George Orwell’s 1984

 The key points to remember from George Orwell’s 1984

(Core Themes)

1. Totalitarianism: The novel is a warning against oppressive, all-controlling regimes. The Party dictates every aspect of life.

2. Surveillance: “Big Brother is watching you.” Constant surveillance ensures obedience and crushes rebellion.

3. Manipulation of Truth/History: The Party rewrites the past (“Who controls the past controls the future…”) to control the present.

4. Language as Control (Newspeak): Language is simplified to limit free thought. Fewer words = less dissent.

5. Individual vs. Collective: Winston’s personal rebellion shows the struggle of the individual under a regime that erases identity.

(Important Concepts)

• Doublethink: The ability to hold two contradictory beliefs and accept both.

• Thoughtcrime: Criminal act of holding rebellious thoughts.

• Room 101: A torture chamber where one’s worst fear is used to break them.

• The Two Minutes Hate: Daily ritual of Party-directed outrage, fostering blind loyalty.

(Main Characters)

• Winston Smith: Protagonist, tries to rebel against the Party.

• Julia: Winston’s lover, also rebels but in a more personal, less ideological way.

• O’Brien: Inner Party member who deceives Winston and crushes his rebellion.

• Big Brother: Symbolic leader of the Party — possibly fictional, omnipresent.

(Memorable Quotes)

• “War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength.” — Party slogan.

• “Big Brother is watching you.” — Ultimate surveillance.

• “If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face—forever.” — O’Brien’s brutal vision.

(Moral)

1984 is a powerful cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked political power, loss of individuality, and the manipulation of truth and reality. It’s less about predicting the future, more about preventing it.