Syme is
a minor character in the story and an Outer Party member, who works at the Research Department
and is one of 's "friends." Syme is portrayed as an intelligent philologist, who is
considered a specialist in Newspeak and is currently working on the eleventh and final edition
of the Newspeak Dictionary. Syme is described as being "venomously orthodox" and goes
out of his way to harshly criticize Big Brother's enemies.
Despite Syme's
ability to practice doublethink and his strong support of Big Brother, Winston predicts that he
will be vaporized by the Party for being too smart and outspoken. Winston's prediction is proven
correct when he eventually discovers that Syme has vanished from work.
Even
though Syme is a minor character, his role emphasizes the cruel, calculating measures the Party
takes to ensure its stability and prevent political dissidents from existing in their oppressive
society. Syme's fate also foreshadows Winston's fate at the end of the story, even though
Winston is not vaporized. The audience realizes that if an intelligent, loyal Party member can
be vaporized, Winston does not stand a chance of living as an independent, free-thinking
individual in Oceania.
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