Introduction

My choice piece is a bookmark featuring OʼBrien but from Winstonʼs point of view. There are three OʼBriens, representing each part of the book. Alongside are quotes from each part that characterize Winstonʼs perception of OʼBrien. I chose to focus on OʼBrien in this choice piece because he is my favorite character. His relationship dynamic with Winston is fascinating and I adore it. Predator-prey, Stockholm syndrome, abuser and victim, to name a few.

Character Design

In the book, Winston speculates that OʼBrien is “forty-eight or fifty [years old]” (Orwell 21) and describes his face as “coarse” and “brutal” (Orwell 9). He even downright calls him “ugly” (Orwell 155). I gave my OʼBrien some wrinkles and a blunt face structure to reflect these aspects. However, in my headcanon, heʼs somewhat of a handsome lad. So I took some creative liberties and did exactly that; Iʼd say he looks pretty good for a fifty-year-old. As mentioned in the book, inner party members wear black overalls. For the sake of creating an interesting character design, my OʼBrien has pockets on his overalls and wears an INGSOC armband. The thin, rounded frames of his glasses give him the appearance of a “curiously civilized” man (Orwell 9). His hair is neatly trimmed because I interpret him as a perfectionist and a control freak.

Part ONE: Love at First Sight?

The top panel depicts the moment Winston locks eyes with OʼBrien during the Two Minutes Hate. You can see a screen with Big Brotherʼs face off in the distance. His eyes watching over them as heʼd always have. The glow around OʼBrien emphasizes how Winston is able to pick him out among a sea of people. In the “fraction of a second when their eyes met,” the two exchange a message. Winston — oh, how delusional he is — believes that OʼBrien said to him “I am with you.” Despite never interacting with him, Winston intuited that OʼBrien is also a party dissident. Winston in Part ONE sees OʼBrien as someone he can trust completely. His deep resonation with OʼBrien never really went away. (On another note, in the book, the two actually locked eyes whilst OʼBrien was taking off his glasses. For two reasons, I did not draw this: the spacing looks weird with the pose and OʼBrien doesnʼt look like himself with his glasses off.)

Part TWO: Infatuation

The center panel depicts the scene in which OʼBrien warns Winston and Julia of their fate after joining the Brotherhood. In a matter-of-fact tone, he spoke of destruction and atrocities, “with a faint air of persiflage” (Orwell 155). In reference to this tone, I drew OʼBrien with a taunting, mocking smile. His pose extrudes confidence and power, holding out a glass of wine and inviting Winston to join him. How did Winston feel about this? Heʼs impressed. Very impressed. He felt a “wave of admiration, almost of worship” towards OʼBrien (Orwell 155). Just like that, OʼBrien won Winston over yet again. Winstonʼs infatuation with OʼBrien becomes even stronger after this interaction. Itʼs almost to the point of idolization.

Part THREE: Love and Fear Go Hand in Hand

The bottom panel depicts Winstonʼs point of view, strapped to the machine and looking up at OʼBrien. In Part THREE, he develops an ambivalent stance towards OʼBrien. On one hand, he sees OʼBrien as a “protector” and a “friend” (Orwell 217). This is where the Stockholm syndrome kicks in. Winston knows that his survival is dependent on OʼBrien. He dictates when he gets fed and prevents the guards from killing him. And for that, Winston is thankful. He also recalls one time OʼBrien comforting him. Whether this is his hallucination or it actually happened, we do not know. Winston is also aware that OʼBrien is his “tormentor” and “inquisitor” (Orwell 217). Though Winston never blames OʼBrien for anything. His hatred is only towards the Party. Eventually, Winston comes around to believe that OʼBrien torturing him is in fact a good thing. Heʼs fixing his sanity. This is why I drew OʼBrien smiling benevolently (but in a sinister way). From Winstonʼs perspective, he thinks OʼBrien is doing the right thing. (But also I just think that OʼBrien is a sadist who secretly enjoys torturing people.)

“We shall meet in the place where there is no darkness.”

The back side of the bookmark is pretty simplistic. It features one of my favorite quotes from the chapter: “We shall meet in the place where there is no darkness” (Orwell 218). Winston has been looking forward to that the entire book and, at last, he meets OʼBrien in the Ministry of Love. The black color emphasizes darkness and the golden text is a reference to the Golden Country. During his ordeal in the Ministry of Love, Winston had many dreams of meeting OʼBrien in the Golden Country. They talked of “peaceful things” (Orwell 246). Just goes to show how Winstonʼs trust in OʼBrien never went away.