"1984" by George Orwell was written initially in the year 1948, and the message that he was trying to send to his readers back then is still as powerful today as ever. The themes such as rebellion, propaganda, and, most importantly, totalitarianism is what fuels and drives this novel. Orwell creates what is known as a "dystopian" society meaning a society that was probably once perfect, and now it is desolate and not conducive for living. The community is arranged into a pyramid structure (See picture below) 


Big Brother is the "eyes" and "ears" of the society, and the members of the inner party use him as propaganda to make those of the proles act accordingly. The inner party only makes up 2% of the population, and the enormous amount of the community is made from proles, which is 85%. The other 13% is not accounted for. Big brother is never seen in the novel, and many do not know if he really exists or not. The inner party members have plastered posters all over the city like the one listed below to install fear into the proles. Inner party members have created a slogan to not only spread fear into the proles, but it is a reminder for them to always remember that every thought, move, and unjust act is being watched by the government, so they have adopted the maxim "big brother is watching." The ruling party is the inner party, and they have it to where the people who fall under their government, known as the proles, are taught not to think for themselves, and they have to attend all of the programs and events scheduled by the party. Big brother is believed to be everywhere because there are surveillance cameras everywhere in the city and the homes of the civilians. Big Brother got the title "big brother" because he is thought of as an older sibling who looks out for their younger brother or sister; however, he is used metaphorically to evoke fear and terror into those who think of rebellion.


Winston Smith is the main character in this story and he represents life before the rebellion, and every man in the universe. Winston is a sectorial clerk at the Ministry of Truth altering history's events and making them align with the life and commands of the inner party members. He alters history and after he does so he throws it into the memory hole being erased perminately from the world.
Winston indeeds loves his job because it allows him to escape his boring life.
What this novel teaches is the idea of being an individual and not allowing others to dictate how you think and what you think. In life some people pry on those who are weaker than they are, so they use propaganda to manipulate the minds, and thoughts of those who are deceived by it. It also teaches that when people do not take the time to educate themselves and not learn things for their own, they can easily manipulate their version of the truth into the minds of those who do not know any better. In this novel being different is a crime, and those in the inner party want everyone to be equal but at what cost? They brainwash their followers into having them think what is true and what is false. They even have children working for them as well. Children are known as spies and they report to the inner party and could have their parents tried as criminals for committing crimes known as "thought crime."
This was an amazing book and I could not put it down once I began reading it.