Characters in the Book 1984 by George Orwell’s
1984 by George Orwell is one of the most influential dystopian novels of the 20th century. Published in 1949, it presents a totalitarian society where the Party, led by Big Brother, exerts absolute control over every aspect of life. The characters in this novel play crucial roles in conveying Orwell’s chilling vision of a future where truth is manipulated and individuality is suppressed.
In this article, we’ll analyze the key characters in 1984 and their significance to the story’s exploration of power, resistance, and control. The primary characters we’ll focus on include Winston Smith, Julia, O’Brien, Big Brother, and a few others who shape the novel’s dark world.
Winston Smith: The Reluctant Rebel
Winston Smith, the protagonist of 1984, is a low-ranking member of the Party who works in the Ministry of Truth. His job involves altering historical records to align with the Party’s narrative, which deeply conflicts with his personal sense of right and wrong. As the story unfolds, Winston begins to question the Party’s authority and yearns for freedom, making him a symbol of individual rebellion.
Winston’s Role in the Plot:
Winston’s journey is one of awakening and eventual betrayal. At the beginning of the novel, he is disillusioned with the Party but too afraid to act on his feelings. His clandestine love affair with Julia, his eventual encounter with O’Brien, and his dreams of rebellion all show his desire to challenge the oppressive system that controls him.
Winston’s Flaws:
Despite his desire for change, Winston is not a perfect hero. He is often indecisive, and his rebellious actions are filled with self-doubt. His internal struggle represents the psychological torment individuals face in an oppressive regime. His gradual downfall in the hands of O’Brien symbolizes the power of the Party to crush even the faintest spark of rebellion.
Julia: The Pragmatic Rebel
Julia is Winston’s lover and a fellow Party member who outwardly conforms to the Party’s rules but secretly despises the regime. Her character contrasts sharply with Winston’s idealism. While Winston dreams of grand acts of rebellion, Julia is more practical, focusing on small, personal acts of defiance.
Julia’s Role in the Plot:
Julia’s relationship with Winston serves as a symbol of both personal rebellion and resistance to the totalitarian system. While Winston is emotionally invested in their affair and sees it as a means of challenging the Party, Julia views it more as a pragmatic way to seek pleasure in a world devoid of it. Her cynicism about revolutionary change complicates her role in the novel, as she ultimately does not share Winston’s vision of overthrowing the Party.
Julia’s Strengths and Weaknesses:
Julia is highly resourceful and bold in her actions, but her resistance is more about enjoying forbidden pleasures than confronting the Party’s ideological control. While she is a strong character, her limited vision of rebellion makes her less significant as a revolutionary figure than Winston, highlighting a key theme in the novel: the complexity of resistance.
O’Brien: The Double Agent
O’Brien is a high-ranking member of the Inner Party who initially appears to be an ally to Winston and Julia. He presents himself as a mentor to Winston, offering him a glimpse of the rebellion that lies beneath the Party’s power. However, O’Brien’s true role in the novel is as a deceiver, orchestrating Winston’s ultimate betrayal.
O’Brien’s Role in the Plot:
O’Brien’s manipulation of Winston is one of the novel’s most chilling elements. He plays a dual role—he is both a symbol of the Party’s totalitarian control and a figure of false hope for Winston. O’Brien represents the Party’s ability to create false realities and brainwash individuals into submission.
O’Brien’s Complex Nature:
O’Brien’s betrayal is not just a plot twist but a commentary on the terrifying power of totalitarian regimes to destroy truth and personal loyalty. His ability to manipulate Winston’s emotions and thoughts reflects the novel’s deeper theme of psychological control. Through O’Brien, Orwell explores the idea that the most dangerous weapon in a totalitarian state is not physical force but the manipulation of the mind.
Big Brother: The Symbol of Oppression
Big Brother is the leader of the Party, though his true existence is ambiguous. He is omnipresent, portrayed as a figure who watches and controls everything. The image of Big Brother is used to instill fear and loyalty among the citizens of Oceania. His image is omnipresent on posters and telescreens, reinforcing the Party’s authority.
Big Brother’s Role in the Plot:
Big Brother serves as a symbol of the Party’s totalitarian regime. His face is on every wall, and his presence is a constant reminder of the Party’s surveillance and control. Though we never know if Big Brother is a real person or just a construct, his influence over the people is undeniable. He represents the way in which the Party maintains power through fear, control, and manipulation.
The Proles: The Silent Majority
The proles (short for proletariat) represent the working class in 1984. Although they live in poverty and are largely ignored by the Party, they possess a kind of freedom that the Party members do not. Winston observes the proles with a mixture of disdain and envy, believing that they are the only group that could potentially overthrow the Party due to their numbers and relative freedom.
The Role of the Proles in the Plot:
While the proles are not a major focus of the plot, they symbolize the possibility of rebellion. However, Winston’s realization that the proles are too distracted by trivial pleasures to organize effectively highlights the novel’s pessimistic view of resistance. The proles remain unaware of their potential power, making them a tragic symbol of the powerless majority in a totalitarian society.
The Party Members: Victims and Enforcers of Oppression
Throughout 1984, several minor characters serve as examples of how individuals are either complicit in or victims of the Party’s oppressive regime. Characters such as Parsons, a loyal Party member, and Syme, who works on the Newspeak dictionary, represent different aspects of life under the Party’s control.
The Role of Party Members:
The Party members, while seemingly loyal, are often depicted as blind to the totality of their oppression. Characters like Parsons, who enthusiastically endorses the Party’s policies, highlight the way in which indoctrination can blind individuals to their own subjugation. On the other hand, characters like Syme are more aware of the Party’s manipulations, yet they are unable to break free from it.
Conclusion:
The characters in 1984 are not just individuals but representations of different responses to totalitarian oppression. Winston’s journey from hopeful rebellion to tragic submission encapsulates the novel’s bleak view of resistance. Julia’s more practical approach to rebellion highlights the complexity of personal defiance in a world that suppresses individuality. O’Brien serves as the ultimate manipulator, while Big Brother looms as an ever-present symbol of the Party’s unyielding power.
Through these characters, George Orwell conveys a powerful message about the dangers of unchecked political power and the psychological control that can accompany it. 1984 remains a relevant and powerful exploration of the human condition in the face of oppressive regimes.
