1984

CH. 1 & 2
MADE BY: AZUL ARANGO

INFOGRAPHIC

CHARACTERS
The first character we get introduced to is Winston.
What we learn about Winston the first 2 chapters is that
he has blonde hair and a fair complexion. He’s frail and
sickly looking, and has an injury on his ankle. Other
characters we meet are O’brien, a strong looking co-
worker that posseses hidden traits of intelligence,
Emmanuel Goldstein, a renegade against the Party and
Big Brother, and Mrs. Parson and her fanatic orthodox
kids, the neighbours next door. There are other
character’s that aren’t secondary but more terciary in
the book, like the black-haired woman with the anti-sex
chastity sash, and the small freckled, brown-haired girl.

THEMES
The main themes we find in Totalitaranism is a form of political government which has full
these two chapters are control over its citizens, not allowing any form of democracy.
mostly political. It forces rules and laws onto people that they are forced to
comply. It’s governed by a dictatorship, where only one
For example: person reigns over the country. This type of government rules
Totalitarianism the area, Oceania, in the book, shown here: “He was abusing
Brain Washing Big Brother, he was denouncingthe dictatorship of the Party...
Dystopia he was advocating freedom of speech, freedom of the Press,
Revolution freedom of as-
Ignorance and hypocrisy sembly, freedom of thought...” 1984, Pg. 16.

This quote also shows the theme of revolution and dystopia, as

it talks about a new catastrophic world, and describes
Emmanuel Goldstein protesting against the Party of Oceania.

Ignorance and hypocrisy, paired with brainwashing, is shown

through the 2 minutes of hate, and the premise of the word
“doublethink” that means to believe in two contradicting
ideas, shown here: In its second minute the Hate rose to a
frenzy. People
were leaping up and down in their places and shouting
at the tops of their voices in an effort to drown the mad-
dening bleating voice that came from the screen.” 1984, Pg.18

SUMMARY

CHAPTER 1
In chapter one, Winston describes his
surroundings and explains the current
government that is suffocating him, Big
Brother. Winston works in the Ministry of
Truth, and, right after coming from work, he
decided to write in a book that he bought as
a diary, something that was prohibited and
made him a thought criminal. First, he
describes the images of war shown in front
of a telescreen to everyone, including
children, of children their age from the
opposing side dying in their mother’s arms,
everyone cheering and laughing. Then, he
remembers the real reason he decided to
write. He proceeds to tell us about the two
minutes of hate and the incontrolable
feelings of anger it arose just by seeing the
traitor Goldstein talk. He talks about how he
felt his anger shifted to the Big Brother, to
the party, the lack of freedom. As well as his
newfound link to his coworker O’brien, who
he thinks might be just like him. He
acknowledges that just by thinking against
the Big Brother, he’s already a deadman, as
he thinks the thoughtpolice’s power is so
great that they will one day find out what
he’s thinking.
CHAPTER 2
Continuing chapter one, as Winston thinks
about how he’ll get caught, there’s a knock
at his door. Terrified, he accepts his fate,
later to find out it was his neighbour, Mrs.
Parson. He goes and fixes one of her tubes
after she asks him the favor, describing the
awful, crumbling flats they live in, ironically
called the “Victory Mansions”. Revealing the
lies everyone lives in by the day, it’s
revealed by Mrs. Parson’s kids that all
adults are scared of their kids, as they were
raised to be huge fantatics of the Party,
making them capable of ratting their own
parents out and getting them killed for
unorthodoxy. The kids attack him and say
he’s a thought criminal, which innerves him
as he weighs a guilty conscience. He goes
back to his room, where he continues
writing. He explains he’s not sure why, as
it’s probable his writing will be vaporized (a
word uses by the Party in exchange for
killing) along with him. Hopeful, he starts a
parragraph introducing the thoughts he will
write, hiding away from a telescreen.
Winston seems hopeful, as he dreamed
about who he thinks is O’brien, his
coworker, telling him they’ll meet and talk
somewhere brighter.
 1984
CH. 1 & 2
MADE BY: AZUL ARANGO

INFOGRAPHIC

SETTING
The setting is in Oceania, a large continent. The other
surrounding areas are only described as 2 continents.
Oceania seems to be part of Europe, as airstrip 1 was
formerly London. There are different ministries that
seperate the powers of the government, all being in charge
of different judicial or political responsibilities. For
example the Ministry of Truth, which is in charge of the
news and information that gets spread to the public, this
includes books, war updates, etc... This ministry changes
stories in order to fit certain narratives that maintain the
orthodox ideals of the government. The Victory Mansions
are very old flats that all normal citizens live in, which are
in poor conditions due to a bad economy.

LITERARY TECHNIQUES
As I already mentioned in the analysis, I list all the literary techniques I have been able to find in the
book.

Irony
Symbolism
And Foreshadowing

On the previous page, I talked about the Irony within the “Victory Mansions” that are actually slums,
the symbolism in Winston’s dreams about O’brien, and the foreshadowing when Winston is confronted as
a thought criminal by Mrs.Parsons kids, knowing it was true and that eventually he would be confronted
by the real thought police.

HISTORICAL CONTEXT

George Orwell describes the totalitarian regime in a way that

makes us understand the heavy liitations and fear these
governments impose on its citizens. This way, Orwell succesfully
encapsules this regime as a controlling, brain washing and
thought limiting government, that desires complete subservience
from its citizens without regard of their opinion on any political,
economical or social matter.

The political climate George Orwell was experiencing when writing

the novel was the aftermath of World War II, where communist
parties were rising and there was no peace regarding which
political system should reign in Britain. This concerned Orwell, as
these constant governmental changes posed a threat to the
integrity of its citizens and their freedom.

Short review/personal thoughts/Analysis

The first chapter really intrigued me. The way the author expresses Winston’s thoughts is very
descriptive, as well as his surroundings. As the reader, you can feel the internal conflict Winston is
feeling regarding his feelings for the Party and Big Brother. The uncertainties he has of what he sees
and hears, and whether it is real or not as the story progresses into chapter two makes you understand
the severity Winston and everyone else has with their perception of reality. “That was all, and he was
already uncertain whether it had happened.” 1984, Pg.22.

Winston’s acceptance of death and defeat before ever coming up with a sort of plan or directly getting
caught by the thought police shows the great amount of fear that Big Brother has been able to garner
over everyone, helping us understand how strong of pyschological hold he has on everyone and how
that influence carries on onto everyone’s unexplainable and savage actions, like those in the two
minutes of hate. So far, the book has been able to captivate me due to the extreme and creative
circumstances Winston is in, as well as the possible reality of it all considering current countries under
dictatorships. Putting the life of Winston at risk since the beginning makes me want to know how it all
ends for him despite efforts and choices he might make later on. The eloquency of the author and the
use of different forms of figurative language makes it satisfying to read. For now, I’d give the two
chapters a five star rating, although it could use some help in chronologically organizing Winston’s
thoughts and flashbacks, as it may be confusing for others.