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Nineteen Eighty-Four
George Orwell
-dystopia-

George Orwell, was an English novelist, essayist, journalist, and critic. Orwell
wrote literary criticism, poetry, fiction, and polemical journalism. He is best known for the
allegorical novella “Animal Farm” (1945) and the dystopian novel “Nineteen Eighty-
Four” (1949).1
Prior to writing the novel “Nineteen Eighty-Four” , George Orwell participated in the
Spanish Civil War, fighting as a volunteer against the fascist government, and watched the
events of the Russian Communist Revolution.

„Nineteen Eighty-Four” is a dystopian novel that features the details of a society run by a
single political party that holds full control and, on the other hand, the story of a young man
unable to adapt to society.

This dystopia is, at once, a reflection on Orwell’s lived experiences with fascism in the
early 20th century, and a warning to future generations about the dehumanization that can be
wrought by repressive tyranny and fascist governments.2

In the novel “Nineteen Eighty-Four” written by George Orwell there are many
characteristics of the term dystopia. Unlike the utopian novel that portrays the perfect, ideal
society, George Orwell's novel shows the opposite: it shows the degradation of society. Orwell
wrote the novel to show how socialist revolutions can degenerate into totalitarian political
regimes.

In the novel “Nineteen Eighty-Four”, George Orwell depicts a dystopia with his use of a
futuristic setting while incorporating the fear of technology. A dystopia is a society where people
lead dehumanized and often fearful lives. In a dystopia social and/or technological trends have

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Orwell
2. Jessica A, Heybach and Eric C. Sheffield, “Dystopia & Education: Insights into Theory,
Praxis, and Policy in an Age of Utopia-Gone-Wrong”, chapter 13, p. 201
3. http://www.online-literature.com/forums/showthread.php?17462-1984-dystopia
4. https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/what-some-dystopian-elements-1984-george-orwell-
563425
5. https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/what-some-dystopian-elements-1984-george-orwell-
563425
Crăcan Ioana Ruxandra
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contributed to a corrupted or degraded state of depravation and oppression. Governmental
tyranny and an exploitation of the people are also prominent in a dystopia.3

George Orwell describes a dystopia in “Nineteen Eighty-Four” which The Thought

Police are constantly monitoring the thoughts of the people of Oceania, noting whether they
respect or not The Party or Big Brother. If citizens are thinking about betraying the Party, they
will be vaporized, The Thought Police captures citizens, and they completely disappear. No one
knows where they are, they are deleted from all databases.

Winston Smith, the main character, wants to fight the Party, although he knows the
consequences of this fight. He joins the Brotherhood for the good of the whole society, this being
a characteristic of dystopia. The author places his main character in disagreement with the
society he lives in.

One of the features defining the dystopia in the novel “Nineteen Eighty-Four” is the
hierarchy of society by class. Differences between upper and lower social classes are major.
Winston, for example, lives in the crumbling and decayed Victory Mansions, while O'Brien lives
in a separate part of town, in a palatial apartment, maintained by a servant.4 O'Brien enjoys a
luxury life, while Winston is trying to ensure a normal life.

Another feature of dystopia is that individuality is a negative thing. For example, all
members of the Party come together to show their hate for the resistance movement called
Brotherhood and their unbounded love for Big Brother. This is called "Two-Minutes Hate".
Party members feel real hate towards the Brotherhood, and this shows the lack of individuality
and total control of the Party over citizens.5

In this novel, society is dehumanized, and citizens have the impression that they live a
balanced and healthy life because of the ideas the Party is spreading. News and all media spread
wrong information in order to glorify Big Brother. Citizens are constantly controlled and
punished for free thinking.

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Orwell
2. Jessica A, Heybach and Eric C. Sheffield, “Dystopia & Education: Insights into Theory,
Praxis, and Policy in an Age of Utopia-Gone-Wrong”, chapter 13, p. 201
3. http://www.online-literature.com/forums/showthread.php?17462-1984-dystopia
4. https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/what-some-dystopian-elements-1984-george-orwell-
563425
5. https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/what-some-dystopian-elements-1984-george-orwell-
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Crăcan Ioana Ruxandra
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In conclusion, Orwell creates a perfect dystopia using the futurist framework, the fear of
technology and, last but not least, putting the main character in disagreement with the society in
which he lives.

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Orwell
2. Jessica A, Heybach and Eric C. Sheffield, “Dystopia & Education: Insights into Theory,
Praxis, and Policy in an Age of Utopia-Gone-Wrong”, chapter 13, p. 201
3. http://www.online-literature.com/forums/showthread.php?17462-1984-dystopia
4. https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/what-some-dystopian-elements-1984-george-orwell-
563425
5. https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/what-some-dystopian-elements-1984-george-orwell-
563425