Winston betrays Julia to save himself from rats

The cage with the rats is brought closer until the wire mask brushes Winston's cheek. He realizes there is only one way to save himself: to interpose another human being between himself and the rats. He screams frantically, 'Do it to Julia! Do it to Julia! Not me! Julia! Tear her face off, strip her to the bones. Not me! Julia! Not me!' The cage door clicks shut, and the rats are withdrawn. But the betrayal has happened. Winston has made O'Brien's final conquest possible by wishing the unendurable punishment on the person he loved.