1.) 1984 is a story about humanity versus oppression. Winston Smith is portrayed as the average man in this neo-futuristic dystopia of Oceana, a nation that previously named London, where the government controls everything. If you thought your government was bad, you're living in a paradise compared to this story. Constant watch from Big Brother, endless propaganda, Thought Police, and cover-ups control and suppress the inhabitants of Oceana. As the book opens you begin to understand these peoples' situation via a large poster with a man's face and the sign "BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU." The entire universe of this world is laid out within the first chapter. Defying this, he takes out a diary and begins to write down his real thoughts. It's noted by his visit with the neighbor, Mrs. Parsons, that even the children are submitted into turning in adults for thought crimes. Ironically, despite his hate for The Party and all of Big Brother, he works for them, censoring the history books to fit the agenda of The Party. He constantly uses his journal as an escape from the harsh reality of his life, and his anger at the suppression he is forced under every day. After this long introduction of the world around him and his underlying festering anguish over Big Brother's thought police, he is incited by a girl who gives him a note saying "I love you." He sits with her at lunch and they plan secret meetings in the night, away from telescreens. At first they just hold hands briefly, but this blooms into them loving each other and having sex in the woods. She finally tells him her name is Julia. They return to Oceana and resume their lives. Hate Week approaches, a time where they are all taught to channel their anger and hate the enemy of the Party. Julia and Winston meet together many times in a room above Charrington's antiques shop, where they regain their humanity through love and connection. It is a solace from the cold, harsh world outside. After loving and spending time together in this room, they find out there was a hidden telescreen and troops pour in to arrest them. They're beaten, separated, and taken away. They find out Mr. Charrington was a member of the thought police all along. When Winston is taken into a cell, he is monitored and sat down in this bright empty room. He's put through physical and emotional pain as he gets beaten and brainwashed. He struggles, but finally breaks after his worst fear of rats becomes true, and a cage full of rats is placed on his head. There is no happy ending here, just more assimilation in the never ending oppression of The Party.
2.) The theme of this novel is not about heroes, or individual stories of endurance and triumph. The theme of 1984 is humanity and love versus anger and oppression. These things work together and against each other as people are turned against each other over what they think will help them.
3.) The authors tone throughout the story is overbearing, pessimistic, and almost numbing. It's meant to convey the feeling throughout the book that there is something bigger than Winston, and it's unstoppable. Three examples of this are:
1.) "Winston kept his back turned to the telescreen. It was safer, though, as he well knew, evan a back can be revealing."
2.)"There was no telescreen, but there must be hidden microphones: besides, they could be seen. It did not matter, nothing mattered."
3.)"If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face - forever."
4.) In 1984 there were many different literary devices used to convey their point of a gloomy, unstoppable power-filled world. One of the main ones used throughout the book was the symbolism of BIG BROTHER. When you think of a big brother, you think of someone who would watch out and take care of you. Besides being symbolism, this is also very good irony. Irony plays a large part in this world as well. Another example of irony is the fact that a main producer of beer and cigarettes are named Victory. The Party was also personified as one person throughout the story, because of it's hivemind-esque ways. Motif was another important piece of the propaganda in the story. There were many slogans, posters, and propaganda that reoccurred throughout the story to symbolize the Party. Repetition is used by having these posters and slogans appear everywhere, and also as the torture technique used to brainwash Winston.
CHARACTERIZATION
1.)In the story there were many examples of indirect characterization as well as direct. The journal was a good example of this because you could actually get an idea of how he thought, not how he was supposed to think. Winston uses his emotions and actions to characterize himself, instead of a narrator describing who he is. His love affair is a good example of what kind of person he is as well.
2.)When the author focuses on the character, the diction and syntax get very dreary, to show the helplessness of the common man in this oppressive society. The word choice, such as saying the people live in "constant fear", and the quote "imagine a boot stamping on the face - forever" shows fear, oppression, and helplessness.
3.) He is, for sure, a dynamic character. Although it is a very unusual type of change that goes on with him. When he falls in love, it seems as if he is a new man. He learns many new things and becomes more rebellious. Once he is taken away, it seems like all of those feelings are forced out of him and he does not feel a thing anymore. He even gives up Julia. In the end he is almost seemingly braindead, and in love with Big Brother. His old self "dies", and he is reborn as a loyal follower.
4.) When I finished the book I felt as if I came away knowing a new society. The characters, in my opinion, were a minor part of this book. The world, setting, and society as a whole are where this book feels very real and centered. An example of this would be the love between Julia and Winston, it is very generic and feels like it could be inserted with anyone in a world like this.
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