George Orwell’s “1984” is a novel about a negative utopian society ruled by an oppressive tyrannical ruler known as Big Brother. The novel creates its own world that takes place in Oceania, a province of Airstrip One. The residents of Oceania follow a strict code of laws, and live their lives in fear and hate. The novel takes place roughly in the year 1984. The residents in the city of London, which is in the province of Oceania, are constantly monitored by a “telescreen”. This is a two way screen that could be diminished in sound but never fully turned off. The government uses this device to constantly watch the citizens and scare them into adhering into a didactic way of living. The details of their lives are predetermined, as the government molds its citizens into servants. Winston Smith, the main character of the novel, lives life in apprehension. Winston knows that the government is wrong, and he knows what Big Brother is doing, but he knows if he ever gets caught thinking this way, he will be killed. The novel forms around the actions of Winston Smith as he navigates through a rough society while at time making the wrong choices. Winston works at the Ministry of Truth, in newspeak (the language spoken in Oceania), Minitrue. He works to rectify what Big Brother predicted to always make him seem correct. Big Brother predicts numbers related to the war and then when he is wrong, Winston changes them to make him right. For example, Big Brother estimated two hundred casualties on the enemy’s side, but when only fifty died, Winston had to change the estimated numbers in the already published newspapers, to match the actual figures. Winston goes home to write in a journal, but he is afraid to do so. In his journal he writes a... ... middle of paper ... ... they are released. Winston is changed person to the point where he doesn’t even want to think about anything rebellious. He sits at a café and smiles at the news of victory. The book communicates the theme that one can only be broken down completely once their inner most sacred thoughts are infiltrated. The book reflects on the idea of how difficult it is to really fully control a person. The government had to travel great lengths to ensure Winston’s loyalty, showing how difficult it is to fully control one’s mind. Orwell’s novel draws a strikingly vivid view of a dystopian society of a world we can become if we don’t challenge or think about what is injected into our minds. It empowers the reader to question vital elements of society, and prompt change. The novel is an inspiring work, one that can be considered one of the best works ever written in the 20th century.
In his home, Winston was able to locate an area where he was not seen by the telescreens: the alcove. Despite knowing the consequence of punishable death, Winston began to write a diary. In the midst of writing his diary, Winston
I strongly agree with Fromm’s viewpoints and interpretations of Orwell’s 1984 text. He warns that the future federal powers will dehumanize society and leave everyone alienated. Thus, I agree with Fromm to the extent that he acknowledges the fact that humanity can indeed cease to exist as a result of our own self-destruction as well as the effect of our actions. Many of his opinions and warnings expressed by Orwell to an extent appear in contemporary society.
He purchased a small journal from a shop and began to write in it out of view of the telescreen in his house, which allows anything in front of it to potentially be seen or heard. At first he had some difficulties as he could only manage to write jumbles of some of his memories, but then he began to write things like “DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER (Orwell, page 18).” He later had an encounter with one of his fellow coworkers, O’Brien, which got him thinking that there might be others out in the world who see things the way he does, including O’Brien himself. Winston eventually decides that his diary will become a sort of letter to O’Brien, and to a future or past where things might have been different. In these diary entries he wrote things such as, “To the future or to the past, to a time when thought is free, when men are different from one another and do not live alone—to a time when truth exists and what is done cannot be undone…(Orwell, page 28).” This refers to how citizens think and act the same and previous events are not written as they happened, but altered to Big Brother’s benefit. He also wrote, “Thoughtcrime does not entail death: thoughtcrime IS death (Orwell, page 28).” This can be further explained by Winston’s previous thought, “The consequences of every act are included in the act itself (Orwell, page 28).” Winston
Through out the course of history there have been several events that have been a pivotal point which has molded the behaviors and thoughts of this century. A lot of notable activist and authors wrote stories and speeches about how they believed that this day and time would be like. A lot of these views were very accurate surprisingly. In the novel 1984 author George Orwell gives his vision on how he believed that the countries would be like if they kept going the way they were.This report will give you a brief rundown of the characters, theories and principles of this novel along with some of my personal insight of the novel.
