| A Report On The Novel 1984, By George Orwell Essay, Research Paper
The Importance of 1984
1984 was a very important book. First, it helped show where communism was headed, and helped create repulsion towards Communism. Before this book (and Animal Farm) a lot of people thought Communism was a good thing. The major mainstream generally neutral about it, but this book really opened up and showed what a bad idea it was, because it showed where communism was headed, not a place where everyone was equal, but a place that was once that and evolved into a horrible totalitarian government that could never be toppled. Second, I’m not sure whether this book could last for years for generations to enjoy. Although I hope it remains a favorite, it was really ment as a political novel of the 20th century. It could still last though, if people don’t forget about the 20th century, or something similar to communism appears in the future. (and even if that doesn’t happen, it will probably still be liked because it’s just a good book) Also, it would be ironic if something sim!
ilar to “newspeak” comes about, English is forgotten and this book would be unreadible. Third, I think this shows an interesting portrait of human life. It’s true, the upper class always tries to stay upper, the middle class tries to join the upper class, and the lower class wants everyone to be equal. Forth, I think this book would go very good in a series. I don’t mean exactly sequels, but the “world of 1984″, a series of books that shows Big Brother’s rise to power, and who he really is, stories about Eastasia and Eurasia, what’s going on in the Inner Party, a visit to the place where the telescreens are monitored, et cerera (by the way, I think there might be a sequel, I’m not sure. I saw a book that’s supposed to be similar, only it’s in the year 2000 and written by a different author, and it was written in the last two years) Well, I hoped I proved why 1984 is my favorite book, I guess.
Summary of 1984
This story takes place in London, Airstrip One, formally called England, before it joined with North America, South America and some small European countries to form Oceania, which is based on the Ingsoc (English Socialism) political structure, which consists of Big Brother, the Inner Party, the Outer Party, and the proles.
Big Brother is the mysterious elite totalitarian leader, whom the Outer Party adores. Only his voice is heard on the telescreen (a two direction broadcasting television, used for constantly pumping propaganda into people while monitoring them simultaneously), and a picture of him is posted on the walls. No one knows where he resides, and no one knows what his real name is.
Then there’s the elite, the Inner Party. They’re upper class, and their main focus is to keep the middle class (the Outer Party) and the lower class (the proles) in line, and prevent them from getting to their status or starting revolutions or something. They get the Outer Party in line by getting them to love Big Brother, torturing them, and constantly pumping their heads with propaganda. They get the proles in line by keeping them ignorant, by giving them entertainment and such to keep them happy, and keep them ignorant about the suffering and injustice going on. If the proles wished so, they could easily overthrow the party.
The book’s main character is named Winston Smith, and he’s from Airstrip One. He works at the Ministry of Truth, a place where propaganda is made, and media is changed and edited. Winston’s job is editing old copies of The Times, which is the newspaper in London.
Winston had been a thought criminal, which is someone who thought against Big Brother or the establishment, even very slightly. Winston bought a diary, and wrote “DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER” in it, as kind of a way to express himself and his rebelliousness on paper.
Soon, Winston has an affair with a women named Julia. They rebel against Big Brother by loving each other, and having sex. Love and sex are against Big Brother because they divert love and energy away from him.
Winston and Julia join up with O’Brien–a member of the top-secret elite group of rebels, The Brotherhood. Winston and Julia get caught by the thought police, and Winston gets sent to the Ministry of Love. Here Winston gets tortured, and gets made to think that 2 + 2 =5, and ultimately gets made to betray Julia, the person he would never betray.
Days later, Winston in sitting in the Chestnut Tree Cafe, listening to the telescreen for the news of the war to come on. Then–it comes on. Oceania has taken over Africa.
Then, Winston realizes he loves Big Brother!
Psychological Analysis of Winston Smith – Main Character
The main purpose of this book of this book is to present a psychological study of Winston Smith. He goes through all sorts of psychological phases, from primarily the society he lives in and how it influences him. At first, he thinks he’s some sort of individual, and different then most people. He finally expresses it on paper. Then he feels rage, because he’s jealous of Julia. Then he feels hope, because he’s part of a group doing the right thing. Then, he feels hope, but he’s not happy. This is after he’s captured. Then, he’s resistant to the capturers, and thinks they can never get to him. When he faces his greatest fear, rats, his spirit is broken. Then, he goes into realization, realization that he loves Big Brother after Oceania takes over Africa. In conclusion, this book shows that the society is a great influence of the mentality of the people in it, even if they don’t like it. Everybody will betray their loved ones, at some cost, and will be forced into so!
mething that they hate, at some cost.
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