1984

(pub. 1949)

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Also commonly titled as Nineteen Eighty-Four

1984 is possibly the definitive dystopian novel, set in a world beyond our imagining. A world where totalitarianism really is total, all power split into three roughly equal groups--Eastasia, Eurasia, and Oceania. 1984 is set in Oceania, which includes the United Kingdom, where the story is set, known as Airstrip One.

Winston Smith is a middle-aged, unhealthy character, based loosely on Orwell's own frail body, an underling of the ruling oligarchy, The Party. The Party has taken early 20th century totalitarianism to new depths, with each person subjected to 24 hour surveillance, where people's very thoughts are controlled to ensure purity of the oligarchical system in place. Figurehead of the system is the omnipresent and omnipotent Big Brother.

But Winston believes there is another way.

1984 joins Winston as he sets about another day, where his job is to change history by changing old newspaper records to match with the new truth as decided by the Party.

"He who controls the past, controls the future" is a Party slogan to live by and it gives Winston his job, but Winston cannot see it like that. Barely old enough to recall a time when things were different, he sets out to expose the Party for the cynically fraudulent organisation that it is. He is joined by Julia, a beautiful young woman much in contrast with Winston physically, but equally sickened by the excesses of her rulers.

You will meet many recognisable characters, themes, and words which have become part of our everyday life as you read 1984. Where did Big Brother first appear? Certainly not on Australian TV! Written in Orwell's inimitable journalistic style, 1984 is a tribute to a man who saw the true dangers of historian Lord Acton's (1834-1902) statement: "Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely."

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Recent Forum Posts on 1984

"1984 and We" Comparative assignment help?

Hey all, Recently joined the forums in the hope that somebody here will be able to help me. As an IB student in the Diplomas program I need to do an oral presentation on 1984, and the topic I chose was to compare 1984 to We. I have come up with the similarities, differences and such based on the story and some of the recurring themes myself, but I'm having difficulty in one aspect. Would anybody be able to help me in comparing the literary technique aspect of the two novels? I already have that the narrative style is very different, but then I cannot find any other techniques or features to compare. Maybe things such as the use of repetition, or imagery, or language, but I could use help in getting the refined down so that I have a clear understanding of how they are used in the 2 novels. Any help would be greatly appreciated, as my oral presentation is due Monday. It needs to be 10 minutes longer, so the more ideas the better :) Thanks in advance.

Posted By DanielC at Thu 7 Jan 2010, 7:00 AM in 1984 || 0 Replies

Class Structure

The Party ignores any threat of uprising from the Proles. The ultimate "answer" within the book suggests this to be well-founded. If we consider the analogous class structure, and who the proles represent, is Orwell making a statement about the working classes and social mobility? What are readers' thoughts on this?

Posted By Richier at Tue 22 Dec 2009, 2:11 PM in 1984 || 5 Replies

big brother in our lives

Who do you think is Big Brother in your personal life? Why?

Posted By echoyjeff222 at Sat 12 Dec 2009, 3:24 PM in 1984 || 2 Replies

Anyone willing to look through..

We have been reading 1984, and we've been assigned a dialectical journal to take entries in ... I can give examples on: allusion, communion, journey, symbols, vampires, violence, weather, and masks. I'm still reading the book, at around page 200, and I was wondering if anyone would be willing to take a look through my journal to make sure things are correct and maybe give some suggestions. Any help would be appreciated! By the way, this book is really good. It's like The Feed, a book that I'm reading for my outside reading book for this semester. Same idea of someone/something controlling our lives. Except 1984 is a lot more intense. Haha.

Posted By echoyjeff222 at Sat 12 Dec 2009, 1:46 PM in 1984 || 3 Replies

Why is the past so important to Winston? Help!!

Hi everyone, For my exam, I'm ought to write additional diary accounts and I thought of elaborating on why the past is so important to Winston. However, I'm kind of stuck at the moment. Can anybody please help? :)

Posted By literature01 at Thu 10 Dec 2009, 7:56 AM in 1984 || 2 Replies

Orwell's influences

Just wondering which world events influenced Orwell's perspective and writing and how they did so? There may already be a thread like this. If so you can point me in the right direction. Thanks

Posted By ihcabih at Wed 9 Dec 2009, 6:50 PM in 1984 || 2 Replies

Winston Smith's job??

Hey I'm having trouble to find out the importance of Winston's job and i have to write an essay about it which is due tomorrow plz help

Posted By luckyducky at Tue 8 Dec 2009, 1:49 PM in 1984 || 2 Replies

Is Winston special?

I don't understand why Winston get's mostly all of his questions answered from O'Brien. Is he special or something from the rest of the people or do they all get answers too? Also, did the thought police go about from neighborhoods from house to house to catch people? I ask because after Winston is captured Mr. Parsons is too...

Posted By jbee94 at Thu 19 Nov 2009, 8:51 PM in 1984 || 4 Replies

1984: The Future

I was just thinking, that in 1984, Orwell talks about how Big Brother is going to abolish the sex instinct, and that no one would have feelings, or loyalty to anymore. Wouldn't it just be much easier if somehow, in the future, made their only one sex of humans. Just thinking, of course. :)

Posted By Geesta at Thu 19 Nov 2009, 8:15 PM in 1984 || 1 Reply

Just a few questions

If you could help me answer these that would be great! How can O'Brien know everything that Winston is thinking? Is room 101 one room or many? Is there a differant room for everyone? Why does Big Brother have people torchered to the point where they are inches from their death and then revive them to perfect health again? How long has Winston been in the Ministry of Love? Thank you! :)

Posted By themelodyofrain at Thu 19 Nov 2009, 8:05 PM in 1984 || 2 Replies

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1984

(pub. 1949)

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