1984 Notes

Winston

Member of the Outer Party, works in the Ministry of Truth, keeps a diary, fears rats, questions the Party's ideologies.

Julia

Dark-haired girl, rebellious, sexually active, believes in secret disobedience, indifferent to the past, different views on sex than Winston.

O'Brien

Antagonist, Inner Party member, manipulates Winston and Julia, tortures them, represents Party loyalty.

Parsons

Neighbor of Winston, denounced by his daughter, enthusiastic Party supporter, eventually meets Winston in jail.

Syme

Newspeak editor, passionate about the language, vaporized for knowing too much.

Newspeak

Official language of Oceania, aims to eliminate thoughtcrime, divided into A, B, and C vocabularies.

INGSOC

Party's political ideology, includes propaganda, surveillance, manipulation of reality, and thought control.

The Brotherhood

Secret organization against the Party, led by Emmanuel Goldstein, offers hope for resistance.

Big Brother

Symbolic leader of the Party, omnipresent, instills fear and love among citizens.

Doublethink

Newspeak term for holding contradictory beliefs, exemplified by slogans like "war is peace."

Thought Police

Party's secret force to eliminate thoughtcrime, creates fear and surveillance.

Room 101

Torture chamber in the Ministry of Love, used to confront individuals with their worst fears.

Rats

Winston's worst fear, used in Room 101 to break his spirit and loyalty.

Mr

Shop owner in the prole district, provides a place of privacy for Winston and Julia, revealed as a member of the thought police.

Goldstein

Former Party leader, leader of the Brotherhood, used as a tool to trap thoughtcriminals.

Chestnut Tree Cafe

Place where ex-politicians like Winston end up, symbolizing the Party's control.

"He now loved Big Brother"

Last line of the book, indicating Winston's complete submission to the Party.

Appendix

Written after the events of the book, hints at the Party's eventual downfall.

The Brotherhood

Supposed secret group working against the Party, led by Emmanuel Goldstein.

War is peace

Completes the paradoxes of "ignorance is strength" and "freedom is slavery."