1984 Compared to Today: George Orwell's Use of Themes in the Novel

As in many other novels, the use of multiple themes is evident throughout George Orwell’s 1984. Theme can be used in a variety of ways by the author to add to the complexity of a novel, and promote critical thinking by the audience. Orwell’s 1984 includes themes surrounding complex subjects such as totalitarianism, language, and history. Orwell’s use of theme is tremendously effective in creating audience appeal, as well as adding to plot development.

The erasure of personal identity is a terrifying concept, and a recurring theme throughout George Orwell’s 1984. This is done through an established totalitarian regime; led by the ultimate dictator Big Brother, where citizens in Orwell’s dystopian novel are isolated and controlled with propaganda and fear. Orwell uses this theme to intrigue the audience, and provoke critical thought about what the future of the real world may hold. Written post-WWII, 1984 highlights the immense fear of totalitarianism that was prominent in Europe. With dictators rising and falling from power, there is no telling when another figure would come to power similar to Hitler which makes 1984’s message prominent even today. Therefore it is evident that by using this theme, Orwell was able to appeal to a wide audience and effectively capture the mood felt by many citizens at the time in order to make his novel more relatable.

Secondary to totalitarianism and the elimination of individuality, is Orwell’s theme about the distortion of the past to create an altered reality in the present. Orwell’s main character Winston, experiences a deep desire to connect with the past, whether it be his past, or any link to what Oceania was like before the Party came to power. However, because the past was constantly altered, and access to documents about it was largely prevented by the Party, it was difficult for Winston to find solid evidence of what the past may have been like. This theme carries the plot to its climax, where the audience sees the proverbial past shattered with the breaking of a paperweight from the old-days that Winston had bought on a whim from a prole man. Found throughout 1984 this theme is effectively used by Orwell in order to develop the plot of the novel.

The manipulation of language to prevent unique thought in George Orwell’s 1984 is a prominent, and principal theme throughout the novel. Similar to Orwell’s use of the previous theme, the alteration of language allows him to connect to his audience on a deeper level. With the creation of Newspeak, vocabulary is limited to the bare-minimum in order to control the citizens of Oceania. This idea of a shortened lexicon promotes critical thinking about how one may be affected by something so constantly; as humans are continually faced with language, and therefore this allows a strong connection between the novel and the real world to be established by the reader. Hence, Orwell’s use of this theme is highly effective in creating intrigue in the reader.

Overall, Orwell used many recurring themes throughout his novel 1984, but the overarching three surrounded topics about totalitarianism, history, and language. Despite being very diverse themes, Orwell ties all three together to further develop the plot, and effectively intrigue the reader.