Context and Historical Background
Nineteen Eighty-Four, written by George Orwell in 1949, is a dystopian social science fiction novel and cautionary tale about the dangers of totalitarianism. It is set in a superstate named Oceania, where the Party, led by the enigmatic Big Brother, employs extreme surveillance and manipulation to control every aspect of life.
The novel reflects worries of Orwell's time, including the rise of authoritarian regimes and the impact of war. Its themes remain incredibly relevant in today's discussions of privacy, free speech, and governmental power.
Orwell was influenced by the political climates of the Soviet Union under Stalin and Nazi Germany under Hitler, both employing propaganda, surveillance, and control to maintain their power structures. Nineteen Eighty-Four extrapolates these practices into a future scenario as a warning.