1984

A detailed Summary of 1984

The individual is doomed to a desire for power, in a world where power is unattainable. In 1949 Eric Arthur Blair published a novel called 1984, under his pseudonym George Orwell. This is a book that has many underlying themes to it, and among the themes is the power struggle that exists between the characters and the government. Orwell reiterates the notion about a power struggle in the plot, the settings, and the characters. Absolute power corrupts absolutely; this is the unfailing truth that is proven once and again in this novel.

Near the beginning of the novel Orwell introduces Winston Smith, the main character of his book. Winston works in the Ministry of Truth altering documents from the past. Winston does not share the views of the other Outer Party members, but due to the fear instilled in him he does not share his feelings with anyone else he works with. Instead he keeps his opinions to himself, and tries to fit in only enough to not arouse suspicion. Near the beginning Winston also runs into a woman, named Julia, that he dislikes, but later falls in love with. Julia also does not agree with the Big Brother government, but she goes out of her way to fit into the mold of the ideal Party member.

The plot shows us how power is the driving force behind all of the characters decisions by leading us through Winston's struggle against his own mind, and then into his struggle with O'Brien and the Ministry of Love. In the end we see that, "He loved Big Brother"(Orwell, p 311), and that his struggle for power was ultimately lost at the hands of the greater power, wanting more power: INGSOC, the newspeak word for English Socialism. Big Brother had won the battle for Winston's mind. They had broken down what little humanity remained in him. He was merely a shell of what he used to be, now he was filled with only what Big Brother wanted him to be. He had no feelings, no conscience, he merely reflected the ideal party member, in thought and in deed.

The setting of the society, and the totalitarian government shows the dangers of what may happen when the hunger for power is satisfied. From the terror they represent in the proles minds, to the fear that they instill in the party members, Big Brother is proof that "Absolute Power, Corrupts Absolutely".

In a world where power is unattainable, it becomes the sole desire for man. Although power is constantly used as a magnet for those who are not yet strong enough to resist it, it is kept for those who are perfect in the eyes of the government. Winston and Julia are merely two examples of the many people trying to thwart a system of government that is all-powerful, all-knowing. The control of the past also adds to Big Brother's power. The plot shows the hunger for power by revolving every aspect of the novel around power. The thought police as a means of the government's controlling of the general population, represents the means to gain power, while the everyday person is what is sacrificed for power. Power hunger is indeed resident within each individual.

Some common words found in the essay are:
Winston Julia, Samuel Goldstein, Outer Party, Winston Julie, English Socialism, George Orwell, Corrupts Absolutely, Ministry Love, , Ministry Truth, power power, power unattainable, winston julia, absolute power, power driving force, power hungry, power struggle, party's power, near beginning, driving force, world power unattainable, power corrupts absolutely, absolute power corrupts, winston's mind,

Approximate Word count = 1336
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English