The Bullet

A metaphor is made at the end of the novel to a bullet. It seems as if there is a gun being held to Winston’s head, and that Winston dies from the shot. However, this is just a metaphor, as Winston does not actually die. The metaphor is referring to the fact that Winston is already dead. Even though he is not physically dead, he has been killed internally by the Party. All of his core beliefs about the Party have been destroyed, and replaced (by way of torture in the Ministry of Love) with beliefs that the Party wants him to have, beliefs that align with their views. They have brainwashed him, turning him to an ideal Party member, from previously a secretly rebelling worker under the Party. The metaphor of the “bullet” is representing the fact that the Party has already “killed” Winston internally, even if he is still physically alive.