1984by

George OrwellWilliam Meyers

George Orwell Biography

George Orwell was born on June 25th, 1903 in Bengal, India. Orwell’s original name was Eric Arthur Blair, but he had it changed to be named after the Orwell River in East Anglia. He and his mother moved to England when George was one year old. While in England, Orwell went to the Anglican Parish School as a young boy. He then sent to St. Cyprian’s School in Sussex. While at St Cyprian’s, Orwell wrote his first poem, “Awake! Young Men of England.”

In 1928, Orwell moved to Burma to join the Indian Imperial Police. While in the service, Orwell began to appreciate literature and began writing his own short stories and essays. His first Novel, “Burmese Days,” was published and sold in the United States in 1934.In 1936, George went to Spain to do a report on the Spanish Civil War. He joined the Lenin Division of Barcelona to assist in fighting the Nationalist Army. On May 12th, 1937, Orwell was struck by a sniper bullet, which paralyzed him on the left side of his body and he lost his voice temporarily.

George Orwell Biography

George Orwell returned to England in 1938. He wrote about his experiences in the Spanish Civil War in his book titled "Homage to Catalonia." Orwell was hired by The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) in 1941. His job was to write scripts for commentary on World War II. He worked for the BBC for two years as well as working for the "Observer" Newspaper.

George Orwell Biography

In 1945, Orwell wrote and published "Animal Farm," one of the most famous books in Britain at the time. It was also one of the most disputed and had many critics talking. The novel's main focus was on the communist revolution in Russia. Orwell wrote his last book entitled "1984" in 1948. Yevgeni Zamyatin inspired Orwell with his book "We," which Orwell used as a base setting for "1984." The book was about the threat of government takeover in the future. George Orwell died from tuberculosis on January 21st, 1950.

George Orwell Biography

Animal Farm Burmese Days Down and Out in Paris and London Homage to Catalonia

Other Books written by George Orwell

1984 Summary

Orwell’s book “1984” took place in London, which was part of the Oceania Nation. The main character in the story is Winston Smith, who was a member of the ruling political party of Oceania. The government that Winston worked for controlled everything and who lived in Oceania. Everything for the language and the food they ate, to their family and how long each citizen was allowed to live. The government even had these so called “telescreeens” in every home and building of Oceania. The government’s slogan was “Big Brother is watching you” because they did not want anybody to plan a rebellion against the dictatorship of Big Brother and would imprison anybody who attempted to. People in Oceania could not even think about doing something inappropriate without being arrested.

1984 Summary

The story started out with Winston filing some records about Oceania citizens’ history. Winston felt that this was an outrageous thing to do. Every day he would walk by Room 101. The rules stated that no one was to enter that room without written permission and clearance from Big Brother. He began to think about what is behind the door leading to Room 101 when he saw a dark haired lady staring at him. Winston felt that she was a member of the Thought Police and was going to arrest him for thinking “wrong” thoughts about the government. However nothing happens, but the next day she passes a note along to Winston. It says “I love you.” Her name was Julia. Winston began to talk to her and be around her more and more every day. They were constantly looking for any government watch. If caught, they could get some serious time in prison. Winston also got a diary to keep his thoughts on his life and feelings toward the government, which grew worse as he spent more time with Julia. Winston and Julia feel as if the government was closing in and was going to strike them at some point, but they did not. Their relationship grew and their concern over being caught by Big Brother began to increase as well.

1984 Summary

One day Winston receives a message from O’Brien, a higher ranking member of the government and was supposedly against Big Brother. He wanted to meet with Winston and Julia as soon as possible. Winston and Julia travel to O’Brien’s apartment. When they arrive, they find that it is a very lavish and luxurious place to live. O’Brien greeted them and told them that he was on the opposing side of Big Brother, as is Winston and Julia. He gives them a book written by Emmanuel Goldstein. The book was like an outline of how a union of rebels could take down Big Brother. All of a sudden, the doors of O’Brien’s apartment are shoved down by soldiers. O’Brien happened to be an undercover agent for Big Brother and suspected that Winston and Julia were both going to rebel against the government. Winston and Julia were caught for having an affair and thinking unpleasant thoughts about Big Brother. O’Brien’s plan was to persuade and make Winston accept Big Brother through ways of gruesome torture.