Tired of his constricted life, Winston decides to take part in rebellious acts against the Party and attempts to overthrow the government that rules over him. As one could imagine, Winston’s personality does not conform to the rest of the population, because he possesses original characteristics that make him different. For example, within the first few pages of the novel, Winston wrote down the words “DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER” several times in his journal (Orwell 16). “Big Brother” stands for the leader of the Party who supposedly watches over everybody.
Winston is confronted with struggle throughout the entirety of George Orwell`s dystopian novel Nineteen Eighty-Four. Living within a totalitarian regime subsequently causes Winston to seek approaches for dealing with such abundant oppression; he finds liberation through self-awareness, understanding and ultimately rebellion. First, Winston realizes that “if you want to keep a secret you must also hide it from yourself”, alluding to the notion of thoughtcrime (162). This recognition exemplifies the complete cognizance that Winston has regarding the oppressive society displayed throughout the novel. Next, Syme states “It’s a beautiful thing, the destruction of words”, alluding to the idea of Newspeak (28). This statement directly correlates to Winston speaking with other party members to gain knowledge about how others feels about policies deployed by the government. This information-seeking also connects with Winston`s rebellion, as he actively searched for others to join his uprising, which is shown when Winston tells O’Brien “We want to join [The Brotherhood]” (171). Winston’s attempt to join a rebellious organization exhibits his evident desire to release his suppressed emotions. Winston devises a very methodical approach to deal with the problematic society he resides in.
The end for Winston starts when he begins writing in his journal and he knew that. Writing in it was viewed as Thoughtcrime and was an act of rebellion in the eyes of the Party. Especially when Winston wrote things such as, “DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER”(19). Winston also disobeys the rules of the
The book, 1984 written by George Orwell, is in the perspective of Winston. Winston lives in airstrip one, which is Britain broken by war. In the beginning Winston opens up with his frustrations towards the party and Big Brother’s controlling ways. Winston’s freedom is limited by the rules and regulations of the party. Winston finds ways to get out of these rules, but he soon finds out that the people he thought were helping him were actually spies and workers for the party. He gets put through brainwashing until he has no individuality or freedom wanting to break out of him. In the end he is successfully brainwashed as seen on page 298 “He loved Big Brother.” As seen through Kim Jun Un who controls his followers through propaganda. The author’s
The fictional world of 1984 is best described as bleak. In the aftermath of the fall of capitalism and nuclear war, the world has been divided among three practically identical totalitarian nation-states. The novel takes place in London, which has become a part of Oceania, the nation state comprising the Americas and western Europe. A state of perpetual war and poverty is the rule in Oceania. However, this is merely a backdrop, far from the most terrifying aspect of life in 1984. Oceania is governed by a totalitarian bureaucracy, personified in the image of Big Brother, the all-knowing/ all-seeing godlike figure that represents the government. Big Brother is best described as a "totalitarian socialist dictator, a political demagogue and religious cult leader all rolled into one." So great is the power of Big Brother that the reader is unsure whether he actually exists or is simply a propaganda tool of the government. The party of Big Brother, Ingsoc (English Social...
“ He only had six thoughts. The pain in his belly; a piece of bread; the blood and the screaming; O’Brien; Julia; the razor blade.” Winston is so beaten down by the Party that he can only manage to think about six things, however, these objects are used to symbolize what Winston yearns for from the world. “The pain in his belly; a piece of bread;” Winston longs for the security of having three meals a day once more. The bread symbolizes the comfort and stability he sacrificed to fight against the Party’s ideals, as he was given bread at each meal when he conformed to the Party’s every wish. “O’Brien;” is used to symbolize the unlikely savior Winston secretly hopes will come to rescue him. O’Brien symbolizes the friendship the Party never allowed Winston to have, as O’Brien was the only non-romantic person Winston truly opened up to and shared his ideals with. “Julia” symbolizes the love the Party robbed Winston of, condemning him to death, in part, because he pursued Julia. “the razor blade” symbolizes the freedom Winston yearns for. Suicide seems like the only option where Winston will ever be truly free from the Party’s confines and able to escape their
The conflict between Winston and Big Brother starts from the beginning of the novel when Winston begins to keep his secret diary about Big Brother. Winston Smith is a third-nine years old man who is a member of the 'outer-party'--the lower of the two classes. Winston works for the government in one of the four main government buildings called the ministry of Truth where his job is to rewrite history books in order for people not to learn what the past used to be like. Winston's occupation is the major factor which lets him to realize that Big Brother is restricting people's freedom. However, Winston keeps his complains about Big Brother and the party for his own secret because the party will not allow anyone keeping a rebellious thought. The tension between them gets serious when Big Brother becomes suspicious of Winston. Winston is therefore watched by O'Brien, an intelligent execute at the 'Ministry of Truth', who is a member of the 'inner party'--the upper class. Without doubting Big Brother's trap, Winston shares his ideas with O'Brien. O'Brien mentions a gentleman named Emmanuel Goldstein whom he claims to know the leader of the rebels against the party. O'Brien also promises to help winston, and promises him a copy of Goldstein's book. But O'Brien betrays him as Big Brother has planned.
