Do the relationships in a person's life define the individual himself or even the destiny of that individual or are the relationships a reflection of the characteristics, of the personality and choices of the individual? In the literary masterpieces King Lear and 1984, the relationships between the characters are the essence of the stories. In each of these plays, Winston, the protagonist of 1984, and the major characters of King Lear face a series of situations, including isolation and betrayal, in which relationships with other characters are important to their destiny. In almost every case, the bonds between each character, when based on love, trust, and sex, lead to the downfall of one or both individuals. Relationships based on love, trust, and sex, as seen in King Lear and 1984, are used to destroy rather than improve the character's state of existence. Love is a common theme in literature, and although the main themes of 1984 include dangers. of totalitarianism and psychological manipulation, love is always an important theme of the novel. The love that manifests in 1984 between the characters Winston and Julia does not lead to a fairy tale-like ending, as many other classics do. Their love begins and ends with destruction, betrayal and hatred. Winston and Julia are brought together by their combined hatred for the Party, which is the totalitarian government controlling their society. However, their dislike must remain secret, otherwise they will be taken by the Party's thought police to the Ministry of Love, where they will assume their lives will end. Although Winston and Julia share this immense hatred towards the Party itself, this seems to be the only common interest between the two of them. I...... middle of paper ...... radiated by Winston's unquestionable trust in O'Brien and the betrayed trust between Lear and his daughters. The relationship between Winston and his wife Katharine, as well as the relationships between Edmund and the two sisters, Goneril and Regan, prove that relationships based on gender lead to the destruction of the individuals involved. Most of the relationships depicted in these literary works are proof that any relationship based on a single condition or feeling and not a multitude of them ends in tragedy and despair. So, in conclusion, it can be interpreted from these writings that it is how the individual develops and expands their relationships that makes the relationship and the individual stronger. Works Cited Orwell, George. 1984. Toronto: Penguin Books Ltd., 1977. Shakespeare, William. King Lear. Toronto: Folger Shakespeare Library, 1993.