1984 Conflict

Boris Bulatovic

George Orwell

Conflict and Obstacles

There are many conflicts and obstacles in 1984 by George Orwell. Winston the main character faces many obstacles which prevent him from reaching his goal. There are many conflicts in the book both internal and external.

Most of the internal conflicts in the novel arise from Winstons’s depression and sadness in his life, he feels as though he has no purpose. They also arise from his suspicions that the Party controls everything and has ultimate power over everyone. In the beginning of the novel when we are introduced to Winston he is extremely depressed and miserable and that depression and sadness is mostly caused because of his hatred towards the Party. He cannot be happy with just letting the Party have control so this is internal, Man vs. Self. Even though Winston's unhappiness is caused by the Party Winston's is disturbed with his angst about the Party.

The internal conflict comes from Winston himself. After he meets Julia, who is a free-spirit who also works in the Ministry of Truth, he is constantly paranoid about being caught rebelling against the all-powerful Party. It is almost as if there is a haze over his happiness, which is always present.

The external conflicts in this novel are caused by repression and fear, repression and fear the Party puts on its pawns. Winstons and other members of the Party are constantly being watched by Big Brother, which leaves the pawns in continuous fear of the punishment of rebellion. The Party in the novel maintains that external fear through constant examples of encouraging the turning in of friends, punishments and propaganda.

Other external conflicts come at the ending of the novel with Winston's torture and slow degradation of his body and mind. These torture techniques are external conflicts.

Winston faced many obstacles in the novel. The main one being external he had to battle and rebel against a giant massive all powerful Party this is the main cause of all of his issues. The Party is what caused his conflict without them, Winston would be happy and everything would be utopian. Winston's goal is to obliterate the Party so without the party Winston would not have a goal, the party is what stands between Winston and his happiness.

The other obstacle that Winston faced was himself. His conscious is the reason he even rebelled in the first placed, without his conscious he would be happy and would not combat the oppressive system.

The obstacles and the Party in the end get the better of Winston. This is stated in the final sentence of the novel.