Book Report: 1984
A Warning of Government Abuse of Power and Surveillance Through the Protagonist's Failed Resistance in a World Controlled by Dictatorship and Surveillance
Introduction
Characters
Plot Summary
Reflection
Conclusion
Introduction
1984 is one of George Orwell's seminal works, set in a future world controlled by dictatorship and surveillance. Published in 1949 amidst the political climate of the time and based on the author's foresight, the novel sharply criticizes government abuse of power, surveillance, and challenges to human freedom and dignity. It is regarded as contributing to societal awareness by prompting reflections on its relevance to contemporary issues. Seizing this opportunity, I finally read 1984, a book that had long been on my reading list but continuously postponed. Through it, I contemplated the background, major themes, and the messages it conveys to us today.
Characters
Winston Smith
Winston Smith is the protagonist, a man who works as a low-ranking official in the novel. Living under the powerful control and surveillance of the Party, Winston experiences his own inner rebellions, discontent, and doubts as an ordinary citizen. Through his role in forbidden love and rebellion, he drives the narrative, aiming to convey to the reader the anguish of political oppression by the Party.
Julia
Julia appears as Winston's love interest and lover, a female character in the novel. Julia rebels against the Party's strong control alongside Winston, sharing forbidden love with him. She challenges the Party's constraints alongside Winston, risking danger for her desires and freedom.
Big Brother
Big Brother is a figurehead leader whose face appears on posters and telescreens throughout the city. His presence demands absolute loyalty and obedience from the citizens, symbolizing the Party's control and surveillance. However, his actual existence remains dubious and ambiguous, emphasizing the blurred line between truth and fiction.
O'Brien
O'Brien emerges as a figure in Winston's resistance against the Party, initially presented as a trustworthy colleague but later revealing his true role and intentions. O'Brien appears to ensure Winston remains within the Party's ruthless control experimentally while remaining faithful to the Party's severe control.
Mr. Charrington
Mr. Charrington initially appears as the owner of an upscale shop chosen by Winston and Julia as their love nest. However, his true identity is later revealed as a Party spy, emphasizing how even the most intimate moments of Winston and Julia's love are monitored under intense surveillance.
Party's Thought Police
In the novel, the Party's Thought Police employ various means to surveil and apprehend citizens. They not only monitor through telescreens but also infiltrate various aspects of society to discern civilians' thoughts. Their existence instills constant surveillance and fear in the citizens.
Plot Summary
Examining the world of the novel, it's divided into three continents, each comprising a single nation, engaged in perpetual warfare for ideological reasons. The narrative primarily focuses on the place known as Estasia. Estasia is in constant conflict with a nation referred to as "Oceania," with the ongoing war serving as a means to maintain the support and control of the citizens.
The protagonist, Winston Smith, is a low-ranking official living in Estasia, leading a life obedient to the dictatorship known as the Party. At the outset of the novel, Winston harbors discontent and doubts about the infringement and control of freedom in his world. He feels resistance to surveillance and control, experiencing the difficulty of expressing his thoughts. The story delves into Winston's attempts to retain thoughts and actions of freedom within the Party's control. Winston keeps a diary and seeks individual desires through forbidden love, striving to experience freedom while evading Party surveillance in a prepared space of love.
The novel emphasizes the power structure of the Party, centered around the leader known as "Big Brother." Big Brother appears through enormous face posters throughout the city, depicted as having absolute and unchanging power. His authoritarian rule demands absolute loyalty from citizens, with his mere existence serving as a powerful means of control.
Surveillance and control emerge as prominent themes in the novel, with telescreens installed throughout the city monitoring citizens' every move. These telescreens function bidirectionally, surveilling citizens' actions, language, and even thoughts. Such surveillance instills a constant feeling of being under Party control.
The novel presents a critical view of politically relevant themes applicable in reality. The control of a dictatorial government like Big Brother blurs the line between fiction and truth, suppressing human freedom, independent thought, and individual dignity. Through this, the author warns readers about government abuse of power and citizens' subconscious obedience.
Big Brother's control extends to the regulation of human emotions, emphasizing prohibition on love and sexuality. Winston's forbidden love plays a crucial role in the novel, exploring the essence and freedom of love throughout the narrative.
Reflection
1984, published by George Orwell in 1949, is a science fiction novel that serves as a warning and critique of totalitarian and surveillance societies. This work explores various themes related to politics, society, and human nature in modern society, leaving a deep impression on readers. Despite being a novel of the past, it provided me with profound inspiration for the future.
The novel is set in the fictional world of the year 1984, where the protagonist, Winston Smith, lives as a low-ranking official under the dictatorship of the Party. This world is thoroughly controlled by a leader named Big Brother, utilizing surveillance cameras, media control, and truth distortion to continually regulate and monitor citizens.
One of the most emphasized themes in this work is the issue of individual freedom and dignity. In the world of the novel, individual thoughts, actions, and even language are under the control of the Party. The novel serves as a reminder to us of the value and importance of freedom.
Furthermore, the novel seems to present a contemplation on the boundary between truth and fiction. Big Brother distorts facts and reshapes history to manipulate people's memories in favor of their rule, raising awareness about political fiction and media manipulation, which can sometimes be found in reality.
The novel strongly raises issues of surveillance and control. Winston constantly feels surveilled even in mundane life, experiencing how such surveillance constrains free living. With the advancement of digital technology in modern society, concerns about surveillance and privacy are heightened, mirroring the issues raised in the novel.
The work also delves into desires for love and belonging. Winston feels his desires and love even within the Party's control, choosing the path of rebellion. Through this, the author explores strong desires within human nature and the complex emotions they evoke, prompting us to contemplate the process of seeking true meaning and belonging in life.
In essence, this novel contains criticism of governance and power. It showcases how dictatorial regimes like Big Brother's abuse power and control human lives, leading me to deeply ponder over the importance of freedom and justice.
1984 reflects the political atmosphere of its time while remaining relevant in the ever-changing modern society. Orwell, with his high artistic merit and clear social criticism, delivers a warning to readers about reality and the future. Readers are prompted to deeply contemplate human nature, freedom, and power issues, recognizing that these reflections are enduring issues regardless of time.
Conclusion
1984 is a work that depicts resistance to freedom, love, and individual dignity against a world filled with the control and surveillance of a dictatorial government. The novel's conclusion is pessimistic, with the protagonist Winston succumbing to the unfortunate fate of being unable to escape the Party's control and ultimately submitting even his mind to it.
Author George Orwell aimed to warn readers about the dangers of government abuse of power and surveillance through 1984. The novel emphasizes concerns about political control, media manipulation, and surveillance societies, which can also be found in reality, prompting readers to raise awareness and vigilance against such dangers.
1984 underscores the importance of individual freedom and independent thinking to readers, urging them to be wary of government abuse of power and surveillance, and encouraging a critical perspective on society and politics. This literary masterpiece delivers a powerful message that can apply to any era - past, present, or future - continuing to inspire readers deeply even after many years.
