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by George Orwell
Telescreens watch everything in Oceania. Telescreens monitor the population of Oceania and anywhere a person goes, even into their own home, they are watched.
The main character, Winston Smith, a fatalistic man that is just 39, is a low-ranking member of the Party who works in the Ministry of Truth changing records to accommodate the Party’s control over peoples’ memories. Winston hates the dictorial control and repression that his government makes people follow.
The face of the Party, known as Big Brother, looms over the entire country, constantly reminding everyone everywhere of who is in control and that “Big Brother is Watching You.” Everything in Oceania is controlled by The Party including new words in their language of Newspeak and the changes in history to control who they wish. They created a new language called Newspeak, and this language is the Party’s attempt to extinguish any political rebellion by destroying any words that have connection to the rebellion. In the Oceania society, thinking rebellious thoughts is known as thoughtcrime, which is the worst of all crimes.
At the beginning of the novel, Winston is disturbed by the domination and stiff control of the Party, which continues to destroy any act in which any person could express themselves –including thinking and sex. Winston has come to hate the party and sets out to illegally purchase a diary to keep record of his thoughts –which if he were caught, would be considered a thoughtcrime.
Winston also fixates on an authoritative figure in the Party named O’Brien. Winston Smith believes that O’Brien may be a member of the Brotherhood. The Brotherhood is a mysterious, legendary group that works to overthrow the party.
Winston receives a note from his female coworker named Julia, that reads “I love you.” The two begin an illegal affair, which consists of usually well thought out meetings where there are no telescreens. Eventually they rent a room above the secondhand store (Mr. Charrington’s Shop) in the prole district where Winston bought his diary.
Throughout their relationship, Winston is sure that they will be caught sooner or later and punished severely while Julia is more hardheaded and optimistic. As Winston and Julia progress in their relationship, his hatred for the Party grows deeper. Finally, Winston receives a message that O’Brien wants to see him
Winston and Julia travel to O’Brien’s luxurious Inner Party apartment. O’Brien tells Winston and Julia that he too hates the Party and that he works against it with the Brotherhood. He welcomes Winston and Julia into the Brotherhood, and gives Winston a copy of Emmanuel Goldstein’s book. Winston goes his room at Mr. Charrington’s shop and reads the book to Julia. Soldiers then seize them as Mr. Charrington reveals himself as a member of the Thought Police the whole time.
Julia and Winston are then hauled off to the Ministry of Love where O’Brien also reveals himself as a Party spy who pretends to be a member of the Brotherhood in order to trap opposing citizens. Winston is then tortured and brainwashed by O’Brien and finally sends him to Room 101, which is the final destination for anyone who opposes the party. Room 101 is where Winston finally breaks and begs to O’Brien to punish Julia instead of him. After this event, Winston is released to the outside once again and accepts the Party and learns to love Big Brother.
In analysis of the novel, I think that the Orwellian ideas are able to happen. Orwell does a great job of developing premonitions about the future, but seems to take the idea to a level of overkill. As likely as these ideas are, I believe them to be too extreme to ever take place in reality.
Overall I think this book could make better use of details. The vague detailing leaves much room for your own imagination, leaving us wondering exactly what the environment is like. I would have liked to been able to imagine the proles more clearly than just ‘low class.’ I would have liked to know if they lived in the ghetto or maybe just a middle class home.
This book was alright, but it had some dramatic overkill. It was slightly dumb and very drawn out. This isn’t like any book I’ve ever read, or any television show that I have ever seen. If you want a good, but slow moving book, this is the one for you.
- Reviewed by Lindsey L.
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Hennepin County Library
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