1984
Summary
Winston Smith is an insubordinate Londoner living in an imposing social construct of unaware submission. In George Orwell's 1984, the world has evolved into three distinct super states: Eurasia, Eastasia, and Oceania. The British Isles, Australia, South Africa, and the Americas compose Oceania, which Winston defers homage to. The nation is governed by the Party, Ingsoc or the English Socialist party, which controls every component of individual life. In the novel, three social groups are described-- the Proletarians, the Outer Party, and the Inner Party.
The exposition of the story forms as Winston begins waywardly composing a journal. Although it is written in third person, near the beginning of the novel Orwell often gives us first person insight from Winston's journal. Immediately, it is apparent that Winston is an imperfect character who, although he is member of the middle class, is rather imprudent and uneducated. As we follow Winston through his daily proceedings, the reader learns about the world he lives in. In this world new languages, curtailing words and the freedom of speech, are introduced. Endless and ideologically indifferent wars of no purpose are described. People without social lives, liberty, or privacy are presented. This extremely political perspective gives insight into philosophically charged controversy. Considering the implicitly progressive disposition of the 1940s, 1984 describes an attack on different political influences.
Despite the divergent fashion for introducing conflict (as there is no distinct conflict besides his environment), Orwell develops a genuine connection between the reader and Winston as the novel follows him through his daily routines. The reader comes to know his experiences, habits, and beliefs. Subsequently, as the story follows his routine it is made evident that as a protagonist, Winston is inherently flawed. He fixes a pipe for his neighbor's wife, but later complains about her husband. He does not hesitate to hold disdain for other individuals have done him wrong or not. For example, he comes to hate and even desire to kill a women working in the Ministry of Truth, where Winston works, after coming to believe that she was spying on him and intended to turn him in to the Thought Police. Still, he lacks the courage to act on these desires and simply lives his life with a distaste for her.
By contrast, it is entertaining to realize that that same woman later becomes his love affair and much of the middle of the book is spent describing their relationship and feelings towards the Party. Together, they find a place of hiding in a room above the little junk shop that Winston buys his journal from. There they meet, and eventually find their way into the Brotherhood through O'Brien, another character from the Ministry of Truth.
The exposition of the story forms as Winston begins waywardly composing a journal. Although it is written in third person, near the beginning of the novel Orwell often gives us first person insight from Winston's journal. Immediately, it is apparent that Winston is an imperfect character who, although he is member of the middle class, is rather imprudent and uneducated. As we follow Winston through his daily proceedings, the reader learns about the world he lives in. In this world new languages, curtailing words and the freedom of speech, are introduced. Endless and ideologically indifferent wars of no purpose are described. People without social lives, liberty, or privacy are presented. This extremely political perspective gives insight into philosophically charged controversy. Considering the implicitly progressive disposition of the 1940s, 1984 describes an attack on different political influences.
Despite the divergent fashion for introducing conflict (as there is no distinct conflict besides his environment), Orwell develops a genuine connection between the reader and Winston as the novel follows him through his daily routines. The reader comes to know his experiences, habits, and beliefs. Subsequently, as the story follows his routine it is made evident that as a protagonist, Winston is inherently flawed. He fixes a pipe for his neighbor's wife, but later complains about her husband. He does not hesitate to hold disdain for other individuals have done him wrong or not. For example, he comes to hate and even desire to kill a women working in the Ministry of Truth, where Winston works, after coming to believe that she was spying on him and intended to turn him in to the Thought Police. Still, he lacks the courage to act on these desires and simply lives his life with a distaste for her.
By contrast, it is entertaining to realize that that same woman later becomes his love affair and much of the middle of the book is spent describing their relationship and feelings towards the Party. Together, they find a place of hiding in a room above the little junk shop that Winston buys his journal from. There they meet, and eventually find their way into the Brotherhood through O'Brien, another character from the Ministry of Truth.