Chapter 1

Chapter 1 Analysis: 

In the first chapter, we are introduced to the main character and protagonist of the novel, Winston Smith. From Winston’s perspective, we are exposed to the grim and tyrannical world that exists in his home country of Oceania which is run by Big Brother and the Party. The idea that privacy is supposedly non-existent is clearly shown throughout all the technology used to basically spy on the civilians of Oceania. Loyalty is not only encouraged but forced, as traitors and thought criminals are publicly executed and vaporized to make this point known. We learn that free will is not allowed and even thoughts aren’t supposed to be your own while living in this Communist-like society. Winston’s character is given a lot of depth in this chapter as the reader comes across the idea that he wants to take some of his freedom back for himself, and he finally takes the first step by writing down his opinions and thoughts in a diary. He begins to try and fight the Party’s “brainwashing” that has been installed in him for as long as he can remember. The reader can understand that in this fictional world, it is not normal for Winston to have these thoughts and feelings, let alone act on them so we find that Winston is a unique character that might foreshadow a rebel rising. At some points, while writing in his diary, Winston becomes scared of his own thoughts such as when he wrote “DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER” and panicked as he looked down at the writing in the diary.