Nineteen Eighty-Four

     The book I have just started is titled Nineteen Eighty-Four, by George Orwell. It is a dystopian novel set somewhere in modern-day London. However, that whole region is now called Oceania. The main character, Winston Smith, is a member of the middle class. He works for the government, but is has many thoughts about rebellion.
     One of the most interesting events throughout Winston's daily life is the Two Minute Hate. At this time, all the workers proceed to a large meeting room in which traitors the to the country are displayed. All the rhapsodic members in the room shout out insults and bear anger towards these enemies of the state. Following that is a picture displaying Big Brother. A venerated figure in Oceania who is followed like a god. Yet no one has actually seen him, so in other words, he is just a simulacrum to the government. So my first question is, how does the government maintain so much control over the people? It is quite obvious some of the statements the government make are lies, yet no one wants to stand up. It seems that the population has been brain-washed to ignore any fallacies in the government's words and instead give credence to them. Only a select few such as Winston have realized the treachery going on.
     Another thing I have pondered is the words of O'Brien. O'Brien is a member of the upper echelon in Oceania's society, yet Winston is certain that O'Brien is a part of the Brotherhood, the rebel organization within Oceania. However the only basis he has for this is a sentence that he hears from O'Brien in a dream, "We shall meet in a place where there is no darkness". This statement seems really vague, yet Winston is confident that O'Brien is on his side. I wonder if the place mentioned actually has a positive connotation or a negative one. "No darkness", seems to add positivity, suggesting the two will meet in a happier place, but that doesn't seem to fit with the surrounding information.
     The start of the book has proved to be very captivating and I hope the rest of the book is just as good.