ending

[Sean]

Actually, Orwell does put a strong message at the end of the book, "1984." When Winston wastes his days away drinking gin, the reader is shown that even those with the most disregard for government oversight and who may try to speak out against the government can be silenced. This leaves the reader with quite a spooky feeling. Also, it proves that because of this fact, it is that much more important for us to speak out against totalitarianism in the United States. When governments try to silence their citizens through all-encompassing laws that allow them to arrest and detain people for absolutely no reason, we have to take notice. We have to take notice and say something. See, right now people don't say enough. Why? Because they are being scared by the government into submission. They are scared to say something because then they may be presecuted too. Well, if people don't speak out to their congresspeople and government officials, then eventually nobody will be able to say anything.

[Rick]

Ashley,<br>In your critique you state that Orwell did not leave any questions. Yet, you asked two vital questions. Why wasn't the protagonist eliminated? Why wasn't the protagonist allowed to continue to fight against the repressive state of mind? For years readers have been asking questions about this book, and you, too have been left with unanswered profound questions. If you can perhaps see that the unanswered thoughts and questions are merely what the mind has left after a Big Brother encounter has occurred, then you may better understand the grand scope of the impact such a mind torturing annhilation Doublespeak and the like creates. There is a certain numbness and lethargy of the mind that takes place when one has been stripped of his anguishing rebellion. There is a spiritual lobotamy that leaves a spirit bland and tasteless, immune to discomfort, and basically floating. The fight is gone. Listlessly wafting in space is all one does after the rebellion has been depleted from the spirit. The protagonist demonstrates the end. Which would be worse; a fighting spirit that has no more fight, or death? In my opinion, the former would be worse to place on one who loved, but no longer loves, or one who had his own thoughts and opinions betrayed had to live with the memory of betrayal instead of being murdered. That in itself is the murder. Your desire for a simple immortalization of the protagonist is a sign of a lack of understanding of the whole intent of the author. Read the end again with a different mindset that one who is silenced is worse off than one who is martyred. Keep asking questions. You will be heard.

[ashley]

this book is one of the best and the scariest i have read. It tells of things happening today it is almost as if orwell could see into the future. the only disappoinment is the ending it doesnt have enough "oomph" it doesnt leave the reader with questions or something to think about why end it like he did why not have winston killed or escaping and continuing to rebel against big brother. That was the only let down i found the characters fascinating and true to real life. i only hope that the rest of orwell's story doesnt vome true