1984 George Orwell Essay, Research Paper

1984

-George Orwell

Summary Chapter 1 and 2

We are introduced to Winston Smith the main character of the story.

Works at Ministry of truth. Ministry of truth is one of four government

buildings in destroyed London, the main city of Airstrip One, a province of

Oceania. Year is 1984 and three contries are at war, Oceania, Eurasia and

Eastasia. Oceania is run by the party whose leader is Big Brother.

Winston is sick of his life in the ruined city and decides to keep a diary.

This is against the law in Oceania. He felt his feelings begin to hate

Emmanuel Goldstein, leader of the enemy party. He also spots O’Brien, a

party leader whose eyes he see’s a bit of political sympthy. See’s young

girl who he dislikes. He feels it is only a matter of time before his

though crimes are detected. A knock at the door he thinks is police. Mrs.

Parsons, his neighbor is at the door and asked him to unclog a sink. He

does it but smells sweat all over the apartment. Mrs. Parsons is a

follower of party doctrine and a fellow employee at the ministry. The

children are members of Spies, a youth that encourages spying and telling

on traitors, including parents. Winston is revolted. He returns home and

writes a couple more minutes before going back to work. He remenbers a

dream where O’Brien tole him he would meet him in a place wher there is no

darkness. He washes his hands and hides the diary

Reaction

Major ideas, conflicts and themes are introduced. We are shown how the

earth has changed, into 3 main contenients. we are also introduced to the

main character and how he fits into the new world. Also we are shown how

the computer age has taken over peoples minds. The language is easy to

understand, it has not really changed much over time. Seems like nothing

left after nuclear war, just ruins remaining. We are introduced to Tom

Parsons which Winston is contrasted with. The city is very drab.

Quotes

“Big brother is watching you, the caption beneath it said”

“Thoughtcrime was not a thing that could be concealed for ever.”

1984

-George Orwell

MONDAY, NOV 15, 1993

Summary Chapter 3,4 and 5

Waking from dreams, he remembers his mother and sister, and can barely

remember their disappearence and feels responsible for there deaths. He

has another dream where he is in the perfect countryside with the girl he

had noticed eariler. He dreamed she stripped for him. This time he is

woken up by the telescreen, telling him to do his exercises. He thinks

about how much power the Party has over all information. Begins work at

the ministry of truth. His job is to correct printed articles in line with

the Party’s orders. The Ministry and records department jobs are to

rewrite history to make the party look good. They get a break because of

the 2 minute hate. When he gets back he replaces a speech by Big Brother

with invented history. Makes up story about a man named Ogilvy. The

article had become contrary to the present party policy. It is replaced as

though is never existed. Winston meets Syme, a philologist, for lunch.

Syme explains parts about Newspeak. They are joined by Parsons. Winston

thinks of the fate that each co-worker will recieve. Syme will be

vapourized because he is to smart, where Parsons is dull enough to escape

vapourization. He is the only one who has not been taken over by the

propaganda that is always being brodcast. He notices the same girl from

the other day starring at him and thinks it is the thought police.

Reaction

The Golden country that he dreams about is definatly a release or a

freedom from the the drabness of London. Also from the party. We are

introduced to the fact that he has no mother or father or sisters or

brothers anymore because they were taken by the party. He is realizing that

he is rebelling against the party and he understands that he is at risk.

Winston is in search of the truth and is concerned because of the party’s

ability to change history. We find that he likes his work even though it is

for the party and against morals. He is introduced to the girl that will

play a big part in the book most likely.

Quotes

“People in the Records Department did not talk readily about there jobs.”

“Winstons greatest pleasure in life was his work”

1984

-George Orwell

Summary Chapter 6,7 and 8

He records in his diary and encounter a couple of years ago with a

prostiture mad up to look young, but was really and old woman. This menory

of the encounter causes him to think of the policy regarding sex and

marriage which the party has enforced. Thsi causes him to theink of his

miserable life with his wife Katherine, that he has not seen in eleven

years. Winston resents the intrusinon of the Party into the sex lives of

its members. Also realizes the discouragement of sexual enjoyment, that

makes any love affair with a party member impossible. Writing down the

incident does not help him. He makes another entry in his diary, this one

concerning the proles. He feels they are the only group that might

overthrough the party, but they are unaware of it. There is no way of

finding the truth about the past but he does think that present life is

worse than the past. He remembers a photo that came into his possession

trying to change the pastbut he destroyed it. He plans to stay free. After

work one evening, he wonders into the prole end of London, and ends up near

the store where he bought the diary. Follows man into pub and plans to ask

him about revolution but man is incoherent. He leaves the pub and wanders.

He ends up outside the little antique shop and decides to buy a glass

paperweight. Mr. Charrington shows him a room upstairs and Winston dreams

of renting it. He notices a dark haired girl following himand he is sure

it is the thought police and he will be arrested.

