Tyrants, Communism, Big Brother, Stalin, and 1984 In George Orwell's, "1984", no individual freedoms are present. It mirrors mid twentieth century Europe during World War II and its affects. Winston the main character who is a 39-year-old man, was neither remarkable in intelligence nor character, but is disgusted with the world he lives in. He works in the Ministry of Truth, where history and the truth are rewritten to fit the party's beliefs. This is an example of the use of propaganda to fit the need of the government during World War Two. Winston is aware of the falsehoods, because it is his job to make them true. Causing him to be very disheartened with the government of Oceania, where Big Brother, a larger than life figure who controls the people of the country. Winston's dissatisfaction causes him to rebel against the government in small ways. His first act of rebelling was buying and writing in a diary. This act is considered to be a "thought crime," and is punishable by death. A "thought crime" is any thought that goes against the Oceania government. Winston commits many thought crimes, and becomes paranoid about being caught. He believes it was to be expected, and becomes worried because a young woman who is actively involved in many community groups follows him. Winston is fixated with the past, looking back on a time when Oceania was free of this authoritarian dictatorship. It is made apparent when he goes into an antique shop and buys a shell covered in glass. This too was a crime punishable by death. He sees the same woman following him. Many thoughts race through his mind, "I wanted to rape you and then murder you afterwards. Two weeks ago I thought seriously of smashing your head in with a cobblestone. If you really want to know, I imagined that you had something to do with the Thought Police" (Orwell 101). The girl who was following him slipped him a note when he was working.
