Why does O'Brien torture Winston?

[fidelio]

There are a couple things I don't understand after reading this.

Why does Winston feel safe when O'Brien tortures him? Does this mean that O'Brien is really working for Big Brother and that Winston was wrong about him all along?

And who are the proles? Are Proles the common people?

[fidelio]

Oh ha, I suppose I answered my own question about why Winston feels O'Brien is his friend, but just to be clear, O'brien is technically not on Winston's side? Is he?

And of course, who are the proles?

[bazarov]

Proles are normal people, people who doesn't belong to Partia. If I had well remembered, 98% people in Oceania are proles.
No, O'Brien is not on his side, he is somekind of secret agent, and he doesn't want to kill Winston, he wants to prove him some Partia things and feelings; his wish is to create a new man in Winston.

[Mojophonious]

There are a couple things I don't understand after reading this.

Why does Winston feel safe when O'Brien tortures him? Does this mean that O'Brien is really working for Big Brother and that Winston was wrong about him all along?

And who are the proles? Are Proles the common people?


Winston know he is doomed from the start because he know he is not allowed to think like does or as much as he does ...

and yes, O'Brien is indeed an inner party member who let Winston trap himself when he referred to Smye, now an unperson - and he feels safe now as he he is tortured since he knows his awful discomfort in life will cease.

The proles are indeed the common folk, and it is short for proletariat ... the working class, non-party.

[Quarmby]

Yers obrien was always a party member and was stringing Winston along. Yes, the Proles are the common people. It's short for Proletariat a Marxist term. perhaps you might look up some stuff on basic marxism at your local library. Hopefully that stuff is actually available in American libraries. (of course I'm assuming you are in the US!!)