Reflection on “1984” Ending

Through moments of great suspense and endless monotony, George Orwell’s 1984 proved a very eye-opening book. The novel was increasingly difficult for me to read and by the close of it I felt wholly defeated. I realized that this reaction is very appropriate and even expected because Orwell’s depiction of a totalitarian society based in hatred and war hysteria is not meant to be a hopeful one. Orwell served his purpose in outlining all of the issues with dictatorial regimes, like Nazi Germany or Communist Russia that were in power during the publication of 1984. Orwell’s purpose was to show the reader the (mostly) average citizen of this society, that being Winston, and his desire to break free of the oppression he has been placed under. The first part of the book outlined the workings of the Party society, the second showed Winston’s beginnings of serious rebellion and the third divulged into his punishment at the Minilove facility where he was beaten down, both physically and in spirit.

I saw the novel as a solid critique of totalitarian regimes, specifically it’s citing of the USSR’s violations of human rights. 1984 proved difficult for me to read seeing that the culture of the Party-world was based in a strict class hierarchy and demanded readers believe that all humans being selfish and power-hungry. This reading is necessary though because denying there is greed and oppression in the world only serves to further hide the existence of greed and oppression.

Ultimately, the ending the of book for me was a difficult one to process. Winston sits in a bar, alone and alcoholic, a human devoid of hope. Upon hearing the news of a great victory for Oceania, Winston leaps up and celebrates wholeheartedly. The final lines of the book prove it’s most powerful. Winston thinks to himself “…everything was all right, the struggle was finished. He had won the victory over himself. He loved Big Brother.” (298). I found the end to be almost ironic in that the reader is lead to believe that Winston might still have some spark in him. Possibly he is celebrating the victory because it may end the endless war, but in actuality Winston has truly attained doublethink and his acceptance of his dictator’s power is the cherry on top of his repentance dessert.

Explication of “Barbie Doll”

Marge Piercy’s poem Barbie Doll follows a female from girlhood to death, her life a metaphor for the harm that beauty standards cause women. The piece opens with an account of the subject’s toys such as dolls, stoves and makeup, all objects that represent traditional  femininity and thus this “girlchild” is thrust into her first gender role. The poem’s point comes into focus with the subject’s classmate stating “You have a great big nose and fat legs.” A contrast to this statement is the subjects characterization that outlines the girl as being “healthy, tested intelligent, possessed strong arms and back, abundant sexual drive and manual dexterity.” Despite the strength and wit the child possesses she “went to and fro apologizing” for her appearance and existence and believed “Everyone saw a fat nose on thick legs.” This belief led her to “exercise, diet, smile and wheedle” while societal pressures to “play coy” and “to come on hearty” repeatedly wore at her patience and confidence. Piercy utilizes overstatement to outline the subject’s struggle in that she “cut off her nose and her legs and offered them up.”
The final stanza depicts the woman’s demise and final resting place. No longer does she wear her own make-up but has been painted with the “undertaker's cosmetics.” I find this line interesting in that while alive the subject had no agency in her appearance once she was ridiculed, she existed to please everyone else and now someone else is applying her makeup. Another intriguing line is one that states the girl as having a “turned-up putty nose.” This leads me to believe that the subject went so far as to have cosmetic surgery to fix her perceived imperfection. My theory is that the woman of this poem struggled with an eating disorder and complications of this lead to an untimely death.
The closing lines are powerful and serves to emphasize the author’s views “Doesn't she look pretty? everyone said. Consummation at last. To every woman a happy ending.” The line “Doesn't she look pretty” is assumed to be spoke by a attendee of the funeral, a person that shows remorse for the girl yet still only truly sees her for her appearance. The use of “pretty” also finally validates the subject in her attempts to be and feel physically beautiful, but such attempts are in vain for her struggle has killed her. This too-late-validation is mentioned in the lines “Consummation at last. To every woman a happy ending.” Ultimately the “happy ending” is ironic in that the currently high standards set for women in society make for no real closure in that no female feels adequate.

Impressions of Julia from “1984”

Prior to Part Two of Orwell’s “1984” I was wary of Julia as a character and shared the same fear as Winston that she was a person not to be trusted. She appeared cold and deceptive. My perception of Julia, like Winton’s, changed dramatically with the first chapter when she slips the infamous note. The note proved that there is a softness to her and a clear penchant for being a traitor of the Party. Julia, then still referred to as ‘the girl,’ is smart about her passing of the note, with a begging facial expression, a deliberate fall and the secret passing of the note. Initially I worried the note was a trap but Winston’s excitement proved otherwise. They meet at Victory Square and she gives him detailed instructions for a meeting and then reaches out to hold his hand, a move that depicts clever planning and romantic inclinations. The two meet in the field. Julia is not vain and “couldn’t care less” (120) about Winston’s slightly haggard appearance. Winston reveals his initial impressions of Julia and she is delighted that her disguise of a “good Party member,” (121) is convincing enough and she admits to being extremely involved with Party volunteer work so as to ensure a good cover. She has a knack for determining who is against the Party, another instance of her apparent cleverness and know-how of the party. Her insight into the Party does not damper her anger however, and she has (as Winston states) “an open jeering hatred” which is framed by shocking the “coarseness of her language” (123). Julia, like Winston, has an appreciation for the beautiful and the unnecessary, like the singing thrush in the woods. Prior to having sex, Julia openly admits to sleeping with “scores” of men within the Outer Party and that she is “corrupt to the bones” (125). Julia proves intelligent in many ways like with skills in communicating beyond the Party’s notice but claims she can only seem to handle machinery, not literature. Ideals of hers are that one must “break the rules and stay alive the same” so as to avoid vaporization but stopping the Party is “stupid” (131). Julia isn’t totally blind to the Party’s wrongdoings but her focus is on this that directly affect her, like the stigma surrounding sex, love and privacy. Despite this Julia is a positive person and enjoys living in the ‘now,’ and incredulously asks “Don’t you enjoy being alive?” (136).

Chapters four through six serve to reinforce Julia’s penchant for rebellion (with the purchases on the black-market) but lack of will to change the nation simply for the sake of change (with her dismissal of not caring about the nation’s ever-changing history).