1984

           ‘Idon’tknow. ThespiritofMan.’ 

           ‘Anddoyouconsideryourselfaman?’ 

           ‘Yes.’ 

           ‘Ifyouareaman,Winston,youarethelastman. Yourkindisextinct;wearetheinheritors. DoyouunderstandthatyouareALONE? Youareoutsidehistory,youarenon-existent.’ Hismannerchangedandhesaidmoreharshly: ‘Andyouconsideryourselfmorallysuperiortous,withourliesandourcruelty?’ 

           ‘Yes,Iconsidermyselfsuperior.’ 

           O’Briendidnotspeak. Twoothervoiceswerespeaking.AfteramomentWinstonrecognizedoneofthemashisown. Itwasasound-trackoftheconversationhehadhadwithO’Brien,onthenightwhenhehadenrolledhimselfintheBrotherhood. Heheardhimselfpromisingtolie,tosteal,toforge,tomurder,toencouragedrug-takingandprostitution,todisseminatevenerealdiseases,tothrowvitriolinachild’sface. O’Brienmadeasmallimpatientgesture,asthoughtosaythatthedemonstrationwashardlyworthmaking. Thenheturnedaswitchandthevoicesstopped. 

           ‘Getupfromthatbed,’hesaid. 

           Thebondshadloosenedthemselves. Winstonloweredhimselftothefloorandstoodupunsteadily. 

           ‘Youarethelastman,’saidO’Brien. ‘Youaretheguardianofthehumanspirit. Youshallseeyourselfasyouare. Takeoffyourclothes.’