Klein-1984

     Winston lucked out, and even though it's a stretch, I believe that this is the happiest ending that the book could have. Of course, in a la-di-da world, Winston and Julia would end up together in the end, drenched in their annoying love, outside of their disastrous society. But this is a realistic ending, and I like it. I enjoy how Orwell did not get too  creative and absurd, making Winston somehow able to exist as an individual in his society. I appreciate that the ending is not a typical "happy ending" but that our protagonist ends up living.      My question is, which do you think is the "happier" ending, Winston living in his society (aka the end of the novel) or Winston dying? You don't get the option of him being carefree and resisting. Lol I'm kind of like the Thought Police right now. 

     Although I dislike Winston, I do pity him some in Chapter 5. In Room 101, we see what reaction the Party has been searching for from Winston, betrayal. Room 101 is the room of breaking points and Winston's is rats. O'Brien capitalizes on Winston's weakness and uses it to turn him against the only thing he had trust in. Up until this point, Winston has remained loyal to Julia, despite everything she has done to him. In this act of manipulation, Winston chooses himself over Julia.      This begs the question, why is Winston not punished for choosing himself, as people are not supposed to commit selfish acts?  Is it because he is choosing himself at someone else's expense, making his selfishness justifiable and therefore inline with the Party's beliefs? Let me know what you think? Also, were you expecting Winston's betrayal, or did you believe that he would remain loyal to Julia to the bitter end?