1984

           ‘Topunishthem.’ 

           ‘No!’exclaimedO’Brien. Hisvoicehadchangedextraordinarily,andhisfacehadsuddenlybecomebothsternandanimated. ‘No!Notmerelytoextractyourconfession,nottopunishyou. ShallItellyouwhywehavebroughtyouhere? Tocureyou! Tomakeyousane! Willyouunderstand,Winston,thatnoonewhomwebringtothisplaceeverleavesourhandsuncured? Wearenotinterestedinthosestupidcrimesthatyouhavecommitted. ThePartyisnotinterestedintheovertact: thethoughtisallwecareabout. Wedonotmerelydestroyourenemies,wechangethem. DoyouunderstandwhatImeanbythat?’ 

           HewasbendingoverWinston. Hisfacelookedenormousbecauseofitsnearness,andhideouslyuglybecauseitwasseenfrombelow. Moreoveritwasfilledwithasortofexaltation,alunaticintensity. AgainWinston’sheartshrank. Ifithadbeenpossiblehewouldhavecowereddeeperintothebed. HefeltcertainthatO’Brienwasabouttotwistthedialoutofsheerwantonness. Atthismoment,however,O’Brienturnedaway.Hetookapaceortwoupanddown. Thenhecontinuedlessvehemently: 

           ‘Thefirstthingforyoutounderstandisthatinthisplacetherearenomartyrdoms. Youhavereadofthereligiouspersecutionsofthepast.IntheMiddleAgestherewastheInquisition. Itwasafailure. Itsetouttoeradicateheresy,andendedbyperpetuatingit. Foreveryhereticitburnedatthestake,thousandsofothersroseup. Whywasthat? BecausetheInquisitionkilleditsenemiesintheopen,andkilledthemwhiletheywerestillunrepentant:infact,itkilledthembecausetheywereunrepentant. Menweredyingbecausetheywouldnotabandontheirtruebeliefs.