Nineteen Eighty-Four, George Orwell's iconic dystopian narrative, offers a stark warning rather than a prophecy, illustrating the perils of conformity, psychological manipulation, and corrupt use of language. Even though the year in its title has passed, its cautionary themes remain pertinent. Through clear and accessible language, Orwell makes the dark world of the novel relatable to all readers, emphasizing the struggle for individuality and emotion, especially love, in a dehumanizing industrial state.

A World of Perpetual Warfare

Orwell's imagined future is dominated by three totalitarian superpowers—Oceania, Eurasia, and Eastasia—locked in endless war. Oceania, with its dystopian society, is vividly portrayed, reflecting aspects of 1948 Britain, a nod perhaps suggested by the inversion of the year’s digits. The novel delves into the origins of Ingsoc, Oceania's ruling ideology, and its constructed language, Newspeak. Some critics argue that Orwell’s exposition of these elements, often conveyed through a book-within-a-book and an appendix, can feel cumbersome.

The Ministry of Truth

The narrative gains momentum in the second part, centering on Winston Smith, a worker at the Ministry of Truth, tasked with altering history to align with Big Brother’s omnipresent rule. Winston, with faint memories of a pre-Ingsoc world, grows skeptical of the party’s oppressive reality. His life takes a dangerous turn when he embarks on a clandestine love affair with Julia, a colleague whom he initially suspects as a spy.

The Illusion of Rebellion

Hope seems to surface when O’Brien, an Inner Party member, appears to be a secret ally in the revolutionary Brotherhood. Yet, O’Brien betrays Winston and Julia, revealing himself as a loyal Party agent. The narrative’s intensity heightens as O’Brien orchestrates Winston's brutal re-education, forcing him to accept the Party's doctrine through "doublethink," the acceptance of contradictory beliefs. This section, subject to criticism for its detailed descriptions, culminates in Winston’s ultimate betrayal of Julia.

Love and Betrayal

Broken by his torture, Winston emerges a shadow of his former self, devoid of independent thought. Reduced to a life of alcohol-induced stupor, he mindlessly supports Oceania's fabricated victories, awaiting his end. The novel concludes hauntingly with Winston's complete submission, encapsulated by the line, “He loved Big Brother.”

Summary

This section defines Newspeak, the official language of Oceania, and sets forth its purpose: to meet the specific needs of Ingsoc, or English Socialism while making all other methods of thought impossible. When Oldspeak has become obsolete, the last link with the past will have been destroyed.

The vocabulary of Newspeak has been built by inventing new words, eliminating old words, and stripping existing words of their finer shades of meaning. Newspeak, based on English, has three classes of vocabulary words:

1. “A” – words used for everyday life; reserved for simple thoughts, concrete objects, or physical actions.

2. “B” – words created for political purposes with the proper mental attitude; all are compound; made up without a plan.

3. “C” – supplementary; scientific and technical terms.

Analysis

The straightforward manner of the appendix and the elaborate care taken to construct the grammar and vocabulary lend credibility to the existence of Oceania.

Some critics believe that Orwell was pointing out the importance of language as a shaper of thought and the inadvisability of narrowing vocabulary to limit its range. When we consider the nature of the words in the “B” vocabulary, the satirical purpose of the novel becomes more obvious, for words like “honor,” “justice,” “democracy,” and “religion” no longer exist. Instead, a few general words cover these terms, and, as Orwell illustrates throughout the novel, destroy them. Winston’s job at the Ministry of Truth makes him an agent of this destruction, just as his attempts to write the illicit diary signify his rebellion against the power of language to destroy thought.

Study Questions

1. What is Newspeak?

2. What is the purpose of Newspeak?

3. When is it expected that Newspeak will become the only language in Oceania?

4. Which dictionary will contain the perfected version of Newspeak?

5. What purpose will be served by cutting down the choice of words in the language?

6. Give the composition of the “A” vocabulary.

7. What is the purpose of the “A” vocabulary?

8. What words make up the “B” vocabulary?

9. What kind of words make up the “C” vocabulary?

10. What is the delay in Newspeak becoming a fully adopted language at the present time?

Answers

1. Newspeak is the official language of Oceania.

2. Newspeak aims to meet the ideological needs of Ingsoc, or English Socialism.

3. Newspeak will probably supersede Oldspeak (Standard English) by 2050.

4. Perfected Newspeak will be found in the eleventh edition of the dictionary.

5. Cutting down the choice of words diminishes the range of thought.

6. The “A” vocabulary consists of words needed for everyday life, words already in existence. 7. The “A” vocabulary aims to express simple thoughts involving concrete objects or physical actions.

8. The “B” vocabulary is comprised of words made up for political purposes.

9. The “C” vocabulary contains scientific and technical terms.

10. The delay revolves around problems translating classic and utilitarian literature.

Suggested Essay Topics

1. Discuss the structure and composition of the “A”, “B”, and “C” vocabularies. Which vocabulary seems closest to its -final stage of development? Which vocabulary has undergone the most change from its Oldspeak structure? Why is the “C” -vocabulary termed “supplementary”?

2. Discuss the reasons for the delay in implementing the perfected, finalized version of Newspeak. Why does literature present an especially difficult problem? What problems would people such as Winston Smith have in adapting to this new language?