Science Fiction Annotation

George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty Four

 

Summary: Winston Smith works for the Ministry of Truth in a dystopian, future world that is full of poverty and totally controlled by the government where everyone is watched.  Smith works for the controlling Inner Party with the task of re-writing newspaper articles in order to prevent people from knowing any real history, but rather that history always agrees with what the Inner Party says.  Meanwhile, Smith disagrees and despises the part wishing he could rebel against “Big Brother.”  

Genre:  Science Fiction, Dystopian, Science Fiction Classics, Modern Day Classics
Appeals:

Pacing – Neither fast nor slow, makes the reader want to continue reading to find out what happens.  Pace picks up leading towards the climax. 

Characterization – Relatable characters in Winston and Julia while others are the representation of the authority in which a reader might come to despise.

Storyline – A cautionary story of a totalitarian government constantly surveying and controlling all citizens.  The story is driven forward by the characters. 

Tone/Mood – Both thought-provoking and dark, foreboding of the future, depressing.

Frame/Setting – Formerly Great Britain, a province in the superstate of Oceania.

Read Alikes:

A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

Darkness at Noon by Arthur Koestler

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood