Why Does Winston Hate Rats?
WouterIn the movie “Room 101,” Winston is tortured by O’Brien with rats and learns to fear rats. In Winston’s mind, rats are synonymous with squalor and pestilence, as they carry disease and thrive on human garbage. Humans in Winston’s world behave like a horde of meaningless drones, so the rats symbolize the worst aspects of human life.
Orwell uses rats to show how our worst fears can crush our spirit. The dread of rats in England is a result of the Black death, which was a disease spread by ships. This outbreak was one of the deadliest in history, and is believed to have been caused by rats. In 1984, Orwell subtly hints at Winston’s hatred of rats, implying that a human’s worst fears are the ones responsible for our most horrific experiences.
In the book, Winston fears that if he is caught, he will be declared a traitor. Later in the book, he will be declared a criminal. The book also implies that rats are associated with greed, but there are also traditions and cultures that treat them as symbols of success, wealth, and prosperity. Some studies even indicate that rats are intelligent.
As the story continues, Winston and Julia become more established in their love life. They rent a room above Mr. Charrington’s shop. Meanwhile, preparations for Hate Week cast a shadow over Winston’s life, and bring to the surface a number of minor details that will affect the rest of the story.
