Analysis of Characters in George Orwell’s novel ‘1984’: Part Two

However, Winston understands the real state of things and has his own opinion concerning all these notions as he remembers what was before the Party. He is a disenchanted Party member who knows more than ordinary people and can form his opinion basing it on a reality. The author shows us the way these concepts are represented by the Party and the way Winston understands the reality in order to intensify the political satire of a totalitarian society. Very carefully Winston develops a relationship with his collaborator from the office, Julia.

Julia is a young woman of 25. She is a contrary character to Winston because she is an optimist. Julia is ardent in her service to the Party as she does not know what was before the Party. Orwell describes Julia as a simple woman who is light-minded in her love affairs with men. She is able to accept the changes in Oceania’s history without hesitation. Julia will agree with everything invented by the Party. Winston loves her because she is sensual and sexual despite her limited view of present state of things. Their relationship makes them forget about the rules of the state, in which the citizens have no right to a personal life. Therefore, Winston and Julia get into trouble with the Thought Police, and Ministry of Love. O'Brien is a contradictory figure. He helped Winston ‘be cured’ of his hatred for the Party. However, O'Brien was involved with the underground Brotherhood under the leadership of Emmanuel Goldstein whose aim was to destroy the Party. The reader does not know for sure who is O'Brien to Winston – a friend or an enemy. After Winston and Julia are tortured, it turns to be that their feelings have been destroyed and eventually, Winston understands that ‘He loved Big Brother’. To my mind, the author depicts characters from all sides. Thus, George Orwell does not divide his characters into ‘good’ and ‘bad’, criminals and judges. The author’s choice is to create a realistic atmosphere of that time showing us the contradictory epoch. He leaves to a reader to make the conclusions.