Overview of 1984 Essay

1984 Review

One year before his death in 1950, well-known author George Orwell wrote a book entitled 1984. Since the release of the book, 1984 has become one of the most widely read books across the world. Not only is the book written so powerfully and fluently, but also the book is written in a manner that gives valiant statements about humanity.

The protagonist in 1984 is Winston Smith, a man who opposes Big Brothers totalitarian government of Oceania, a super state in 1984. The story begins with Winston, a rebellious character who opposes the new language, Newspeak, and the entire totalitarian government that has prohibited such things as free thought, sex, and any expression of individuality. Winston then purchases an illegal diary in which he could write his thoughts. The reason the party has banned many things is to prevent any possibility of an overthrow. However, there are groups such as the Brotherhood who has worked for a long time to overthrow the party. Winston eventually meets a guy named OBrien, a powerful party member whom Winston assumes is in the Brotherhood.

The historical, or futuristic, significance in 1984 with events that really happened is quite similar. Oceania, Eastasia, and Eurasia, the three battling super states that are all fighting each other in order to acquire more land. The governments of the three super states are all basically the same. The leaders of the three super states relate to people such as Hitler, Stalin, and Mussolini, three totalitarians or dictators whom also wanted to acquire more land during World War 2. Big Brother, however, manipulated the citizens of Oceania with propaganda techniques, Newspeak, and telescreens, a device that monitors each citizen who is allowed to be educated for any word, action, or thought that is considered to be unorthodox.

Meanwhile, Wilson meets a lady named Julia, a sex crazed woman who rites a love note for Wilson. Since that moment, Wilson and Julia begin their covert affair and they are always on the lookout for any type of party monitoring. The first scene of their affair is out in the forest where not a single soul lurks. Winston and Julia then go the second floor of the shop where Winston bought his diary. However, Winston knew that the party was growing suspicious and had to be blind not to notice ungood things happening. As time passed, Winston and his affairs grew along with his hatred for the party. Eventually, Winston received a note from OBrien that said he wants to see Winston.

Winston and Julia travel to OBriens luxurious apartment where OBrien confirms that he too hates the party and is a member of the Brotherhood. OBrien then accepts Winston and Julia into the Brotherhood and gives them the manifesto of the Brotherhood. As OBrien is reciting a few social theories, soldiers storm in and seize everyone in the apartment. The man who turned the couple in was none other than Mr. Charrington, a member of the Thought police.

Winston is taken to a place called the Ministry of Love. Winston also finds out that OBrien was also a party spy who pretended to be a member of the brotherhood. Throughout his stay, OBrien tortures Winston with his most feared animals, rats. Winston constantly has nightmares, which involve rats. In last effort to squeeze any bit of information out of Winston, OBrien straps a cage of rats on Winstons head and prepares to let the rats eat his face. The only reason OBrien kept on torturing Winston was so that he would confess about Julias unorthodox acts. With his spirit and soul destroyed, Winston is released to the outside world where he meets Julia once again. Unfortunately, Winston no longer feels anything for Julia and has learned to accept the party. Winston has learned to follow all the rules and thus likes Big Brother.

1984 is a story that everyone should consider reading because of all the political and historical significance told within the story. Orwell wrote 1984 in 1949 with the intention to let everyone know about his hatred for leaders such as Hitler, Stalin, and Mussolini. This book reminds people of all the wrong that has happened during World War 2 and what can go wrong if history is repeated. For this, Orwell has written the most brilliant novel of all time.