The story is set in a dystopian future, in the year 1984, in a world where the planet is divided into three superstates always at war. The novel focuses on Oceania, a country ruled by the Party, led by a mysterious and omnipresent figure called Big Brother.

The main character is Winston Smith, a low-level employee who works for the Ministry of Truth, where his job is to rewrite historical records to match the Party’s current version of events. Winston secretly hates the regime and dreams of rebellion but the government controls everything: thoughts, language, history and even emotions.

Every citizen is under constant surveillance, through “telescreens” (devices that work both as TVs and cameras) and every action is monitored by the Thought Police. Independent thinking, called thoughtcrime, is forbidden.

Winston begins a forbidden love affair with a woman named Julia and they both try to resist the system. However, they are eventually captured, tortured and brainwashed.

In the end, Winston loses his freedom, his love and even his own thoughts. He ends up loving Big Brother.

Nineteen Eighty-Four explores several important and disturbing themes:

• Total control: The government has absolute power and dominates every aspect of life, from public actions to private thoughts.

• Surveillance: Technology is used to monitor people constantly. There is no privacy and fear keeps everyone obedient.

• Manipulation of truth: The regime controls history and facts. If the Party says 2 + 2 = 5, you must believe it.

• Loss of individual freedom: People are not allowed to think, speak, or act freely. Even love is forbidden.

• Language as a tool of control: The Party creates a new language called Newspeak, designed to eliminate rebellious thoughts. Fewer words mean fewer ideas.

Through this novel Orwell wanted to warn people about the dangers of totalitarianism and the loss of personal freedom. He believed that if a government gained too much power and citizens didn’t protect their rights, democracy could disappear. Orwell’s book is not just science fiction: it’s a political warning that still feels relevant today.

In fact, expressions from the novel like “Big Brother is watching you”, “thoughtcrime” and “doublethink” have entered everyday language to describe government overreach or manipulation.

George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four is a powerful novel that shows what can happen when freedom is taken away. It reminds us that truth, privacy and the right to think independently are values that must always be defended. Even today, with modern surveillance and misinformation, Orwell’s message continues to open our eyes and make us reflect on the world we live in.