1984, a popular fiction novel, was written by George Orwell and published in 1949. Orwell, born on June 25, 1903, in Bihar, India, was the author of several books, including Animal Farm and Burmese Days. He was educated in England, joined the Burma (Myanmar) police at 19, worked as a journalist in Paris for two years, and finally worked as a school teacher in England. He passed away on January 21, 1950.
The novel mainly focuses on a dystopian society, where people are forcefully brainwashed, and manipulated under authoritative and totalitarian regimes. The author portrays the people of Oceania, who are ruled by an inner party led by Big Brother, whose picture is pasted everywhere in the cities with the phrase “Big Brother is watching you” written on it. This means that all the activities of people are monitored through telescreens, whether in their homes, offices, or workplaces.
The party has its main slogan: “war is peace, freedom is slavery, ignorance is strength,” and four ministries: the Ministry of Truth, which deals with lies and propaganda; the Ministry of Love, which brainwashes and tortures people forcefully; the Ministry of Peace, which handles wars, and panic situations; and the Ministry of Plenty, which deals with starvation, food shortages, and the economic issues. Additionally, Oceania is at war with Eastasia and Eurasia.
The main character, Winston Smith, works in the Ministry of Truth with a woman named Julia, with whom he falls in love. Winston becomes disillusioned with the Inner Party (INGSOC) due to its oppressive policies and begins to organize a rebellion against it. However, when the Inner Party discovers their love affair, they are arrested and imprisoned in torture cells because nobody can love one another except Big Brother.
During the torture, Winston is asked by an Inner Party member, O’Brien, whether “2+2” equals 4. O’Brien asks him if he would agree that 2+2 is equal to 5 if Big Brother says so. Winston refuses, saying that it is 4, but O’Brien insists that it is five. Winston is repeatedly tortured and brainwashed until he finally accepts that 2+2=5 and that he loves Big Brother forever.
Overall, the novel is a critique of authoritarianism and oligarchical forms of government, in which people are forced, manipulated, and controlled through gaslighting.
