Themes:

The Dangers of Totalitarianism

Psychological Manipulation

Physical Control

Control of Information and History

Technology

Language as Mind Control

Techniques:

Symbolism and personification

POV:

1984 is narrated in the third person, through a point- of-view character, Winston Smith. This means that Winston functions as the camera recording all the events. We see, hear and learn only what Winston can see, hear and learn, as it happens. We can see into Winston’s thoughts and share his dreams and memories, but we see the other characters only as Winston sees them. We can’t know anything Winston doesn’t know, but since we are outside Winston’s story, we can look at it and see danger when he doesn’t-as when he goes openly to O’Brien’s place in Part Two. We see what Winston sees but we also see Winston as he looks to others-something the character himself can’t do.

At no point does the narrative point of view shift to any other character’s mind. This is Winston’s story from beginning to end.