Winston's psychological collapse and recovery in Orwell's 1984

1984 Writing Assignment

JRSM 301 DLF

Writing

Winston's mental faculties begin to descend into an abyss as the stress of working in the Party yet secretly plotting against it begins to fray his nerves. The tension mounts and his physical weakness adds to the psychological collapse. However, Winston's search for truth is rewarded at last through a meeting with O'Brien and the reception of a book by Goldstein. This, coupled with his time with Julia and a kind of relaxed holiday among the proles (nature) gives him a boost of confidence that he is on the right track. This paper will describe these catalysts and conclude with what I have learned thus far from my reading of 1984.

What might have caused Winston's mental deterioration is his meeting with O'Brien, his confession of treason against the Party, and his own frail nerves being overworked (90 hours of work for the Party in 5 days) (Orwell 227). In other words, he is under a great deal of stress and tension. That stress is having a real effect on his psyche, and even though he wants to fight against the Party, he is not in any psychological or physical position to take such a bold step at this moment. He is mainly acting on emotion and limited rational foresight -- it is like an act of desperation, like jumping off a cliff to save one's life, and mentally speaking he pays the price.

What brings Winston back to reality is the arrival of the book by Goldstein that explains the theory and practice of the Party. It puts into words everything that Winston has already thought but been unable to enunciate. He is compelled by this book, feels it is very important and that both he and Julia should read it. He reads it aloud and his spirits are revived as a result.

Another instance that brings Winston back to reality is his time with Julia in their hideaway in London. Refreshed and away from the excitement of Hate Week and the perpetual war, Winston is able to enjoy nature, listen to a bird on a walk, and enjoy the sights of the proles in town. He is free from the tension associated with the falsehoods of the Party. This all helps him to come back to his senses, to reduce his stress, and to feel as though he is finally on the right track -- that he has truth on his side and that with truth, he can face the whole world: "Sanity is not statistical," he says, implying that one sane person with truth is enough to take on an entire Party of lies (Orwell 274).