1984 #8

Chapter 8 of Orwell's 1984 explores Winston's involvement with the Brotherhood. Winston discovers that O'Brien has plotted against the Party, and is involved in an organization to overthrow Big Brother. When Julia and Winston arrive at O'Brien's flat, they learn about the Brotherhood and what it means to be in an organization that is dead to the Party. When describing the objectives of the Brotherhood, O'Brien asks, "'You are prepared to cheat, to forge, to blackmail, to corrupt the minds of children, to distribute habit-forming drugs, to encourage prostitution, to disseminate venereal diseases- to do anything which is likely to cause demoralization and weaken the power of the Party?''' (Orwell 172). The Brotherhood is risking their lives to weaken Big Brother and the government. They are willing to do everything in their power to make sure that life will be worth living again. Winston and Julia agree to these terms, however they are not ready to separate and never see eachother again. O'Brien has made sure that they both fully understand the consequences of being in such a dangerous organization under the watchful eye of the Thought Police.