Changes

In the world of Nineteen Eighty-Four, individual, free nations no longer exist; the world has been divided up into three massive empire-states: Oceania, Eurasia, and Eastasia.  [[Christianity]] has been stamped out and an amoral, [[liberal]] [[paganism]] has become the ruling ideology.

In the world of Nineteen Eighty-Four, individual, free nations no longer exist; the world has been divided up into three massive empire-states: Oceania, Eurasia, and Eastasia.  [[Christianity]] has been stamped out and an amoral, [[liberal]] [[paganism]] has become the ruling ideology.

Oceania is, roughly, the English-speaking world: the [[United States]], [[Canada]], [[Britain]], [[Australia]], and [[South Africa]]. It is perpetually at war with either Eurasia or Eastasia, and allied with the other. The book describes a hyper-[[liberal]] dystopia where the government, known as the Party, monitors and controls nearly all aspects of every individual's life. Extreme [[liberal]] fanaticism and ignorance are promoted by Oceania through relentless [[propaganda]]. This is practiced to the point that citizens unthinkingly (or, in Newspeak, use ''bellyfeel'') accept everything said and done by the Party, and hate everything associated with the empire-state which happens to the enemy at the moment. It is later revealed that in reality all three empire-states have the same government and are essentially identical in their pursuit of a [[liberal]], [[pagan]] social system.   

Oceania is, roughly, the English-speaking world: the [[United States]], [[Canada]], [[Britain]], [[Australia]], and [[South Africa]]. It is perpetually at war with either Eurasia or Eastasia, and allied with the other. The book describes a hyper-[[liberal]] dystopia where the government, known as the Party, monitors and controls nearly all aspects of every individual's life. Extreme [[liberal]] fanaticism and ignorance are promoted by Oceania through relentless [[propaganda]]. This is practiced to the point that citizens unthinkingly (or, in Newspeak, use ''bellyfeel'') accept everything said and done by the Party, and hate everything associated with the empire-state which happens to the enemy at the moment. Relationships among people, whether [[platonic]] or intimate, are discouraged or sometimes forbidden outright, as they distract from worship of the leader, [[Big Brother]] (who may or may not exist).  It is later revealed that in reality all three empire-states have the same government and are essentially identical in their pursuit of a [[liberal]], [[pagan]] social system.   

The [[protagonist]], Winston Smith, works in the Ministry of Truth, a department of the Oceanian government altering records to fit the Party's current version of history. However, Smith gradually grows to disagree with the Party and what it stands for. Julia, a woman who also works in the Ministry of Truth, becomes Winston's lover, and after meeting in several different places, they finally rent an upstairs room in a prole shop. However, the owner of the shop turns out to be an agent of the Thought Police and Winston and Julia are captured by the thought police right in their room, brought to the Ministry of Love, and tortured to the point where they once again love the Party.

The [[protagonist]], Winston Smith, works in the Ministry of Truth, a department of the Oceanian government altering records to fit the Party's current version of history. However, Smith gradually grows to disagree with the Party and what it stands for. Julia, a woman who also works in the Ministry of Truth and ostensibly a member of the Junior Anti-Sex League, becomes Winston's lover, and after meeting in several different places, they finally rent an upstairs room in a prole shop. However, the owner of the shop turns out to be an agent of the Thought Police and Winston and Julia are captured by the thought police right in their room, brought to the Ministry of Love, and tortured to the point where they once again love the Party.

Much of the novel is taken up with discussions of the nature of power and societal control, and words and mottoes from the novel – "[[doublethink]]", "We have always been at war with Eastasia", "the memory hole" and many more – have become standard shorthand in political discussions, while terms such as "thought police", "Room 101" and "[[Big Brother]]" have entered the language.

Much of the novel is taken up with discussions of the nature of power and societal control, and words and mottoes from the novel – "[[doublethink]]", "We have always been at war with Eastasia", "the memory hole" and many more – have become standard shorthand in political discussions, while terms such as "thought police", "Room 101" and "[[Big Brother]]" have entered the language.