Reaction

We discover that people have a bond when it comes to sexuallity that the

party connot control. Even thought the party rejects sexual relationships

between its members. Sexual experience is no longer allowed in the society

and Winston longs for one. He confesses in his Diary about his last

expereince but it does not help. We find he has faith in the proles and

there ability to revolt. It is hard to set up a revolt with the thought

police detecting every thought. Winston reaches a crises with the thought

police.

Quotes

“Winston reached down and cautiously scratched his varicose ulcer”

“Not a word could ever be proved or disproved”

1984

-George Orwell

THURSDAY, NOV 18,1993

Summary Part 2, Chapter 1,2 and 3

At work he runs into the dark haired girl again, in the hallway. She

falls and while he is lifting her up she slips him a note. He reads it at

his desk and is amazed to find that it simple states, I love you. Eager

and excited to meat with her, he has to wait 7 days until they eat together

in the cafeteria. They decide to meet in Victory square. When meeting

there, they arrange another meeting next sunday afternoon. At the

designated meeting place, in the countryside outside London, he finally

learns her name. Julia explains that she considers herself rebelious to

the party. She has had sex with many other non-members. Suddenly he walks

into the scene exactly like his dreem. She removes her clothes and they

have sex. He belives that sexual desire may be the force that destroys the

party. Following there secret meeting they meet each othe occasionally.

Julie arranges the meetings. They go a month without seeing each other but

whenever they can before and after. She belives that she must pretend to

cooperate with the party and in secret break the rules whenever possible.

Winston thinks that rebellion is the best answer. They discuss past girl

and boyfriends and how the party controls them.

Reaction

He is ready for the Julia but is worried about a possible trap. His

negative approach to life and his sexual fustration make him ready anyhow.

Once he commits to her he connot go back and he is committing though

crimes. This may be the beginning of the end. He was happy to find that she

was not a virgin and had previous affairs. His idea of revolt is changed

and he now is enjoying being corrupted. Julia takes charge of the

relationship, showing her aggressivness. She does not believe in Winstons

ideas on rebellion and thinks that differently.

Quotes

“A sense of helplessness took hold of Winston”

“Between you and me, the antique trade’s just about finished”

1984

-George Orwell

THURSDAY, NOV 18, 1993

Summary Chapter 4,5,6 and 7

Winston does rent the room above the antique show and realizes the

foolishness of what he and Julia are doing. She brings him coffee and real

sugar and real old-fashioned make-up. Julie tries to remember an old

nursry rhyme, while Winston immagines that he and Julia and the room

itself were all closed in like the paperweight. Many preperations for the

upcoming hate week keep Winston, Julia and the others very busy. Winston

discovers that his friend Syme has dissappeared and all records of him have

been altered. Meanwhile, Parsons is still busy and happy in the

preperations for hate week. He was right about them. Because of the

increased work load he and Julia do not meet as much but in the room above

the antique shop they look at things from the past and other forbidden

things. They discuss the hopelessness of there private rebellion and that

it cannot go on forever. He is dissappointed that Julie does not reject

propaganda from the partyand her theroy that the party sends bombs on

itself. One day at work O’Brien gives Winston his address and asked him to

stop by so tha he can lend him an advance copy of the Newspeak dictionary.

Winstonthinks this is a conspiracy against the party and is excited but,

thinks it will end in touture and death. Winston dreams of his mother

again and the hunger and awful conditions there were before the

disappearence. He feals bad for asking for rationed food and stealing his

sisters choclate. When he came back they were gone. Winston tries to tell

her but she is tired. He is glad him and her have there own feeling toward

each other.

Reaction

He rents room above the antique shop showing his independence and his

plunge into the end. He wishes the room could be closed in like the

paperweight. We find out how different the two main characters are. The

state does not care what kind of person you you are. Julia understanding

of the party is much better that Winston although she is nieve to many

things that the party does. Winston defines his rebellion in three steps,

first the thought then the word(Diary) then the act(Julia). O’Brien seems

to be a good man, also in rebellion. His mother was like him.

Quotes

“The timy interior of the shop ws in fact uncomfortably full, but

there was almost nothing in it of the slightest value”

“A sharp cry of pain was wrung out of her”

1984

-George Orwell

SATURDAY, NOV 20, 1993

Summary chapter 8,9 and 10

Winston takes Julia to the O’Briens apartment. He wonderes is O’Brien

is also a rebel because he finds him in front of the telescreen, hard at

work. Over toast he explains to Winston what is required of the secret

rebel brotherhood. They except the terms of the menbership except that

they will never see each other ever again. O’Brien promises to be given a

copy of Emmanuel Goldstein’s book, secretly in the future. After a long

week, of sorting through millions of documents, changing them to prove that

the Party’s decision that Easstasia, and not Eurasia, was the enemy that

they have been fighting all along. He rushes home to read the copy of the

book. He reads while lying back and relaxing. Julia falls asleep when he

tries to read her sections of it. When they awake from there sleep they

start talking, but a voice issues from behind the picture on the wall. It

is a hidden telescreen which instructs them not to move. They are rushed

by armed guards. The Thought Police had been observing them all along.

