this post was submitted on 18 Jan 2026
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Yeah, see, that's not how the protag's mindset read to me. He seems almost entirely complacent about the other aspects of his and everyone else's oppression. He even scoffs at the rumors of rebellions and mocks those who would try. The one thing he cares about is his lack of sex.
He very much read as a sexually frustrated incel type from the very beginning, lamenting that he couldn't just sleep with whomever he wanted, not for love, but for passion and lust. Hell, doesn't he have a rape and murder fantasy over some woman (Is it the girl he ends up sleeping with? I cant recall). Like, he's absolutely a piece of shit. But, grain of salt, maybe I'm remembering that wrong. I cant recall a ton of details. So, I'll give him the benefit of the doubt.
Again, passion and lust are fine. I just couldn't give a shit about your lust when the world is a machine of lies and control. It's far too petty a concern. Their rebellion was far too self-centered, personal and base to be compelling to me. They are entirely apathetic to Big Brother's control over everything, even one's own thoughts, except where it affects themselves and what they personally care about. They will sneak around to sleep together, consume smuggled luxuries, but then do absolutely nothing to benefit anyone else around them. I just dont care about people like that or want to put myself in their minds. I find it distasteful.
gestures wildly around at america
I think that's the most humanizing and realistic part of the writing, honestly.
Again, fair enough. But I have no interest in reading about the sexual escapades and inner monologue of a common selfish prick, no matter how prevalent they are IRL. If you wrote a book about a Nazi soldier just trying to throw a nice Arian themed dinner party but struggling to get good Swiss cream butter for his strudels because the Allies have halted supply lines, that might be relatable on a human level too, but I dont care to read about it.
IDK dude, I don't remember the sex thing being as played up as you're making it seem. Might be time for a re-read
The main character opposes indoctrination in multiple ways - his love affair is contrasted with his hatred of the party. At one point he tries to join a rebellion (only to find his contact was actually a government spy,) and he keeps a diary of his thoughts when writing and having those thoughts is criminal. It's an outlet due to the emotional repression enforced by Big Brother.
It's supposed to make us question our opinions on censorship and crime by challenging us. Do we think anything Winston did should be illegal? Where do we draw the line on acceptable expression?
Hell, Big Brother is as much an omnipresent main character as Winston, and it's not likeable either
If you didn't enjoy the book, that's valid, but I don't think you're seeing the forest for the trees, taking the relationship and the characters a little too literally.
Sympathizing with people you would normally never think or care about is part of why reading is such a valuable excercise.