The Tragedy of Winston Smith
Winston Smith had a noble goal of fighting against the ruling Party that he exceedingly hated and therefore desired to free the people of Oceania from their oppression. Winston belonged to the outer Party and served in the Ministry Truth where he cold perpetuate lies and propaganda through manipulation of newspapers and other historical documents. As a result of these crimes of the Big Brother Party, Winston decides to keep a diary to record the atrocities of the Inner Party secretly. Despite his efforts to restore the true sanctity of Oceania showcased by his resilience in following a noble cause to expose the workings of the inner-Party, he was quite reckless. Winston, through his recklessness and rebelliousness without limit orchestrated his destruction. Winston orchestrated his death by committing several crimes inclusive of writing down the atrocities he had planned to do to the Big Brother in his diary, allowing himself to be secretly initiated in a group that was against the ruling Party and also deciding to participate in an affair with Julia despite the repercussions he knew he would face.
Winston’s rebellion showcased in his involvement in an extramarital affair with Julia was one of the primary ways through which he orchestrated his destruction. This was because he had chosen to engage in this relationship defying first and foremost his purity and sanctity of marriage to Katherine and also defying the Big Brother. The author claims “The aim of the Party was not merely to prevent men and women from forming loyalties which it might not be able to control. Its real, undeclared purpose was to remove all pleasure from the sexual act.” (Orwell, p. 83, 1984). This implies being a member of the Party required one to maintain high standards of purity. Choosing to engage in this relationship with Julia, Winston was defying the rules of the Party. Notably, this relationship was illegal both to his wife and to Big Brother, and he, therefore, knew the tragedy of what he was doing. Later they are found by the iron man with the iron voice as Julia claims, “Now they can see us.” (Orwell, p. 279, 1984) and he is arrested. He brought too much attention to himself that he could have otherwise avoided.
Winston also orchestrated his downfall by allowing his recruitment in the Brotherhood that was presumed to be a revolution against the Big Brother. Notably, the character Winston Smith was recruited to the Big Brother O’Brien. The organized a secret meeting at Obrien’s flat where they met, and he was eventually recruited. During his recruitment process, O’Brien tells Winston that “The members of the Brotherhood have no way of recognizing one another, and it is impossible for any one member to be aware of the identity of more than a few others.” As the thinker he was, he could have identified the loopholes in this statement about an organization that did not have any possible proof. As he is recruited, he is given a book by Emmanuel Goldenstein “The Theory and Practice of Oligarchical Collectivism”. (Orwell, p. 232, 1984). In reading the book and his recruitment, Winston was still driving too much attention himself. He knew the consequences of being caught in such a group, but he went on ahead and joined.
It’s crucial to note that O’Brien was a member of the inner-Party who was a spy of the Big Brother but instead he lied to Julia and Winston that he also secretly hated the Big Brother. Winston had not taken time to vet any activities and people that were getting into his life. He was not capable of detecting any lie that was presented to him but overly trusted people. Even up to his arrest, his ignorance, still believes that the Brotherhood, led by O’Brien, will come and save him. In the cells Winston contemplates the reality of the existent of the Brotherhood that they do not save people from the cells but “they would send the razor blade if they could” (Orwell, p. 289) that he could presumably use to escape. Even at this moment, he fails to realize how brainwashed he has been and finally, O’Brien reminds him “You are slow learner Winston” (Orwell, p. 316), the implication was to showcase the fact that he had dug his own grave.
The third point that confirms Winston Smith had orchestrated his destruction was in the commencement of his writing in the diary the crimes he intended to commit such as the one with the title “DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER.” (Orwell, p. 23, 1984). In writing the contents of this diary, the author claims Winston “could not help feeling a twinge of panic. It was absurd since the writing of those particular words was not more dangerous than the initial act of opening the diary. (Orwell, p. 23-24, 1984). In this regard, he knew it was a critical path he was taking. Putting his ideas that were detrimental to such a powerful organization like the Party, he knew it was capable of being found and would land him in a problem. However, he exposes strangers such as Julia and O’Brien to the diary. The latter used this against him as Winston is eventually arrested and lands in prison being tortured by O’Brien.
Conclusion
The character Winston Smith had orchestrated his destruction through his extreme hatred towards the Big Brother, which was the ruling party. His hatred is spurred by episodes of recklessness and rebelliousness through which he is arrested. Notably, the character participated in an affair with Julia, something that was illegal in Oceania, and he is eventually arrested. He also joins an underground brotherhood as advised by a spy without vetting the organization. O’Brien uses this against him and plans for his arrest. Lastly, he begins writing the crimes he intends to commit to the Brotherhood on his diary and exposes it to strangers. All these factors contributed to his arrest and finally physical and psychological torture.
Reference
Orwell, G. (1984). Nineteen-Eighty-Four. Planet EBook. 29th June 2020. http://www.planetebook.com/free-ebooks/1984.pdf.