1984's Final Line Is a Shocking Twist That Defines the Book George Orwell's 1984 concludes with a devastating revelation: the protagonist, Winston Smith, has been completely reprogrammed by the totalitarian regime. After months of torture and indoctrination, he has betrayed his ideals and his lover, Julia, and now fully embraces the oppressive state of Oceania. The final line, "He loved Big Brother," encapsulates the total defeat of the individual spirit and the triumph of the regime's psychological control. Science fiction is still one of the most popular genres across all media. Countless movies and TV shows come out every year, reinterpreting it in new and decidedly modern ways. However, it's perhaps in literature that sci-fi is most enduring, with more freedom to explore and defy its boundaries than any other medium. Many of the genre's greatest masterpieces originated as books, and what remains one of the most seminal and eerily prophetic of all time, George Orwell's 1984, came out 77 years ago.Orwell 1984 Influence LanguageDeservedly, 1984 has now become an outright institution of sci-fi, influencing countless stories in the years since and predicting a future that, while far bleaker and more unforgiving, is remarkably similar to many things that are actually happening right now. It also contributed greatly to language, introducing terms like"thoughtcrime" and"doublethink" into our lexicon. Indeed, it's perhaps in its writing that 1984 is most triumphant, featuring some genuinely thought-provoking and visceral lines that stay with you long after you finish reading.In fact, 1984 might just have the best final line in sci-fi history, four words that pack an incredible emotional punch and leave a mark on the reader. What Is '1984' About? Orwell's 1984 takes place at an uncertain point in the future (widely presumed to be the same as the title) controlled by the totalitarian state Oceania, with places like the UK becoming its colonies.Oceania Ruled By Big BrotherOceania is ruled by Big Brother, whose intense cult of personality is overseen, encouraged, and safeguarded by the Thought Police. Propaganda, global mass surveillance, and history revisionism and denialism are used by the Thought Police to keep Big Brother in power and the masses subdued. In turn, Oceania is administered by several ministries, including the Ministry of Love (or Miniluv in the novel's"Newspeak"), the Ministry of Peace (Minipax), and the Ministry of Plenty (Miniplenty)."Big Brother is watching" is the slogan they employ both to cement the leader's influence and control and to keep the population in check. The protagonist is Winston Smith, an employee of the Ministry of Truth in London, whose work is to rewrite historical records to better conform to Oceania's new guidelines. Secretly, he hates both Big Brother and Oceania, and dreams of rebellion, writing his thoughts in a diary.Things change when he meets Julia, a fellow ministry worker with whom he begins a clandestine sexual affair, ultimately leading to love, making them criminals, as Oceania only allows love for Big Brother. As their connection deepens, Winston learns more about Big Brother's political rival, Emmanuel Goldstein, and learns from a book Goldstein wrote how the Party keeps its power through a state of perpetual war.Winston Smith Captured TortureWhat Is the Final Line in '1984'? 1984 has one of the bleakest third acts in literary history. Months into their affair, Winston and Julia are captured by the Thought Police, imprisoned at Miniluv, and subjected to months of intense torture and reconditioning.O'Brien, a member of the Inner Party whom Winston suspected to be a spy and who ultimately turns out to be an undercover member of the Thought Police, reveals that the Brotherhood, the supposed underground movement against Big Brother, might not be real at all, and that the Goldstein book was actually written by himself and other members of the Party. As the final torture, Winston is taken to Room 101 and threatened with flesh-eating rats.Final Line 1984 ConclusionFinally, Winston succumbs to despair, asks for the torture to be given to Julia instead, and falls in line. The book ends with a final meeting between Winston and Julia, both hollow shells of their former selves. They confess their mutual betrayal and admit that no feelings of love, or any kind, for that matter, exist between them anymore.As Winston watches news about yet another purported victory in Oceania's perpetual state of conflict, he proves the effectiveness of his re-education by accepting his genuine love for the oppressive state."He loved Big Brother" are the words that conclude 1984, ending the whole ordeal on such a depressing and defeatist note that one can't help but sit there, assimilating what one just read and trying to make sense of it.