Novel Dystopian

1984
Author Year Published Original Language
George Orwell 1949 English

OVERVIEW

Big Brother is After the world has been ravaged by war, fearful citizens must pledge
allegiance to a paranoid regime that keeps them ignorant through
Watching You misinformation. Considered a novel of political prophecy, with the rise
of technology and an increasingly divided and partisan media, 1984
may be more relevant today than when it was initially published.

Ministry of Truth

Misinforms and Ministry of Love

revises history
Tortures, creates fear,
and brainwashes
Ministry of Plenty

Perpetuates scarcity
and famine

Ministry of Peace

Maintains a state of war,

turmoil, and violence

Themes

Political Freedom Friendship Free Thought

vs. vs. vs.
Oppression Betrayal Control
Orwell warned against Betrayal is encouraged by Party policies like Newspeak
governments like Soviet Russia, the Party, making friendship are designed to limit original
where enemies of the state impossible. thinking and control behavior.
were dealt with harshly.

Symbols Author

Big Brother
The inaccessible face of
the Party represents lack
of concern for individuals.
Telescreens
Two-way telescreens
represent the continual
surveillance and control by
the Party.
Newspeak
Revisions in word meaning GEORGE ORWELL
and reductions in the
1903–50
number of words
represent the way the Born Eric Arthur Blair in India, he
Lorem ipsum
Party controls thought. worked in Burma (now Myanmar)
and fought in Spain's Civil War,
where he had experiences that led
him to write about oppressive
societies. He used the pen name
George Orwell because it sounded
English. His first commercial
success was Animal Farm (1945).

1984 Main Characters

by the Numbers

Oppression Intrigue Opposition Romance

2+2=5
Metaphor
Orwell uses to
underscore false Big Brother
dogmas people Emblem of the Party
are forced
to accept Thought Police
Party branch that reports
"thoughtcrimes"

13
Modern Library
Board's ranking
of 1984 in its
100 Best Novels Winston Smith Charrington
Secret rebel against Antique shop owner who
the Party encourages Winston's
opposition

101
Room number of
torture chamber
where prisoners
are exposed to
their worst fears O’Brien
Julia Member of the ruling Inner
Winston's lover and Party whom Winston admires
fellow rebel

ho controls the past...controls the future: who

controls the present controls the past.
Winston, Part 1, Chapter 3

Sources: The Guardian, Merriam-Webster's Encyclopedia of Literature,

Modernlibrary.com

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