1984 Summary

They entered the dreaded Room 101. Winston had a fear of rats his entire life and the Thought Police knew this for a fact. They believed this would have been the appropriate procedure to make Winston accept the government for who they are. O’Brien revealed a large cage filled with rats. Inside the cage is a fencing mask, which was in the center of the cage for somebody’s head to be placed. O’Brien was going to put the cage on Winston’s head and have the rats gnaw at his face until or if he accepted his wrong doing. As O’Brien began to slip the cage over Winston’s head, he cried out in despair for them to torture Julia instead. O’Brien really wanted Winston to give up Julia. This was the only way that the interrogation process could have been completed. Big Brother broke Winston’s heart and finally got him to accept the laws of the government. The book was basically about a process that the rebels would go through and how, in the end, they will turn out new people because the government tortured them into believing their laws and values.

1984 Summary

Literary DevicesSymbolism, Conflict, and Mood

Symbolism- The use of symbols to represent objects or ideas.

Examples from the book- Big Brother is the main symbol in “1984”

because it represents the law of land that the people live by.

The journal that Winston keeps secretly to record his thoughts and feelings, as well as more personal writings.

Julia represents Winston’s happiness. They both agree that Big Brother needs to be stopped and they become romantically close to each other.

Literary Devices

Mood- A state of mind or feeling. Examples from the book-

Depressing and uncomfortable. Winston is always looking over his shoulder

to see if anyone is watching him or following him.

People who live in Oceania are not happy because they cannot to anything without being punished by the government.

Literary Devices

The mood also demonstrates a state of what is right and wrong in the book. . The Ministry of Truth in “1984” expresses several quotes that

most people would find to be morally and socially wrong. “War is peace, freedom is slavery, and ignorance is strength.” (1984 26) These quotes are emphasized in public schools to teach the young children that this is the way that society should be. In war, you fight to kill people, so killing people means there is peace. The government enslaving citizens of the country is their way of telling the people they have freedom. Ignorance is the lack of knowledge or information. The government figures if they can keep all of their actions and backroom deals a secret, they will gain strength and become powerful. Obviously, the government has taken their actions to the streets and homes of Oceania, enslaving the “free” people, and fighting war to keep peace. This thought process leads to my next example of mood, which is confusion.

Literary Devices

There is also a state of confusion throughout the book. Winston says “I understand HOW: I do not understand

WHY.” (1984 68) Today, everyone realizes that the federal government is the highest law anywhere. Yes, some people question the government’s actions, yet they also know that is probably for the right reason. In Oceania, people cannot question the government’s actions or else bad things will happen to the questioners. The citizens have been brain washed by the government, thinking that whatever the government does is for the benefit of the people. It may seem morally wrong to people who are reading this book, but to characters in the book, it is morally and ethically wrong.

Literary Devices

Conflict- A strong disagreement between two parties or groups.

Examples from the book- Winston and Julia disagree with the

government on controlling how people live.

O’Brien reveals he is a member of the Thought Police. He catches Winston and Julia talking about rebelling against Big Brother.

Winston exclaims for O’Brien to torture Julia.

Literary Devices

1984 was a very challenging book to read. It took me some time to figure out what was actually going on. I knew it was a book that foreshadowed the future of European government. George Orwell wrote this book during World War II, when Germany and the Soviet Union were trying to take over Europe and Asia. Orwell saw that the Eastern Hemisphere was on brink of beginning a new world order. He saw that nobody could even think bad thoughts about the government without being detained.

Orwell's novel was like a warning for the remaining European countries that did not fall victim to Germany or the Soviet Union. He warned that the remaining countries be prepared for drastic changes to their way of life. They were about to become slaves of the new order. They could accept the changes, move out of the continent, or fight back. Some chose to fight, some retreated, and some stayed. Although in the end, the fighting kept happening and the war came to an end. They did not lose any freedoms.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes thrilling mysteries that pertain to real life situations. Even though it was a fairly difficult peace of literature, I would encourage more people to read it.

Personal Review

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Orwell, George. 1984, George Orwell. New York: Spark Pub., 2003. Print.

Works Cited