The Suppression of Love and Eroticism in 1984

“We are never so helplessly unhappy as when we lose love,” (Sigmund Freud). Throughout life, there are searches of meaning, belonging, and most importantly, love. Being in love with someone and sharing yourself and your life gives an overwhelming sense of completeness. If you live your life without love, compassion, or desire there is not much to look forward too – life would be lonely. In 1984, Big Brother’s manipulative control over the way of life in Oceania suppresses society’s and Winston Smith’s ability to find love and express sexual desire.

Big Brother could not control men and women from developing “loyalties” between one another; however, its undeclared purpose was to completely abolish all the pleasure, meaning, and emotion from the sexual act. The Party made great efforts to psychologically manipulate the people into doing as they say. Many restrictions and regulations made it practically impossible for anyone to even consider going against the Party. Fi...