1984 | BOOK REVIEW | MARCH 2017

1984 by George Orwell

As one of the most famous dystopian novels, 1984 depicts the manipulation and control that the ruling class can put on the society. The society that Orwell shows in this novel, is so different but some ways similar to our society we live in, in which we are highly controlled by the ruling class and their ideologies, even though we don't realise it. The novel follows the life of Winston Smith, who works in the Ministry of Truth, within the Record Department. In the novel the world is separated in to three superstates; Oceania, Eurasia and Eastasia. The novel is based within Oceania, which covers the entirety of America, Oceania and Britain. Orwell explores the future, for example the 'telescreens' that watch your every move, this could be contrasted in to the televisions and technology, that we are so heavily indoctrinated in, and allow us to control ideologies through social media etc, but obviously not as extreme to restricting your thought, with the 'thought police'. Orwell also explores the political morality of how society could have been constructed, through certain aspects of Marxism he shows what society would look like with mass control from the bourgeoisie. The 'proles' otherwise known as the proletariat are represented as the only ones that live a 'normal life', that we, as a reader can empathise in. Winston sees the proles as a way that they are the ones that can change the way that they are controlled, and could potentially win a rebellion. Winston meets Julia, and starts a love affair with her, which is strictly forbidden by 'Big Brother'. 'Thought crimes' are created to prevent any rebellion, but Winston and Julia delve in to the world of so-called resistance of 'Goldstein'. He fights for the rebellion with the help of Julia and O'Brien who contsructed himself as his ally in fighting against 'Big Brother'. They are all living within a totalitarian nation, which is controlling EVERY aspect of their lives. The reader is placed in to a world that could've been theirs, Orwell creates 1984 as a message to humanity and what we could become without rebellion and social change.

Winston and Julia are soon in the world of deceit and betrayal, the thought police catches up with them. They were being watched in everything they were doing, including the betrayal of people they thought they could trust, like O'Brien that they thought was on their side. The novel contrasts the view we have on the liberation of free speech that countries like the UK has, the people in this fictional world cannot do ANYTHING without being questioned about it, and no one can stop the oppression because they will immediately be killed. 'Big Brother' rewrites the past so that none of what countries have been through and have fought for is relevant, for example in the novel they change who they are supposedly at war (Eastasia or Eurasia) with to convince and discipline the workers in their control to conform to the norms of that society. As an audience it creates a realisation to prevent totalitarian dominance, and mass control of peoples ideologies. 
This novel is one of the most socially impacting, in a world that is uncertain politically in every aspect. Orwell presents this totalitarian society as an entrapment of thought and social change.