Posted by Mike on June 19, 2002 at 18:40:50:
In Reply to: Does Winston die??? posted by Em on June 19, 2002 at 07:37:38:
It's a metaphor - not to be taken literally. Your pretty much right. Orwell is trying to indicate that there are other kinds of "death". The "bullet in the head" is the destruction of Winston's individuality. Under a totalitarian state literally shooting some one in the back head is the most primitive and brutal way of controlling someone. The Party in 1984 aspires to a much more sophisticated means of controlling it's citizens. The "bullet" in this context is the Party's gaining complete control of Winton's beliefs.