1984 by George Orwell

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1984 In the book, 1984, written by George Orwell, protagonist Winston Smith is a low-ranking government worker for the ruling Party in London. The people are watched all the time, even in their own homes. The Party watches everybody through telescreens, the device used as a surveillance camera and a television. There are posters of the omniscient leader of the Party, Big Brother, everywhere. The Party has reign over everything in Oceania including the nation’s history and even its language. At the time we meet Winston, the Party is enforcing the implementation of an invented language known as Newspeak. This language eliminates all references to rebellion or words related to it. The Party has also made thoughtcrime extremely illegal. This is the worst crime a person can commit. This occurs when a person thinks a rebellious thought. Winston begins his story by finding a diary and beginning to write how he feels and what he is thinking, engaging in his first thoughtcrime is a rush that he must return to. This diary experience leads to other opportunities for Winston to betray the Party including meeting a woman named Julia and engaging in the forbidden act of having sex with her. He later goes on to have sex with Julia many times and rents a room just for their own personal needs. Winston leans who can put his trust in and who he cannot. This leads to betrayal and soon a breakdown of Winston’s mind and everything he thinks he knows. Orwell uses many themes and motifs in this story. Through the use of themes, symbols, and dynamic characters, Orwell creates a novel that is intriguing and a political statement about all totalitarian regimes. Orwell uses themes in 1984 to show how the characters evolve while he continues to portray h... ... middle of paper ... ...s rebellious thoughts to normal civilian mindless activity. These are not the only important characters; Orwell uses many minor characters for crucial statements and understanding of the book. One example is when Parsons speaks to Winston and says, “What I mean to say, there is a war on” (Orwell, 1984). These minor elements playing large roles in the story show how the book is very intricate and involves more than just a small group of people. 1984 is revolutionary in the way it approaches a very controversial world-wide political topic. Together with Animal Farm, George Orwell presents his opinion and some facts into public view. His use of symbols, themes, and exquisite characters make this novel a factual, yet entertaining piece of art. Work cited Lange, Bernd-Peter. George Orwell, “1984” Munchen: W. Fink, 1982. Print.

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