THEMES
The novel suggests that when a government controls language, it also controls this.
What is thought?
This is the first rebellious act Winston commits against Big Brother.
What is buying a diary and hiding it from the telescreen?
This is the protagonist who works in the Ministry of Truth altering historical records to match Party propaganda
Who is Winston Smith?
Winston begins writing in his diary despite knowing the consequences, which creates tension between these two forces.
What is rebellion and fear?
Winston’s eventual breakdown shows that prolonged oppression can destroy this quality in individuals.
What is individuality?
This is where Winston and Julia are alone for the first time together.
What is the forest countryside?
This character initiates a forbidden affair with Winston.
Who is Julia?
Winston is drawn to Julia but knows relationships are forbidden, which creates tension between these two things.
What is desire and suppression?
The Party’s rewriting of history emphasizes the theme that reality is shaped by this force.
What is power?
This is the reason the Party maintains a never-ending war.
What is to help the upper class maintain power?
This character tricks Winston into believing he is a part of a secret resistance group
Who is O’Brien?
The Party constantly changes facts while Winston searches for something real; this creates tension between these two ideas.
What is reality and manipulation?
Winston’s failure to resist the Party highlights the theme that isolated resistance against this system is ineffective.
What is totalitarian control?
This is what O’Brien pretends to be part of to manipulate Winston and Julia.
What is the Brotherhood?
This is the leader of the “Brotherhood”, the top party leader
Who is Syme?
Winston believes O’Brien might be an ally even as danger increases, which creates tension between these two forces.
What is hope and risk?
The ending of the novel supports the theme that human beings can be made to accept even this.
What is false truth?
This is the language of Oceania designed to reduce vocabulary and limit what citizens can think and express.
What is Newspeak?
This is the creator of the Newspeak dictionary
Who is Syme?
In the end, Winston gives in to the Party after resisting, which creates tension between these two states.
What is resistance and submission?