Part 3: Chapter 1 & 2
I was rather surprised to see O' Brian showed up at the end of chapter one, I guess I should be used to this. I initially thought he was a prisoner but it turned out he most defiantly was not. The thing is I don't believe that O' Brian is there to help Winston in a good way. I think he really believes he is helping Winston, in that he is trying to cure him of his subordination. O' Brian in my opinion is not a good man. He torchere and confuses Winston repeatedly, but I believe it is for a purpose not out of spite. I think he is part of the party and helps to eradicate the problem people such as Winston and Julia. I'm trying to put into words what I am thinking, but it's just not coming across right on here.What I'm trying to say is that O' Brian is a torturer in my eyes, but a savior in his own. I think he believe what he is doing is for the good of the party and Winston. But, in my eyes he is only corrupting an already corrupt man. He is changing Winston to think like himself, like the party. I don't think he does the things he does, because he wants to see people suffer but so that the party can live on. Live on and not have to fear the presents of maybe say a martyr, causing a rebellion. I believe he is is the insane one in this story not Winston, but then again who really knows what sane is.
While reading chapter one of part 3 I also ran across a section that for some reason really hit me. On P. 236 a man is told that he must report to room 101. The way that he fought and begged not to be taken there just got to me. He was described as emanated and nearly dead. When he was told to go to room 101 he fought tooth an nail to stay. To have a person say that they would feather die that go to a room saddens me. I really did tear up while reading it. It made me feel horrible to think that something so awful was happening to people, and the guards could give a care less what they did to those people. It made me so sad to think that this man has probably never knew love or hope, and he will die in fear and insanity.
O'Brien as BOTH savior and torturer? I think that is a fascinating interpretation. I have not thought about him portraying dual purposes before. I wonder what that would do to a reading for me if I thought about how O'Brien sees himself. I have always thought about O'Brien through the eyes of Winston.
ReplyDeleteOrwell would be pleased, I think, to read your last paragraph. That you were affected so significantly would tell Orwell that his work, his writing hasn't been in vain. It has served a purpose. Remember--warning. Do not allow yourself to become like this. So how will you combat it?