Summary Of 1984 By Winston Smith

Plot Analysis
1)Winston Smith works in the Recording Department of the Ministry of Truth as a clerk. He rewrites historical documents, such as newspapers to match the ever changing lies that the Party tell. He often changes documents even if they are from previous days,months or years. He lives in Oceania, London. The Party and Big Brother (leader/face of the party) rule over London. The Party watch people constantly through televisions and the Thought Police, the Party even has children betraying their parents when they have thoughts against the Party. The Party makes sure that the people only known their version of history, history books are changed to match the Party’s history. WInston questions and hates the Party and Big Brother. He has
a forbidden diary where he writes thoughts that will get him killed by the Thought Police. He believes O’Brien, a member of the Inner Party, is involved in an society against Big Brother, but does not pursue it because he is entirely sure. He starts a forbidden affair with Julia, from the fiction department. Affairs are allowed only if the people feel no joy from it, he cares for Julia, so it's illegal. He meets with her at Mr.Charrington's store, the only place they think they won't be betrayed. Their affair goes on for awhile. O’Brien approaches him and tells him what he believed all along, that he is apart of an group against Big Brother. He gives them a chance to join him. Julia and WInston get arrested by Mr.Charrington, who was apart of the thought police all along. Turns out O’Brien lied to them, he was never against the Party, he might have been at one time. Winston get sent to the Ministry of Love. O’Brien gets people to torture Winston, playing bad cop (beating and interrogating him) and good cop (asking how he could betray the Party). O’Brien takes him on Room 101, where Winston’s worst fear is; rats. He menions his fear sevral times throughtout the book. He puts rats on top of WInston's head. Up until this time, Winston refused to give up Julia, he then said do this to Julia instead. O’Brien managed to brainwash him, making him see five fingers when only four were up. WInston is released and sees Julia again. They are too different and feel nothing towards each other anymore. He embraces the Party and its lies, and no longer hates Big Brother, he now loves him.
2) I don't believe the author used the best literary point of view. I think it would be better if he had multiple points of view so we can see how this type of society affects different people.
3) The setting is in Oceania,London (the chief city of Airstip one). The setting is important because the constant switch of war and peace between Oceania, Eurasia and Eastasia. This is important because during the time Orwell wrote this novel 1949-1950, World War ii had just ended a couple years ago. Great Britain tried to appease Germany first but failed, just like with Eastasia. Great Britain joined the allied nations and everyone forgets at one time they tried to appease Germany. Winston recalls at one time Oceania being at peace with Oceania, yet everyone in Oceania claims that they have always been at war with Eastasia and visa versa.
4) The major conflict that Winston Smith faces is that he cannot blindly believe/put his faith in Big Brother and the Party.
He questions what the Party and Big Brother does and says. He struggles to hide his thoughts, he illegally buys a diary and wrote his traitorous thoughts in there. He seems to be the only one to question the Party’s ever changing lies. He hates purity and goodness, he wants everyone to be corrupt to the bones, not perfect and never questioning the Party or Big Brother. He thinks O’Brien is part of a widespread opposition of Big Brother but he isn't sure so he does attempt to pursue him for questioning.
5) The internal conflict was resolved because he was brainwashed into believing that he loved Big Brother by O’Brien. He was able to control his thoughts and feelings with the “help” of O’Brien. I feel like because he didn't chose to, it was sort of resolved.
6) The external conflict is between WInston and the Party. The Party oppresses its people and does not allow them much or very little freedom. The Party watches all its citizens with televisions. Citizens are even arrested for having thoughts against Big Brother and the Party he rules over.The Party does not want any Citizen to be loyal to anyone but the Party.The Party tells them to deny the evidence of their eyes and
ears.
7) The external conflict was solved because at the end Winston was not against the Party anymore and now there's no way to be free and trying to be free is not worth it. The Party used pain and fear to force him into loving Big Brother.
Character Analysis
1)Winston Smith is a 39 year old man with fair hair, a naturally sanguine face with skin roughened by coarse soap. He works in the Records Department. He was unhappy at the beginning with the Party and Big Brother. He knows he will get caught for his thoughts and actions from the beginning, he does it anyway.
2)Winston is a dynamic character because his character changed immensely from the beginning to the end of the book. He started out saying he hated all women, but in the end cared about Julia. He went from doubting Big Brother to being forced to love him in the end.
3) Julia is another important character. She was Winston’s lover and 26 years old. She also hates the Party. She is satisfied in rebelling in small ways, such as affairs. She is a part of the Anti-Sex League which advocated complete celibacy of both genders ironically enough. Her only concern is not getting caught. Winston says she’s only a rebel from the waist down. She does not believe that any organized revolt against the Party will ever be anything but a failure. She is the complete opposite of Winston, yet they worked. They betrayed each other in the end.
Literary Analysis
1)The theme of the story is to show the dangers of a totalitarian government.
Totalitarian governments were a possibility when Orwell wrote this book, during this time Russia (formerly the Soviet Union) was ruled by Stalin, an oppressive ruler. It shows how that sort of government will destroy people and that it needed to be prevented before it started.
2) When Winston first wrote in his journal, he said he knew he would be caught by the Thought Police for his traitorous thoughts. When he visited the Parson kids, he knew that the kids were little terrors and would one day betray their parents. He also said that Syme is too smart and would be vaporized. All of which he predicted came true.
3) Winston’s dreams symbolizes a simpler time,he didn't have enough to eat but he was happy with his mother and sister. The coral he got from Mr. Charrington represents freedom/happiness. When he got caught by the Thought Police, the coral broke, ending his chance at
freedom/happiness.