Posted by daniel june on October 13, 192001 at 11:06:43:

In 1984, Orwell writes a challenging religious allegory. Winston Smith is the lost sheep who is alone in the world against big brother. Big brother is Christ. The party is the church. O'Brian is his guardian angel: his conscience. The only crime is thoughtcrime, which is sin; sin of the heart. In reality, we are monitered every moment by God, wherever we are, and any thought that we are free is self delusion. Smith has become self deluded and entrenched in his sins. These sins are rooted in his insanity.

It is only through intense , torturing away his evil nature, that Winston can be purified. This is his conversion, and as O'brien said, what happens in the ministry of light is forever. What happens? He reflects: "He was back in the Ministry of Love, with everything forgiven, his soul white as snow." After he is denied loving everything in the world, including Julia, he was then worthy of Big Brother. His conscience could permit nothing else.

After this, his whole perception changed. For a while, he was in an altered state of consciousnes. His drinking is a symbol of baptism: "But it had become the element he swam in. It was his life, his death, and his resurrection."

Finally, at the end, the significance of the baptism hits him:

He gazed up at the enormous face. Forty years it had taken him to learn what kind of smile was hidden beneath the dark moustache. O cruel, needless misunderstanding! O stubborn,
self-willed exile from the loving ! Two gin-scented tears trickled down the sides of his nose. But it was all right, everything was all right, the struggle was finished. He had won
the victory over himself. He loved Big Brother.

He finally loved Christ. This is the end and purpose of his struggle. It is a happy ending.

• Re: 1984 as religious allegory jen 23:43:32 2/19/2004 (0)
• Re: 1984 as religious allegory A is A 23:18:36 2/14/2003 (0)
• Re: 1984 as religious allegory Paul Gallacher 07:51:35 10/24/2002 (0)
• Re: 1984 as religious allegory James R. Bainbridge 16:06:48 9/05/2002 (1)
  • Re: 1984 as religious allegory Jess 20:13:34 3/05/2004 (0)

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