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1984 - Big Brother from Lucas Jedrzejak on Vimeo.

On 4th June 1949 the novel 1984 by George Orwell was published. Following on from his previous best seller, Animal Farm, the world was eager to receive it. Within a year it had sold 50,000 copies in the U.K. alone with U.S. sales topping 300,000.

In its 60th anniversary year no one knows precisely how many million copies of 1984 have been sold worldwide. Nevertheless, 1984 has been studied, copied, adapted for film, television, radio and the stage - and ransacked for its ideas.

The ‘Orwellian’ concept has now become deeply imbedded in our consciousness. Big Brother, Room 101, Newspeak, Doublethink, 2+2 =5 and the Two Minute Hate now take on a universal currency that has become central to our imaginative understanding.

When was the last time you heard a politician answer a question that didn’t use a large slice of ‘newspeak’ or invoke the idea of ‘doublethink’?

The Plot

There are few novels that have had such a profound effect on the way societies think, behave and live as does 1984. But what makes 1984 stand out? The storyline is a simple one. It is the story of Winston Smith, a middle aged man’s struggle to maintain his freedom, especially his freedom to think and his doomed love affair with the dark haired, Julia. His fight to reclaim the future through the past becomes a desperate battle leading to his eventual defeat and destruction by the agents of ‘Big Brother’.

The novel is set in London against the background of a post nuclear, post revolutionary society. One group ‘The Party’ have seized power and in doing so they have eradicated all freedom of movement, speech and above all the freedom of thought.  The inability of any one individual to assert ideas which, in themselves, form the very basis of our human existence, only serves to strengthen the power and control the ruling technocrats have over their fellow citizens.

The world of 1984 is a stark, bleak place where all freedoms are non-existent. Even a raised eyebrow or look in the wrong direction becomes a punishable offence as ‘facecrime.’ Only the very basic amenities to live are available with food, coffee, alcohol, cigarettes and electricity being rationed. Even sexual relations between party members is banned. The only purpose of living is to serve the party.  

The world has split into three warring super-states, Oceania, Eurasia and Eastasia. False wars are created between the states where ideology or winning or losing is not their purpose. Alliances change like shifting sands, all of which serve to increase the pursuit and iron grip of power which is the end in itself.

A Journey into FREEDOM

1984 is a polemic on the totalitarian ideal regardless of what political system this may represent. It is in fact a satire on Stalinism from the description of Big Brother’s face, full of power, yet with a benign all knowing smile that hides the cruelty that lives within, and the split in the party led by Trotsky figure, Emmanuel Goldstein.

As a work of fiction, 1984 is a powerful piece of popular entertainment. Written at a time when serious fiction seemed destined for the limited few, this novel operated with exactly the opposite intention. It left George Orwell’s hands, went out into the world and changed it.

It also performed the one purpose of nailing for ever, certain tricks and tendencies of the ruling classes. It set us on our guard.

Sixty years on, this is an achievement worth celebrating.