Novel Summary of 1984
This is a story about Winston Smith, a middle-aged man who lives in Oceania, a collection of
countries that form one of the three superpowers in the world. He is stationed in the dismal suburbs of London, working for the Ministry of Truth under Big Brother, the overruling party of Oceania. Winston, however, is unhappy. He keeps a secret diary and writes in it frequently, expressing his frustrations with how life is. He takes caution from the Thought Police, a police-like group who use telescreens to view any suspicious activity from potential troublemakers. One day at work, Winston encounters a dark haired woman named Julia. She slips him a secret note, saying that she loves him. The two become close and ultimately engage in a physical and romantic relationship. These actions are forbidden by Big Brother and the party since intimacy is only for procreation. With the permission of an antique shop owner, Mr. Charrington, the couple use the shop for their secret meetups. The couple even meet with another one of Winston's coworkers and converse about The Brotherhood, a secret resistance organization trying to dismantle and overthrow Big Brother. However, it's a setup and Winston and Julia are taken in for questioning. During the interrogational punishment, Winston faces his greatest fear of rats, as they put a cage of rats on his head and he begins to panic. In terror, he declares that he wishes the punishment be given to Julia instead of him. He is broken. In the end, Winston is a shell of a man, broken and hopeless, believing what Big Brother tells him, and following his every command.
countries that form one of the three superpowers in the world. He is stationed in the dismal suburbs of London, working for the Ministry of Truth under Big Brother, the overruling party of Oceania. Winston, however, is unhappy. He keeps a secret diary and writes in it frequently, expressing his frustrations with how life is. He takes caution from the Thought Police, a police-like group who use telescreens to view any suspicious activity from potential troublemakers. One day at work, Winston encounters a dark haired woman named Julia. She slips him a secret note, saying that she loves him. The two become close and ultimately engage in a physical and romantic relationship. These actions are forbidden by Big Brother and the party since intimacy is only for procreation. With the permission of an antique shop owner, Mr. Charrington, the couple use the shop for their secret meetups. The couple even meet with another one of Winston's coworkers and converse about The Brotherhood, a secret resistance organization trying to dismantle and overthrow Big Brother. However, it's a setup and Winston and Julia are taken in for questioning. During the interrogational punishment, Winston faces his greatest fear of rats, as they put a cage of rats on his head and he begins to panic. In terror, he declares that he wishes the punishment be given to Julia instead of him. He is broken. In the end, Winston is a shell of a man, broken and hopeless, believing what Big Brother tells him, and following his every command.
Major Themes within the Novel
Loss of Identity: Without the choice to choose, the motive to become independent is no longer present. The hollow figure of a man who is only partially participating in a society that strives for complete control. Living in uniform and in unison, the hopes for diversity are diminished until the wanted appearance of the government is forcefully adopted.
Emotions within Love: The the strong passion for a certain person allows for an equal opposite faith in others, this is in some ways a weakness as the mind can only operate on one cohesive level. Living a universally passionate lifestyle in a society that has banished such actions leads to broken trust and betrayal.
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Favorite Quote and Reflection
"You had to live—did live, from habit that became instinct—in the assumption that every sound you made was overheard, and, except in darkness, every moment scrutinized." pg. 3
Smith is discussing his way of life in Oceania and how a life that was once normal- a life that was free- has now been devolved into a life that has no options or distinctions to make. One’s soul responsibility is to follow the rules and views of Big Brother. Living in what is classified as a free country the requirements that one would have to undergo in such a society as Oceania would not only be demoralizing, but near impossible to accomplish with the ones current mentality. The significant habit changes would be detrimental to one’s personal well being and cause for many hardships.