1984

(pub. 1949)

Webmaster's Note, 5/10/2007 - We have been informed by the rights holder that this work is still copyrighted in our territory. So we have removed it. You may still read our original summary though to the left.

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."

Submitted by The Atheist.

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Quizzes on 1984

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Recent Forum Posts on 1984

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 || 3 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

Any relevance?

Does the number 101 of room 101 have any significance to anything else in the book? Or is it maybe just the number Orwell felt like using? Could it have something to do with a specific event or date in Orwell's life? Maybe I'm just overthinking this. But just curious.

Posted By Blasphemy at Thu 19 Nov 2009, 6:23 PM in 1984 || 5 Replies

Torture

In the room with the dials, O'Brien makes Winston look in the mirror at his filthy body. I understand that this is used as a mechanism of torture to make him see that they have power over him. But what I don't understand is why O'Brien said he was the last man. Don't they continue to capture thought criminals? They watched Winston for seven years, waiting for the right time to catch him. So they must be after other people too, right?

Posted By soccergirl6 at Thu 19 Nov 2009, 5:30 PM in 1984 || 4 Replies

Contradiction and War

As explained throughout the story Oceania and Eastasia have been at war since before Winston's life began. If the spread of Big Brothers power has spead throughout the world,then why are they at war? Also, when julia and winston are taken to the Ministry of Love, Why is Parsons contradicting what his subconcience mind really feels?

Posted By Pepperonimask23 at Thu 19 Nov 2009, 4:10 PM in 1984 || 4 Replies

What is it from?

When Winston and Julia are caught, O'Brien at one point says that in the future they may not even be able to recognize each other. At the end of the novel, Winston and Julia barely recognized each other, and Winston sees Julia's scar. Did they actually have some sort of surgery to make them appear to be someone different? Or is it from the conditions of the Ministry of Love?

Posted By Basketball09 at Thu 19 Nov 2009, 4:09 PM in 1984 || 3 Replies

What Students think about 1984.

As a teacher and 1984 fan, I'm interested in your take on the novel and its relevence in a modern day high school classroom.

Posted By Teacher at Thu 19 Nov 2009, 10:12 AM in 1984 || 42 Replies

Alternative Ending

With most books you would expect some kind of twist, or suprise in the plot. But would Orwell still of been able to get his thoughts across with an alternate ending? Say O'Brien was actually against the party along with Charlington, and Winston actually somehow did manage to attack the Party in some form. Could we still of got that information on the party and their views across which we learn from the toture between Winston and O'Brien in room 101? I do think the way the book actually ended is a better way of ending over it ending with Winston and Julie rising against the Party, but i want to know your thoughts.

Posted By Austispomonti at Wed 18 Nov 2009, 7:24 PM in 1984 || 4 Replies

O'Briens past

When Winston is taken to the forced labor camp O'Brien finally comes in and Winston mistakes O'Brien as a prisoner. Winston says,"They got you too?". O'Brien replies with,"They got me a long time ago." Does this mean that O'Brien was once against Big Brother? :bday_2:

Posted By walter women at Wed 18 Nov 2009, 5:13 PM in 1984 || 3 Replies

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1984

(pub. 1949)

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