Summary: In George Orwell’s novel 1984, the main character, Winston Smith, finds himself in the superstate of Oceania which is controlled by the Party and the Thought Police. Although a member of the Party, Winston harbors a hate for the Party’s leader, Big Brother, along with the telescreens, the Thought Police, and the Party overall. In Oceania, members of the Party are to feel love, admiration, hope, and thanks towards Big Brother only. Many people vanish from existence without explanation and are seemingly forgotten, as though they never existed. In the beginning of the novel, Winston purchases a diary, which he uses to write about his thoughtcrime and hate towards Big Brother. He knows that sooner or later this will be the reason for his
In the novel 1984, Orwell produced a social critique on totalitarianism and a future dystopia that made the world pause and think about our past, present and future. When reading this novel we all must take the time to think of the possibility that Orwell's world could come to pass. Orwell presents the concepts of power, marginalization, and resistance through physical, psychological, sexual and political control of the people of Oceania. The reader experiences the emotional ride through the eyes of Winston Smith, who was born into the oppressive life under the rule of Ingsoc. Readers are encouraged through Winston to adopt a negative opinion on the idea of communist rule and the inherent dangers of totalitarianism. The psychological manipulation and physical control are explored through Winston's journey, and with Winston's resistance and ultimate downfall, the reader is able to fully appreciate O'Briens reasoning, "Power is not a means, it is an end."
The novel which is 1984 by George Orwell is all about a dystopian society, describes an imaginary society that is as dehumanizing and as unpleasant as possible, which is controlled by complete totalitarianism. The writer really put himself in the book and I believe it's safe to say, he was indeed Winston Smith. In the book there are three classes, almost like our social classes-the lower(outer party), the middle(paroles), and the higher classes(inner party).Winston Smith is part of the Outer Party in Oceania. Everywhere Winston goes-his home, work, the bar or simply walking outside-the Party watches him through telescreens. Everywhere he looks he is reminded that the omniscient leader of Oceania is watching him, Big Brother. Winston works in the Ministry of Truth, where he alters historical records to fit the needs of the Party. He has mixed emotions and troubling thoughts due to the Party’s control of history-Oceania has always had an alliance with Eastasia against Eurasia. However, Winston happens to remember a previous time when this was not true. One evening Winston is given a note from a young dark-haired girl that he works with, the note says “I love you.” She tells him her name is Julia and they begin to have a relationship that is highly dangerous.they have to spend every waking moment always on the lookout for signs of the Party monitoring them and their actions. Soon after, the couple decide to rent a room above Mr. Charrington’s shop where winston previously bought a diary-Winston doesn't like the party and has illegally purchased a diary in which to write “DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER”. This relationship lasted for some time, but it started as an act of rebellion against Big Brother and gradually turned into something more. As Winston’s love grew for Julia, his hate grew for the Party grows.After
George Orwell uses Winston to represent truth in a deceptive world in his novel 1984. In Oceania, Big Brother is the omnipotent and all powerful leader. Everything the government dictates is unquestionably true, regardless of prior knowledge. Even thinking of ideas that go against Big Brother’s regime, or thoughtcrime, is punishable by death. Winston serves as the dystopian hero, longing for freedom and change. Orwell uses Winston to emphasize the importance of individual freedoms, as they give us the ability to fulfillingly lead our respective lives.