believes that "two plus two equals five" and repeats the party sayings and goes along living life like any other naturally obeying citizen of the party. Earlier in part three Winston told himself that he would always hate big brother in his mind, he would just have to make it seem otherwise outwardly. He says in doing this, even if he dies he will have won because he will have died hating big brother which is more than many others could say. However, at the end Winston betrays himself yet again in admitting that he loves big brother. The book is a disappointment because at the end Winston has been converted into an ideal party member therefore diminishing the little hope that readers had throughout the novel.