Symbolism in 1984
Symbolism in 1984In the novel 1984 by George Orwell, symbolism dominates the structure of the book and makes it a more intriguing book to read, even more than once. One of these symbols is the beautiful paperweight with a piece of coral suspended inside of it, representing the world Julia and Winston have created upon themselves. The Golden Country that Winston dreams of is another symbol that exemplifies freedom from the party. Also there is the place where there is no darkness and Winston’s fear of rats.
Inside Mr. Charrington’s antique shop, a small, magnificent paperweight intrigues Winston. It is clear chunk of glass with an astonishing piece of coral suspended inside. “The coral was Julia’s life and his own,” said the narrator, “fixed in a sort of eternity in the heart of the crystal.” The relationship of Winston and Julia is beautiful, but, like the coral, it was also trapped and suspended in the world of Big Brother. In the end, when the coral is destroyed and shattered into pieces, Winston gives up all hope and the reader knows that the relationship between Julia and Winston, like the paperweight, is also blasted by the power of the Inner Party and Big Brother.
The Golden Country in the novel is an extremely important place for both Winston and Julia. This is the place where they both meet for the very first time in order to make love to each other and also, by doing this, rebel against Big Brother and the Inner Party by ignoring their anti-sex laws. This place is also very much like the Golden Country in Winston’s dreams. It represents a place where Winston can never be hurt and is free from the following eyes of Big Brother. It is his place, along with Julia’s, where he is truly a free man. Winston relates this place in his dreams to the location in which Julia and he first meet.
Another symbolic reference in the novel is the place where there is no darkness. It is to this place Winston expects to go. It is the place where he and O’Brien know they will meet and Winston knows that it is his destiny to end up there....
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