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Learn about the plot, themes, and characters of George Orwell's dystopian novel 1984. Follow Winston Smith, a rebel against the totalitarian Party, as he falls in love, joins the Brotherhood, and faces torture and betrayal.
- Themes
Themes are the fundamental and often universal ideas...
- Plot Analysis
1984 follows a three-part linear narrative structure that...
- Chapters I–III
A summary of Book Two: Chapters I–III in George Orwell's...
- Book One: Chapters Iv–Vi
A summary of Book One: Chapters IV–VI in George Orwell's...
- Character List
Payment Summary. SparkNotes Plus . You'll be billed after...
- Video Summary
1984 Video Plot Summary . Previous section Key Facts. Did...
- Big Brother
Big Brother is the supreme ruler of Oceania, the leader of...
- Winston Smith
Orwell’s primary goal in 1984 is to demonstrate the...
- O'Brien
A detailed description and in-depth analysis of O’Brien in...
- Julia
Julia is Winston’s lover and the only other person who...
- Themes
- Overview
- Summary
- Analysis
Nineteen Eighty-four, novel by English author George Orwell published in 1949 as a warning against totalitarianism. The chilling dystopia made a deep impression on readers, and his ideas entered mainstream culture in a way achieved by very few books. The book’s title and many of its concepts, such as Big Brother and the Thought Police, are instantl...
The book is set in 1984 in Oceania, one of three perpetually warring totalitarian states (the other two are Eurasia and Eastasia). Oceania is governed by the all-controlling Party, which has brainwashed the population into unthinking obedience to its leader, Big Brother. The Party has created a propagandistic language known as Newspeak, which is designed to limit free thought and promote the Party’s doctrines. Its words include doublethink (belief in contradictory ideas simultaneously), which is reflected in the Party’s slogans: “War is peace,” “Freedom is slavery,” and “Ignorance is strength.” The Party maintains control through the Thought Police and continual surveillance.
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The book’s hero, Winston Smith, is a minor party functionary living in a London that is still shattered by a nuclear war that took place not long after World War II. He belongs to the Outer Party, and his job is to rewrite history in the Ministry of Truth, bringing it in line with current political thinking. However, Winston’s longing for truth and decency leads him to secretly rebel against the government. He embarks on a forbidden affair with Julia, a like-minded woman, and they rent a room in a neighbourhood populated by Proles (short for proletariats). Winston also becomes increasingly interested in the Brotherhood, a group of dissenters. Unbeknownst to Winston and Julia, however, they are being watched closely (ubiquitous posters throughout the city warn residents that “Big Brother is watching you.”).
Orwell wrote Nineteen Eighty-four as a warning after years of brooding on the twin menaces of Nazism and Stalinism. Its depiction of a state where daring to think differently is rewarded with torture, where people are monitored every second of the day, and where party propaganda trumps free speech and thought is a sobering reminder of the evils of ...
1984 Summary. In the future world of 1984, the world is divided up into three superstates—Oceania, Eurasia, and Eastasia—that are deadlocked in a permanent war. The superpowers are so evenly matched that a decisive victory is impossible, but the real reason for the war is to keep their economies productive without adding to the wealth of ...
1984: 75th Anniversary. From a general summary to chapter summaries to explanations of famous quotes, the SparkNotes 1984 Study Guide has everything you need to ace quizzes, tests, and essays.
Sep 14, 2021 · Learn about the dystopian world of George Orwell's classic novel, where Britain is a province of Oceania and Big Brother rules with surveillance and propaganda. Follow the story of Winston Smith, who rebels against the Party and faces torture and betrayal.
Nineteen Eighty-Four is a cautionary tale about revolution betrayed by totalitarian defenders previously proposed in Homage to Catalonia (1938) and Animal Farm (1945), while Coming Up for Air (1939) celebrates the personal and political freedoms lost in Nineteen Eighty-Four (1949).
1984. Book Summary. Winston Smith is a member of the Outer Party. He works in the Records Department in the Ministry of Truth, rewriting and distorting history. To escape Big Brother 's tyranny, at least inside his own mind, Winston begins a diary — an act punishable by death. Winston is determined to remain human under inhuman circumstances.
