“Nineteen Eighty-Four (1984)” by George Orwell

“Nineteen Eighty-Four” is a political novel written by George Orwell in 1948. It is considered to be a manifesto against communism and totalitarianism. It was written 80 years ago, after the World War II, and it presents a different aspect of reality. As Jo Brand has mentioned, “1984” is “more relevant to today than almost any other book that you can think of”.

Information about the author

George Orwell is a famous English novelist. His real name is Eric Arthur Blair although he is widely known by his pen name. He produced many notable works, such as his allegorical novel “Animal Farm” and his dystopian novel “1984”. Through his writing, Orwell expresses his opinion on many political themes. His work still remains influential, while his neologisms constitute a part of the English language.

Narration of the Plot

1984 is the year in which it happens… The world is divided into three great powers, Oceania, Eurasia and Eastasia, each continuously at war with the other. Oceania, where the story is developed, is controlled by the Party, a totalitarian regime that follows the model of the Soviet Society. The Party rules by the agency of four Ministries. The Ministry of Truth deals with propaganda, the Ministry of Love is responsible for the punishments and tortures, the Ministry of Peace concerns itself with war and the Ministry of Plenty is responsible for economic affairs. In Oceania, “Big Brother” supervises through tele screens and hidden microphones. The society is hierarchized in three different social classes: the members of the Inner Party, of the Outer Party and the Proletarians. The Party forces people to use an invented language, the ‘Newspeak , to limit their thoughts. Winston Smith, the protagonist, is a member of the Outer Party who works at the Ministry of Truth. He decides to keep a diary even though he knows that in case it is found by the Thought Police, a Party’s secret agency, he will be punished. Julia, who also works at the Ministry of Truth, expresses her love to Winston and they date secretly. Since they share common beliefs concerning Big Brother’s policy, they decide to join the Brotherhood, a secret association of rebels. O’ Brien is a spy of Thought Police who meets them in order to trap them. Winston is taken to the Ministry of Love where O’ Brien tortures and brainwashes him. Then, he is sent to Room 101, a place invented for those with ‘original’ thoughts, to confront his biggest fear. At this moment, Winston cannot resist and betrays Julia. At the end, he is released to the outside world. He meets Julia but he has no more feelings for her. Having his spirit broken, he accepts the Party and learns to love Big Brother.

Analysis of the main characters

Winston Smith

He is an employee in the Ministry of Truth in Oceania. He eventually adopts a risky behaviour as he decides to illegally keep a diary, date Julia and join the Brotherhood. He hates the Party and wants to test the limits of its power. He is characterized by his rebelliousness, pessimism and fatalism. His original thoughts send him to Room 101, where he deals with many, rough tortures.

Big Brother

Although it is not known if he really exists or not, Big Brother seems to be the continuous enemy of Winston. He is invented by the Party to show that everything is being monitored. Big Brother is considered to be the most important “figure” in Oceania. The Party is represented by Big Brother, especially via the message “BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU”.

Julia

Julia is Winston’s lover. She used to have affairs with many members of the Party and she seems to be very pragmatic and optimistic. She makes plans to avoid being caught and she rebels only for her own enjoyment. Julia and Winston share many contradictory beliefs, except for their mutual attraction.

O’ Brien

O’ Brien is a really mysterious yet sophisticated character. He is a member of the Inner Party who also works as a spy for the Thought Police. He pretends to be a member of the Brotherhood in order to trap Winston. He is responsible for his tortures and he has a really strong behaviour as he remains neutral when he faces Winston’s situation, after being tortured.

Analysis of the main themes

The Danger of Totalitarianism

In his novel, Orwell describes the ‘perfect’ totalitarian society, with absolute power in an effort to spread awareness. He wants to show to West readers the dangers of the totalitarian governments. He invents the Party in order to indicate to the readers a real possibility of the near future.

The psychological manipulation – Control of Thinking

The Party is expressed via the figure of Big Brother who monitors Oceania’s citizens. In this way, Orwell expresses the power of psychological manipulation, a technique that is used in order to limit people’s thoughts, freedom and independence. Any sign of disloyalty is punished and thinking is the major crime, known as “thoughtcrime”.

The evolution of technology – excess use can be dangerous

Even though “1984” was written before the invention of computers, Orwell seems to predict the future as he describes a society where technology destroys people’s lives. In the novel, citizens are being monitored unstoppably. In this way, Orwell proves that the excess use of technology may lead to immorality and loss of freedom and independence.

Control of information and history

The Party controls every source of information while historical documents of the past are destroyed. Citizens are forced to believe whatever they are told to. Thus, by controlling the present the Party is able to adjust and manipulate the documents of the past.

Analysis of the main symbols

Big Brother

Big Brother is the face of the Party. The message “BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU” appears everywhere in Oceania, explaining that every act is supervised. Big Brother is described as the leader of the nation. He symbolizes Party’s power, while his name expresses a sense of reassurance. However, his presence is sometimes terrifying. 

The tele screens

The tele screens symbolize the arbitrariness and totalitarian attitude of the Party that abuses the abilities of technology in order to monitor Oceania’s citizens. Therefore, they represent a lack of freedom and independence.

The place where there is no darkness

The place where there is no darkness, for Winston, is the paradise where he thought that he would meet O’ Brien. However, it turns out that this place is a prison cell where the light is never turned off. This place symbolizes Winston’s approach concerning the future, based on his fatalism.

The Glass Paperweight

Winston buys a paperweight from an antique store, in an attempt to keep in touch with the past. Thus, symbolically, when Winston is arrested by the Thought Police, the paperweight breaks into pieces.

The old picture of St. Clement’s Church

The old picture of St. Clement’s Church is placed in Winston’s room and it symbolizes the old past. In fact, there is a hidden tele screen behind the old picture which leads the Thought Police to Winston.

The Red-Armed Prole Woman

The Red-Armed Prole Woman symbolizes Winston’s hope for the future. He hears her singing through the window and he gains strength. Winston sees this woman as the beginning of a better tomorrow, while he imagines her giving birth to future generations that will fight against the Party’s authority.

Impressions and thoughts about the book

“Nineteen Eighty-Four” is one of the most interesting books I have read. While reading it, I realised how difficult it is to survive in a society where thinking ‘out of the box’ is considered to be a crime. Through “1984” you are able to adopt a more realistic point of view concerning the modern world, since you have already met a society of forbidden love and terror. In the novel, Orwell proves to the readers the importance of being able to express our thoughts, even though we take it for granted. In fact, today, with the evolution of technology, privacy is almost forgotten. To conclude, in my opinion, “Nineteen Eighty-Four” is one of the most innovative works of all eras and it hides Orwell’s warning concerning the strength of a totalitarian regime and the importance of polyphony.

The most typical quote of the book

The Party rules by using major contradictions in order to confuse citizens’ minds. “War is peace, Freedom is slavery, Ignorance is strength” appears in large letters, on the white pyramid of the Ministry of Truth.

“War is peace” because having a common enemy keeps the citizens of Oceania united, “Freedom is Slavery” because an independent person is doomed to fail and “Ignorance is Strength” because the inability of Oceania’s citizens to recognise these contradictions encourages Party’s strength and arbitrariness.

Χριστίνα Κουκίου (Β2), Πρότυπο ΓΕΛ Ευαγγελικής Σμύρνης