George Orwell's Novel 1984

            
             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.