1984, by George Orwell, is a story of a man's struggle against a totalitarian government that controls the ideas and thoughts of its citizens. The major subject that Orwell puts across is quite obvious throughout the book. He wants to warn people what can happen when the government is given too much power. He wants to show how such governments can develop, and what methods they use to keep the people they are governing in their power. Communication, personal beliefs, and individual loyalty to the government are all controlled by the Inner Party which governs the people of Oceania in order to keep them from rebelling. They use advanced mind reading techniques to discover the thoughts of the people and punish those who show signs of rebellion against the government. The novel is supposed to be a prophetic story; however, it was somewhat wrong in predicting the date when this government will rein.
Orwell uses description of technology to show how the government controlled its" citizens. In the novel, televisions are in most homes and all over the streets. The use of telescreens is an important physical element. It watches citizens, gives war news, music, political speeches and messages from Big Brother.
Orwell uses an omniscient character, Big Brother, to show how powerful the government is. Although he is seen on telescreens and his pictures glare out on huge posters that say "BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU," nobody actually sees him in person. This was used to let the people know that no matter where they go they could not escape the watching eyes of the controlling government.
"Newspeak" is used to stress connections between language, thought and power. Orwell tells us that nobody will be able to commit unwanted acts or think bad thoughts because actions cannot exist without language to describe or define them. It includes words for everyday activities like eating, drinking, and working. It contains simple nouns and verbs with clear meanings.
