NINETEEN EIGHTY FOUR

“Nineteen Eighty Four”, hailed as a masterpiece of political satire, appeared in 1949. It was Orwells’s last work. It secured his position in the world of literature. By the time he came to write it, tuberculosis had been carving out his life. On 23 January 1950 Orwell suffered a haemorrhage and died
‘Nineteen Eight Four’ is about a sate called ‘Oceania’. The state is administered by four ministries. The Ministry of Love is responsible for law and order. The ministry of Peace deals with wars. The Ministry of Truth handles the news, education, entertainment and fine arts. And the ministry of Plenty handles the economic affairs. These four ministries are overseen by what Orwell calls the Big Brother, an omnipotent being like God. He is invisible and invincible. Emmanuel Goldstein, the enemy of the Big Brother, is another character who never comes in the open. He is said to be hiding somewhere in the country plotting to overthrow the Big Brother. He is liberal compared with the Big Brother.
The story unfolds through the incidents in the life of Winston Smith, employed in the Ministry of Truth. His job is to manipulate and forge records as and when the circumstance demands. His is to read all the papers, journals, magazines and report ‘the truth’. “The Truth” being variable, he has to be alert and vigilant. He is entrusted with the job of erasing the past and substituting it with new revelation.
In order to alter and falsify the records, elaborate arrangements have been made. Even a new language called ‘New Speak’ is introduced and taught in schools. Dictionaries containing the words of new speak are published. Through these, the government seeks to control the thought process itself. Orwell says “The purpose of new speak was not only to produce a medium of expression for the world view and mental habits proper to the devotees of Ingsoc, but to make all other modes of thought impossible”.
If anyone deviates and thinks differently from the course charted by the Big Brother, he is accused of ‘thought crime’. The aim of Newspeak is to make thought crime impossible. Some of the most important and moist frequently used words in the Newspeak are ‘double speak’, ‘black white’ and ‘double think’. ‘Double speak’ means quacking like a duck. A double speak word has two contradictory meanings. When it is used in reference to an opponent, it is a word of abuse. However, when it is used in reference to an ally it is a word of compliment.