1984: Part 3, Ch. 3-6 (END)

"THE END." Those last words signaling the end of novel left the most impression on me, despite their not being too profound. For me, "THE END" means two things: one is the literal meaning, the end of the novel; the other is the end of humanity. Winston had been struggling throughout the novel with his perceptions of what is right and what the Party does to destroy them. He was different from others around him, expressing his feelings and thinking his own thoughts. Winston was the hope for humanity, the hope that perhaps the world could be turned back on the right track. However, with the ending words of the novel, "He had won the victory over himself. He loved Big Brother," that hope was crushed. Humanity was destroyed, lost possibly forever. Winston had been a representation of individuality and independence in society, but once he "won the victory over himself" and let go of those virtues, he gave up his--society's--human rights.