Alternative Ending

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11-18-2009, 09:24 PM
Austispomonti

Alternative Ending

With most books you would expect some kind of twist, or suprise in the plot. But would Orwell still of been able to get his thoughts across with an alternate ending? Say O'Brien was actually against the party along with Charlington, and Winston actually somehow did manage to attack the Party in some form. Could we still of got that information on the party and their views across which we learn from the toture between Winston and O'Brien in room 101? I do think the way the book actually ended is a better way of ending over it ending with Winston and Julie rising against the Party, but i want to know your thoughts.
11-18-2009, 10:06 PM
Ziver

Shaggy dog story

I think that if 1984 ended with any glimmer of hope from anywhere, then 1984 would become just a shaggy dog story. The total eradication of hope, in a future of totalitarianism, gives the reader a grasp of how extreme the government could control society if gone unchecked. I don't really think there is any way Orwell could have ended it differently to still portray the same message.
11-19-2009, 05:37 PM
The Atheist

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ziver

I think that if 1984 ended with any glimmer of hope from anywhere, then 1984 would become just a shaggy dog story. The total eradication of hope, in a future of totalitarianism, gives the reader a grasp of how extreme the government could control society if gone unchecked. I don't really think there is any way Orwell could have ended it differently to still portray the same message.

Bingo!

All impact would be lost.
11-19-2009, 06:44 PM
Jack Fields

Well, I think that the original name for the book should be " The last man in Europe" and alternative ending would totaly ruin that. It wouldn´t be utopia anymore.
11-19-2009, 06:50 PM
Lokasenna

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ziver

I think that if 1984 ended with any glimmer of hope from anywhere, then 1984 would become just a shaggy dog story. The total eradication of hope, in a future of totalitarianism, gives the reader a grasp of how extreme the government could control society if gone unchecked. I don't really think there is any way Orwell could have ended it differently to still portray the same message.

I think the ending is perfect... Orwell leads us to expect a victory, and the effect he acchieves in denying hope is powerful. The victory over the self is one of the most chilling, terrifying concepts I have ever encountered... a happy ending would have robbed it of all validity, at least in my opinion.