1984 - The End

"He had one the victory over himself. He loved Big Brother." p. 298

Winston loses. The Party wins. Darn. So then what ultimately causes his conversion? Well, there are a number of things. First off, O'Brien is responsible. He is able to wear him down over time. Winston perceives him as extremely intelligent, far smarter than himself, with impeccable logic. The torture doesn't really cause the conversion, although it does help set O'Brien up. It wears him down mentally and physically, but ultimately O'Brien's demeanor is what changes him in the end. Because Winston views him as such a mental giant, he finds it necessary to adhere to what he says. He begins practicing this rejection of reality even before room 101. However, room 101 helps push him over the edge. His total betrayal of Julia finally severs the one tie that could possibly have made him human. That personal connection he had with Julia was powerful enough to challenge the loyalty that The Party wants him to have towards Big Brother. Thus, by severing that connection, The Party ensures that Winston has only enough room for loving the big guy and no one else. However, even after he is released to the world, he is not fully brainwashed. He still has his own private thought, a memory of a happy day that he had with his mother when he was still just a child. He later dismisses this as a false memory; however, he does still remember it, thus showing that he's not quite fully converted to the Party doctrine. However, the finally straw that breaks the back of this metaphorical camel is the military victory over the Eurasian Army in Africa. Winston views Big Brother as "The colossus that bestrode the world! The rock against which the hordes of Asia dashed themselves in vain!" He views Big Brother as his ultimate protector, and finally is able to love him. He curses his own self-willed attempts to reject the Party and Big Brother and finally embraces him with love.

So my reaction? Well, it's a sad, depressing ending, but it's the only possible ending that really holds true to the theme of the book. There are no heroes, not even Winston. Even after his struggle, he finally gives in. It really is hopeless, which is kind of a downer, but at least this couldn't possibly happen in real life, right?
...
...
...Right?