“War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength.”
Part One
Winston Smith, a frail 39-year-old man, lives in Airstrip One (formerly Britain), a province of the totalitarian superstate Oceania. He works at the Ministry of Truth, altering historical records to fit the Party’s ever-changing version of reality. Disillusioned with the Party’s oppressive rule, Winston secretly rebels by writing in a forbidden diary, despite the constant surveillance of telescreens and the Thought Police.
Winston notices Julia, a dark-haired woman from the Fiction Department, and suspects her of being a Party spy. The Party enforces loyalty through the Two Minutes Hate, a daily ritual of hatred toward the enemy Emmanuel Goldstein. Winston’s hatred for the Party grows, and he dreams of rebellion.
One day, Julia slips Winston a note reading, “I love you.” They begin a clandestine affair, meeting in the countryside and renting a room above an antique shop in the proletarian district. Their love is an act of defiance against the Party, which bans personal relationships.
Part Two
Winston and Julia continue their secret meetings, believing they are safe in their hidden room. Winston shares his rebellious thoughts with Julia, who is less interested in ideology and more focused on personal freedom. They trust O’Brien, an Inner Party member, whom Winston believes is part of the underground resistance.
O’Brien invites them to his apartment, where he reveals himself as a member of the Brotherhood, a secret organization opposing the Party. He gives Winston a copy of Goldstein’s forbidden book, The Theory and Practice of Oligarchical Collectivism, which explains the Party’s true motives—power for power’s sake.
One night, while reading the book in their hideout, Winston and Julia are ambushed by the Thought Police. The shopkeeper, Mr. Charrington, was a spy all along. They are arrested and separated.
Part Three
Winston is imprisoned in the Ministry of Love, where O’Brien, now revealed as a loyal Party enforcer, tortures him for months. O’Brien explains that the Party seeks absolute control over reality, even rewriting the past. Winston resists but is broken through physical and psychological torment, including his worst fear—rats.
In the final stage of his re-education, Winston is taken to Room 101, where he betrays Julia by begging for her to be tortured instead of him. Broken and brainwashed, he is released back into society, now a hollow shell who genuinely loves Big Brother.
Key Ideas
- Totalitarian control through surveillance, propaganda, and fear.
- The manipulation of truth and history to maintain power.
- The destruction of individuality and personal relationships.
- Psychological conditioning to enforce absolute loyalty.
- The inevitability of oppression when language and thought are controlled.
Who should read this book?
- Readers interested in dystopian fiction and political allegories.
- Those concerned with government surveillance and censorship.
- Students of literature exploring themes of power and control.
- Anyone questioning the nature of truth and propaganda.
Notable Adaptations
| Year | Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1956 | 1984 (Film) | British adaptation starring Edmond O’Brien. |
| 1984 | 1984 (Film) | Starring John Hurt as Winston. |
| 2013 | 1984 (Play) | London stage production by Headlong. |