Does Winston Smith die in the end of 1984 by George Orwell?
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Yes, Winston Smith effectively dies at the end of 1984 by George Orwell, though his death is not physical but rather psychological and spiritual. His individual identity and rebellious spirit are destroyed by the Party. In the final chapter, Winston is shown to have fully accepted the Party’s control and genuinely loves Big Brother. This transformation marks the true end of his character as the independent thinker introduced at the start of the novel.
Throughout 1984, Winston is portrayed as someone who questions the Party’s totalitarian rule. He secretly rebels by writing in a diary, engaging in a romantic relationship with Julia, and seeking out the Brotherhood, a supposed resistance movement. These actions make him a threat to the regime. The Party captures him and subjects him to intense psychological torture in the Ministry of Love, particularly in Room 101, where he is confronted with his greatest fear.
The goal of the Party is not just to punish dissenters but to break their spirit and reshape their minds so they willingly conform. O’Brien, the Party official in charge of Winston’s torture, makes it clear that the Party seeks power for its own sake. The final step in Winston’s reeducation comes when he betrays Julia under extreme fear. This betrayal represents the complete erosion of his personal loyalties.
In the last scene, Winston is no longer capable of independent thought. He sits at a café, drinks Victory Gin, and listens to propaganda without protest. He has lost his ability to question or resist. When he thinks about Big Brother, he feels love rather than hatred or fear. Orwell writes that Winston had “won the victory over himself,” and ends with the haunting line: “He loved Big Brother.”
This ending emphasizes the terrifying power of a totalitarian regime to erase individuality and truth, leaving only absolute obedience.
