No matter how much trust we put into one single person, often times, those are the same people that deceive in 1984, a novel by George Orwell, the idea of betrayal is tested throughout the novel, specifically by the character of Winston. Oceania is a totalitarian society. There are strict rules, heinous punishments, and grotesque living conditions. The reader is introduced to the characters of Winston as the novel begins. The reader can see, however, that Winston, despite his “loyalty” to The Party, is still committing acts of rebellion. Orwell depicts Winston arriving at home and instantly pulls out a notebook and beginning to write. The act of having a notebook alone is considered a crime. The term “thought-crime” is commonly used in this society. The Party does not allow individualized thoughts, therefore, confirming, the idea that Winston’s use of a journal is his first act of documented rebellion. Winston eventually meets a woman named Julia who he is both enamored and repulsed by. His feelings of lust come from her striking and unusual beauty, while the feelings of disgust stem from the abolition of sex within Oceania. …show more content…
On of the prime acts of rebellion in Oceania is intimacy: holding hands, kissing, hugging, and sex are all things that are punishable by death. Once Julia and Winston do engage in the act of sex while in the woods, they are both overcome with the desire to continue their rebellion because they are already committed so many felonies. This new-found glory and pride leads them both to befriend a rebel from The Inner Party, O’Brien. Julia and Winston admit to O’Brien that they too want to take part in the rebellion, just as he has done. Both Winston and Julia are ecstatic to finally join the rebellion, but suddenly it is revealed to them that O’Brien isn’t actually a rebel, and then because of their betrayal, he sends Winston and Julia to the Ministry of