Winston and Julia are violently seperated. Mr. Charrington enters the room

without his disquise, looking much younger. He is a menber of the thought

police.

Reaction

Winston thinks of O’Brein as a strong, unexcitable man. He is dedicated

and wholeheartyu to the brotherhood. Winston joins the brotherhood and

tells about his dreams. We understand about hate week a little more.

Winston reads the book that is given to him by O’Brien. Winston and Julia

get arrested. They find out that O’Brien was the enemy. There was a sorta

feeling that O’Brien was the bad guy, and they would get cought sonner or

later.

Quotes

“He was a bit early”

“The lane widened, and in a minute he came to the footpath she had told him

of”

1984

-George Orwell

SATURDAY, NOV 20, 1993

Summary Part 3 Chapter 1 and 2

Winston is being held prisoner in a large, crowded cell at the Ministry

of Love. Ampleforth and Parsons are both prisoners also. Parsons was tured

in by his own daughter for thoughtcrime. He feels increased discomfort and

room 101 is continually mentioned by several prisoners. O’Brien enters the

cell with a guard and Winston now realized he has been betrayed by him.

O’Brein is a member of the Inner Party. O’Brien orders the guard to strike

Winston who feels a great deal of pain on his elbow. Winston is tortured

both physically and mentally for an unknown length of time. He keeps

getting interrogated with beations and questions until he confesses to many

crimes. O’Brien reveals that he has been watching Winston for seven years.

O’Brein wants total rehab. from Winston. O’Brien explains why the party

can never be defeated. He has been informed that Julia quite easily

betrayed him and has now been released totally rehabilitated. Winstons

questions about room 101 is not answered.

Reaction

Finally he is caught by the thought police, which was inevidable since

the beginning. He realizes that he has been betrayed by Julia and O’Brien.

But he says he would never betray her. All time is lost while he is in

jail. We is going to be rehabilitated and is taken to the dreded 101 for

more mind games. Winston does not crack, except that O’Brien gets him to

believe is a little crasy.

Quotes

“Listen the more men you have had the more I love you”

“We can come here once again”

1984

-George Orwell

SUNDAY, NOV 21, 1993

Summary Chapter 3 and 4

O’Brien tells Winston th esecond stage of his rehab. is about to begin-

understanding the why in party. He also tells winston that he wrote

sections of Goldstiens book. He says the Party rules for the sake of

power, and power alone. The proles will never revolt. O’Brein questions

him further and punishes him when he does not answer correctly. Winston

says he is morally superior to the Party, but O’Brien has a tape of the

conversation about what Winston was willing to do to join the brotherhood.

Winston thinks that the party will be defeated by a noble man, but O’Brien

shows Winston himself in the mirror. Winston weeps looking at his own aged

and ghastly body. He conforts himself by thinking about how he never

betrayed Julia. Winstons health is improving, and he is trying to accept

the rightness of the party. He examines the past events and realilizes the

party was in control the whole time. He realizes also that he party can

make anything right if is wants to. He has to practice doublethinking. He

wakes up from a troubled sleep, calling Julia’s name. O’Brien enters his

room and Winston confesses that he still hates Big Brother. He is sent to

room 101.

Reaction

He had also looked to O’Brien for sanity and stength and kindness but

now he sees what he really is a power-hungry guy who likes infliction of

pain. He finds out he has been watched for 7 years. After being broken or

cracked he still has the fact that he has not turned against Julia. They

completely destroyed Winston and he has now entered the party.

Quotes

“Have you heard the rumours of the existance of the brotherhood.”

“The brotherhood cannot be wiped out because it is not an orgainization

in the ordinary sense”

“He was tired, but not sleepy any longer”

1984

-George Orwell

MONDAY, NOV 22, 1993

Summary Chapter 5 and 6

The torture room is brightly lit, room 101. O’Brien says that the room

contains the worst thing in the world. It turns out to be rats in a cage

which can be strapped over his face. Winston yells and screems and is

overcome by the horror and the terror. He screams that this punnishment

should be given to Julia and not him. O’Brien spares his life. Winston is

then released. He is sitting under a tree at the Chestnut Tree Cafe. He

drinks very heavily now. He remembers meeting Julia and how they talked

about how they betrayed each other. The party would not allow them to see

each other, but neither felt anything anymore. He remembers a game of his

childhood but then it is pushed out by the broadcast that comes on the

telescreen. Eurasia is once again the enemy. His heart fills with love

for Big Brother.

Reaction

The party knows the worse nightmare of each person and is ble to use

that against them. It worked on Winston. Finnally he gives in and the

party has won. Quotes “He did not attempt to kiss her, nor did they speek”

“He loved Big Brother”