Who's Who and What's What

From page one you are immersed into this world with little background. Characters are introduced, societal rituals are taking place, and privacy-invading technology seems to be everywhere. To get started, here is a quick organization of the basics of the book up through Section Two of Part One. Though you will be curious about all the intricate details and have burning questions racing through your mind, just hold on, all will be explained soon.

When: The book opens on a cold, bright day in April of 1984. However, the hesitation in Winston's voice as he tells us this, leads us to believe that this may not be entirely accurate. Yet another strange aspect of the society, they do not want their people to have a sense of time.

Where: Winston is in London, the main city of Airstrip One. It has the third largest population of the Oceania provinces.

Who: Winston Smith is the main protagonist who lives in the Victory Mansions in this corrupt society, yet does not entirely buy what it stands for. Winston is currently 39 years old and is described as a "smallish, frail figure" with a "meager body emphasized by the blue overall which are the uniform of the party" (4). Already readers get a sense of the society's control through the uniform he is required to wear and his thin body, a product of food rationing. In addition, Winston immediately shows his rebellious side through how he tries to write his jumbled thoughts in a journal, but must do so furtively, for those watching him will strongly disapprove. We also get a sense of his rebelliousness through how he drifts between conformity and individualism at the Two Minutes Hate. While everyone mindlessly absorbs the propaganda and responds as they are expected, he briefly questions the validity of what he is being shown, though he recognizes "to dissemble your feelings, to control your face, to do what everyone else is doing, is an instinctive reaction" (19). So far, his character has proven to be likable on the whole for he gives us hope that he may one day completely rebel against the society. Until that day comes, I am certain he will experience many internal conflicts as he struggles with whether to conform.

Big Brother is the 44 year old leader of the society. His face is plastered on posters everywhere with a caption that reads "BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU." To make it all the more creepy, it appears as though the eyes are actually watching your every move. Big Brother's omnipresence doesn't seem to bother anyone, though Winston does sense the intrusiveness of it in the way he tries to position himself out of the visible range. In addition, Big Brother is worshiped as a God-like figure. In one scene, masses of people are chanting "BB...BB" (18) as though in prayer and meditation on his name. This demonstrates the prevalent twisted mentality that people have of worshiping the government.

While at the daily occurrence known as the Two Minutes Hate, in which people gather around to watch clips of Emmanuel Goldstein, a traitor of the society known as "The Enemy of the People" (13), accompanied by unpleasant auditory, Winston spots a girl he knows from the Fiction Department who is part of the Junior Anti-Sex League. Her character has yet to be developed more fully, but I think she may be returning to play a more significant role. What I did find interesting about her was the group she is part of. I am curious to find out more about this League and its part in society. Winston also spots O'Brien, a man whom he briefly makes eye contact with during the Two Minutes Hate. Winston interprets it to mean " 'I know precisely what you are feeling. I know all about your contempt, your hatred, your disgust. But don't worry, I am on your side!' " (19). By this point, I found myself silently cheering in recognition that there are more people out there like Winston. There is tension brewing and I can't wait to find out what becomes of it.

The last few characters you should know about aren't actual character. Rather they are groups of people who play pivotal roles, the Thought Police and The Brotherhood. These two groups are representative of those who control and those who rebel. The Thought Police are the ones who constantly monitor your thoughts and The Brotherhood is a group of people who have chosen to band together and oppose everything the society stands for.

What: Here is a quick synopsis of what takes place. Winston walks to his flat and attempts to write, then attends the Two Minutes Hate in which we are introduced to a few characters described above. We get a sense of the technology such as Telescreens, and the organization of the government through the Four Ministries. Most importantly, we are introduced to the corruption and backwardness through the society's slogan of "WAR IS PEACE, FREEDOM IS SLAVERY, IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH" (6).


There, now you should have a betters since of where we are and what is going on and who is who. Though I'm sure you are still left pondering just as many questions as I am, so check back soon for more 1984 updates. In particular, I always find myself eager to learn how these societies come to be. Do normal societies evolve for the worse over a period of time until they reach this extreme point? Or does some catastrophe occur and dictators gain power under the false appearance that they will bring restoration? Hopefully Orwell will give me some indication in the coming sections!