The novel is set in Oceania, a superstate that includes the .
continent of America and the British Isles. Most of the action .
takes place in London. The other setting is the village of .
Paddington, which is not very far from London. In addition, .
there are two other superstates with which Oceania is .
constantly at war. These states are Eurasia, which includes the .
entire northern region of Europe, and Eastasia. Authoritarian .
governments or oligarchies control all three superstates. .
Written in 1949, the story is set in 1984, 35 years into the .
future. The novel attempts to give a picture of what modern .
society will look like. It is not a pleasant view, for the story is .
about the struggle of an individual to retain his human spirit, .
sanity, and freedom in the fiercely automated and strictly .
controlled society of Oceania. .
CHARACTERS .
Major Characters .
Winston Smith .
The protagonist and main character of the novel. He is an .
intellectual middle aged man of 39 and a member of the Outer .
Party. He is also an honest man who questions and rebels .
against the lonely and insecure life, stripped of all human .
feelings, in the state of Oceania. He falls in love with Julia and .
is punished for the relationship with her. .
Julia .
A beautiful young girl of 26. Although a worker for the Party, .
she rebels against its ban on love and sex. She falls in love with .
Winston and looks towards him for emotional and physical .
companionship. .
O'Brien .
A shrewd, intelligent man who holds a high rank in the Inner .
Party. He comes across as a friend to Winston in the opening .
chapters of the novel. Later, he turns out to be the informer .
from the Party who turns Winston in and punishes him. He .
epitomizes the brute force and fanaticism of the Party. .
Big Brother .
The head of the Party Ingsoc. Though Big Brother does not .
exist in reality, his presence throughout the novel is .
overwhelming. .
Minor Characters .
Tom Parsons .
A co-worker and neighbor to Winston.
