The book 1984 by George Orwell depicts a world where the government controls every aspect of their people. They use technology called “telescreens” to watch over their citizens and inflict heavy punishment (like death) if they break strict rules. The government convinces everyone whatever they say is right. They erase all history to hide their mistakes, and to hide the idea of a free life. The government of the apocalyptic London is known as Big Brother, a man described as “...black haired, black moustachio’d, full of power and mysterious calm.” Winston the main character of the novel, disagrees with Big Brother while everyone around him thinks the opposite. The people are brainwashed to agree with the government, and are given no opportunities to think otherwise of the government. The novel 1984, shows a world where the government controls everything.

Winston throughout the book disagrees with the government, but ultimately pays the price at the end of the story. The government kidnaps Winston and tortures him until he abandons his former beliefs. The government uses Winston’s greatest fear (rats) to break him. “They (the rats) are a form of pressure that you can not withstand even if you wished to. You will do what is required of you.” This example shows how government knows exactly how to control and break each one of their people who disobey. Quickly Winston does break and offers his lover to be tortured instead of him. At the end of the story Big Brother has won when“He (Winston) had won the victory over himself. He loved Big Brother.”  The whole story explains how Winston has a natural hatred towards Big Brother and how he will do anything to stop it, however when tortured and faced with his greatest fear he quickly abandons his hatred and he becomes one of the brainwashed people he despised. In this futuristic city where the government controls everything, people have no choice but to believe what the Big Brother wants them to believe, the government manipulates their people emotionally.

The authority in the novel also controls their people physically. They have cameras and spies that are waiting for someone to make one mistake so small as a twitch so they can hand them into the government for punishment. “Your worst enemy, he (Winston) reflected, was your own nervous system. At any moment the tension inside you was liable to translate itself into some visible symptom.” These people of the apocalyptic city are contained in every way possible to avoid an uprise. Even a slight twitch could get you killed. The people are also forced when to wake up and when they do they must tirelessly exercise, when Winston Smith isn’t moving fast enough it get’s quickly noticed. “Smith!” screamed the shrewish voice from the telescreen...Bend lower please! You can do better than that. You’re not trying.” This shows how the government is able to control even the health of their people, and when someone falls out of line they quickly put them in their place.

The book 1984 describes a new kind of world and community where the people have no freedom, and are heavily controlled by their government. The novel shows what it would be like to live in those conditions and how dangerous and difficult it is to do so.