Book+Summary

Orwell’s book “1984” took place in London, which was part of the Oceania Nation. The main character in the story is Winston Smith, who was a member of the ruling political party of Oceania. The government that Winston worked for controlled everything and who lived in Oceania. Everything for the language and the food they ate, to their family and how long each citizen was allowed to live. The government even had these so called “telescreeens” in every home and building of Oceania. The government’s slogan was “Big Brother is watching you” because they did not want anybody to plan a rebellion against the dictatorship of Big Brother and would imprison anybody who attempted to. People in Oceania could not even think about doing something inappropriate without being arrested.

The story started out with Winston filing some records about Oceania citizens’ history. Winston felt that this was an outrageous thing to do. Every day he would walk by Room 101. The rules stated that no one was to enter that room without written permission and clearance from Big Brother. He began to think about what is behind the door leading to Room 101 when he saw a dark haired lady staring at him. Winston felt that she was a member of the Thought Police and was going to arrest him for thinking “wrong” thoughts about the government. However nothing happens, but the next day she passes a note along to Winston. It says “I love you.” Her name was Julia. Winston began to talk to her and be around her more and more every day. They were constantly looking for any government watch. If caught, they could get some serious time in prison. Winston also got a diary to keep his thoughts on his life and feelings toward the government, which grew worse as he spent more time with Julia. Winston and Julia feel as if the government was closing in and was going to strike them at some point, but they did not. Their relationship grew and their concern over being caught by Big Brother began to increase as well.

One day Winston receives a message from O’Brien, a higher ranking member of the government and was supposedly against Big Brother. He wanted to meet with Winston and Julia as soon as possible. Winston and Julia travel to O’Brien’s apartment. When they arrive, they find that it is a very lavish and luxurious place to live. O’Brien greeted them and told them that he was on the opposing side of Big Brother, as is Winston and Julia. He gives them a book written by Emmanuel Goldstein. The book was like an outline of how a union of rebels could take down Big Brother. All of a sudden, the doors of O’Brien’s apartment are shoved down by soldiers. O’Brien happened to be an undercover agent for Big Brother and suspected that Winston and Julia were both going to rebel against the government. Winston and Julia were caught for having an affair and thinking unpleasant thoughts about Big Brother. O’Brien’s plan was to persuade and make Winston accept Big Brother through ways of gruesome torture.

They entered the dreaded Room 101. Winston had a fear of rats his entire life and the Thought Police knew this for a fact. They believed this would have been the appropriate procedure to make Winston accept the government for who they are. O’Brien revealed a large cage filled with rats. Inside the cage is a fencing mask, which was in the center of the cage for somebody’s head to be placed. O’Brien was going to put the cage on Winston’s head and have the rats gnaw at his face until or if he accepted his wrong doing. As O’Brien began to slip the cage over Winston’s head, he cried out in despair for them to torture Julia instead. O’Brien really wanted Winston to give up Julia. This was the only way that the interrogation process could have been completed. Big Brother broke Winston’s heart and finally got him to accept the laws of the government. The book was basically about a process that the rebels would go through and how, in the end, they will turn out new people because the government tortured them into believing their laws and values.