Printable View
In the book, Winston is harshly tortured, and O'Brian tells him he is eventually to be vaporized. O'Brian makes Winston believe that all persecuted of crime against the party are tortured before they are vaporized. But why would they torture criminals before vaporizing/killing them? Is it just because they're cruel and like the idea of inflicting pain unto the 'corrupt'? Or is there an actual reason for torture before death? :confused5:
-pogona:ciappa:
The torturing of criminals before death is yet another display of the sick control the party has over its people. The party does not want anybody to even die with a rebellious thought in their head or the stink of rebellion on their breath. Instead, thought criminals are tortured until they are in a disillusioned state of mind and are then forced to proclaim their love for big brother. Torture is used to wipe out any hatred towards the party so only supportive opinions remain. This way, even criminals die feeling only love for big brother. The idea of using physical control to obtain mental control is also a powerful symbol given off by the party. This mind control is used to prove that nobody can escape the power of the party, let alone outsmart it. They're giving off the message that if you even think about rebelling, you WILL be caught and you WILL cease to exist. It is a twisted game played by the party, and reflects on the dangers of a totalitarian government.
What I see, is that torturing criminals before vaporizing them is not because they like to inflict pain. Torturing them may be a way to make sure there are not any others who have been having rebellious thoughts against the Party. Getting them to tell everything that they have done or thought that goes against the Party, may lead to others. With knowledge of other rebels, the Party can make sure there will be no rebellion. Also Party members have no humanity so the torturing of rebels would not affect them, they would only believe that they are doing good for the Party by torturing them. In the end the rebels will be caught and killed and the Party will still be standing.
I think that the use of torture (or the threat of it) on political criminals is to strike fear into those that haven't already been brainwashed, people like Winston and Julia. With the threat of torture in the minds of thought criminals, their rebellious acts most likely would be suppressed, IF the secret of Room 101 were ever to escape to the public. As for the purpose of torturing Winston and Julia, I believe that the Party would want them fully rehabilitated, fully brainwashed to love Big Brother before they were to vaporize them. O'Brien wouldn't have gone to the trouble of torturing and forcing the love of Big Brother upon Winston and Julia if he were just going to kill them afterwards. He would want them to reintegrate into society, with the fear that no matter what they do, they are going to be vaporized. Perhaps not in a week, or a month, but it is inevitable.