Tabla de Contenidos
1984 , by English writer George Orwell, is one of the most influential and controversial novels of the 20th century. The society model and some of its characteristics described in the novel are still valid. Therefore, it is not only an important reference in world literature, but also a warning about some current practices.
About the author from 1984
George Orwell (1903-1950) was the pseudonym of British writer Eric Arthur Blair, who stood out mainly for his novels Animal Farm and Nighteen-eighty four , known in Spanish as 1984 . Orwell wrote 1984 between 1947 and 1948 and the novel was finally published in 1949, a year before his death.
Although he was born in India, George Orwell moved to England when he was two years old. There he grew up and studied. Later he also lived in Burma and France. He participated in the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) supporting the Republican side as a volunteer in the International Brigades . Some of his lived experiences were reflected in his novels.
Orwell, in addition to being a novelist, was also a chronicler, essayist, and literary critic. The term ” Orwellian ” is due to him , which refers to a totalitarian and repressive society.
Brief summary of 1984
Characters and features of 1984
Orwell included in his novel 1984 , and for the first time in the field of mass literature, different concepts that are still used to this day. This novel is part of the dystopian fiction genre, which describes a society that appears to be happy, but nevertheless oppresses and controls its citizens.
The main characters and some of the most interesting concepts that Orwell explained in 1984 are:
- Winston Smith . He is the main character of the novel. He works at the “Ministry of Truth” and his official duty is to rewrite history. His name comes from Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and his surname, Smith, is the most common surname in England.
- Julia . Young rebel who becomes Winston Smith’s lover and his partner in resisting the system.
- Emmanuel Goldstein . Resistance leader.
- Big Brother . Also called Big Brother, he is the one who rules Oceania, the fictional world of the novel. He wields the power of him omnipresent and anonymous.
- Room 101 . It is a place where suspects are tortured, exposing them to what terrifies them. In this way, torture seeks to brainwash them and eliminate the citizen’s thoughts that go against the system.
- Thought Police . It is an organization that is in charge of repressing crimes of thought.
- Newspeak . It is a simplified version of the English language, in which the novel was written. Their goal is to manipulate the inhabitants and reduce or eliminate their freedom of thought.
- ingsoc . It is the name of the sole political party that governs Oceania (“the Party”).
- Ministries . In the novel there are four ministries. The Ministry of Love, which applies punishment and torture and encourages love towards Big Brother and the single political party. There is also the Ministry of Peace, whose paradoxical objective is to perpetuate the war, to divert the attention of citizens. The Ministry of Abundance ensures that the inhabitants always have the minimum necessary to survive, but no more. The Ministry of Truth is in charge of destroying or manipulating the records of historical facts or real data, so that everything coincides with the official version of the political party.
1984 Synopsis
The 1984 novel begins with the introduction of 39-year-old Winston Smith. He lives in a small house where there is a giant screen that he cannot turn off and that he can see from anywhere. In his house there are also signs that say: “AN OLDER BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU.”
Winston lives in an area known as Airstrip One, a province in the state of Oceania. He works at the Ministry of Truth, where he changes historical records to fit new versions the government creates. Winston works hard to appear an obedient and loyal member of society to the Party, but inwardly he despises it. He also hates the world in which he lives. He knows that by thinking differently he becomes a thought criminal. He even knows that at some point he will be found out and punished.
winston rebels
One day, Winston buys a newspaper in a store in a proletarian neighborhood (of lower-class people, known as “proles”). He discovers that the telescreen in his apartment has a blind spot, from which he cannot see it. From there, he begins to write down his forbidden thoughts of him in a journal, out of reach of the telescreen. That becomes his first act of rebellion from him.
Winston and Julia begin a relationship
At the Ministry of Truth there is a girl named Julia, to whom Winston is attracted. Since he doesn’t know if she is a spy, he doesn’t confess her feelings to her. Winston also doesn’t trust his boss, a man named O’Brien. He suspects that he is part of “the Brotherhood.” Supposedly, the Brotherhood is a resistance movement led by notorious terrorist Emmanuel Goldstein.
Later, Winston and Julia begin a romantic relationship, something that is prohibited by the Party. Their first meeting occurs in a rural area. Later, they start renting a room that is upstairs from the store where Winston bought the journal. Winston realizes that Julia despises the Party as much as he does. As the romance begins, Winston recalls his experience in the civil war and his ex-wife Katherine.
At work, Winston meets a colleague named Syme. He tells her about the dictionary he is creating for the new official language, Newspeak. Syme tells Winston that this language is designed to prevent people from thinking.
Winston and Julia create a private sanctuary in their rented room. They are sure that the Party will discover their crimes and execute them. However, they believe that nothing can erase the feelings they feel for each other.
Winston and Julia join the Brotherhood
O’Brien contacts Winston and admits that he is part of the Brotherhood. He also invites him to join the resistance. So Winston and Julia go to the O’Brien house and vow to join the Brotherhood. O’Brien hands them a copy of Emmanuel Goldstein’s book. They spend their time together reading it, and discover the truth about how the Party maintains its control over society. They also discover a technique called “doublethink , ” which allows Party members to easily believe contradictory concepts. Also, they learn how history has been changed to support a perpetual war. And how it is used to maintain a permanent state of emergency in order to control people.
Later, the store owner reports Winston and Julia. The Thought Police arrest them and take them to the Ministry of Love.
Winston’s Torture
Once at the Ministry of Love, Winston and Julia discover that O’Brien is actually a loyal Party member.
O’Brien tortures Winston, vindicating the Party’s power. He also tells him that they will change his mind and that he will be returned to the world as an example to others. And that later, when he is no longer useful, he will be killed. The point of torture is to force you to abandon logic, brainwash you, and do what the Party says.
After enduring so much pain and being psychologically tortured, Winston relents. However, O’Brien is not satisfied, as Winston defiantly tells him that he still loves Julia and no one can take that away from him. O’Brien moves him to room 101 where he is sure Winston will give up altogether. Since he knows that he has an irrational fear of rats, he tortures him with them. Winston then loses the last shreds of his sanity and gives in completely.
the end of the rebellion
After betraying Julia, Winston is left psychologically devastated. They “re-educate” him and release him. A few days later, he finds Julia in a park and they talk about her torture. Julia admits that she too gave in and betrayed him. They both realize that their love for each other is over forever.
The story ends with Winston happy, while the telescreens report an important victory for Oceania in the war against Eurasia. Winston has no more thoughts of rebellion, he believes that he loves Big Brother and waits to be executed.
Other curious facts about the novel 1984
- Orwell wrote the novel while seriously ill with tuberculosis.
- Instead of 1984 , the novel was to be called “The Last Man in Europe.” The reason for the author’s choice of the title 1984 is unknown .
- The book makes reference to practices of fascism and communism, which Orwell experienced during the Spanish Civil War.
- Big Brother is a transfer to fiction of the “cult of personality” of the dictator Stalin in the Soviet Union.
- The “Orwellian” Ministry of Truth’s task of rewriting the past was standard practice in the Soviet Union, and continues to be so in dictatorial regimes and governments with totalitarian tendencies.
- Goldstein’s character is inspired by Leon Trotsky, a Russian revolutionary initially loyal to the Soviet revolution who faced Stalin and was assassinated in Mexico by Ramón Mercader, a communist militant born in Barcelona (Spain), member of the USSR secret service. .
- The novel 1984 was banned in different countries that suffered from the government of military and communist dictatorships.
Bibliography
- Orwell, G. 1984 . (2013). Spain. POCKET-SIZE.
