1984 Forum

What does it mean?  What is it?

O'Brien explains to Winston that Room 101 contains the worst thing for the individual sent there.  In Winston's case this is rats.  It might be something that is basically harmless, like heights, or whatever the victim is so afraid of that s/he will do ANYTHING to avoid it--to the point of begging to have his/her loved ones tortured.  This effectively induces betrayal of a person's innermost loyalties.

Prior to entering Room 101, Winston admits to O'Brien that he has not betrayed Julia.  Earlier in the novel, he and Julia had discussed that the Party could make them confess any crime and believe any falsehood, but the Party could not control their inner hearts.  They state that to die loving one another and hating the Party would be a true victory.  Well, O'Brien knows this too, so he presents rats to Winston so that he begs to have the toture done to Julia.  Once he has betrayed her, his feelings for her are gone.  All he has left to do is love Big Brother.

So, Room 101 is the instrument of final torture and betrayal.  It is Winston's second to the last step to "healing."  The final step occurs in the last sentece of the book, when he truly feels love for BB.