Final Answer:
The therapy mentioned in the text does not work as intended, failing to bring about any substantial change in Winston's mindset or behavior. George Orwell describes Winston pushing his fingers against his eyelids to combat the effects of the oppressive reality around him. This act can be seen as a subconscious response by Winston to momentarily shield himself from the harsh truth or as a conscious attempt to retain some control over his thoughts and emotions in an oppressive environment.
Step-by-step explanation:
The therapy in George Orwell's "1984" doesn't succeed in altering Winston's beliefs or actions. Despite engaging in this psychological treatment, Winston remains disillusioned and resistant to the oppressive regime's indoctrination. Orwell likely portrays the therapy's failure to underscore the unyielding power of totalitarian control over individual thoughts and convictions. The author emphasizes that external forces can suppress but not entirely erase an individual's inner beliefs or dissent.
Winston's action of pressing his fingers against his eyelids seems both conscious and subconscious. It's a conscious act in the sense that he deliberately seeks a brief respite from the overwhelming oppression surrounding him. By closing his eyes or applying pressure, Winston attempts to momentarily disconnect from the reality dictated by the Party. Simultaneously, this action could also be subconscious, a reflexive response triggered by a deep-seated need for mental escape or as an instinctual defense mechanism against the overwhelming psychological pressure imposed upon him.
Orwell uses this scene to portray Winston's internal struggle against the stifling control of the authoritarian regime. Winston's act of pressing his eyelids can be interpreted as a symbolic representation of his desire to shield himself from the pervasive propaganda and surveillance, showing his resistance against succumbing entirely to the Party's manipulation of his thoughts.