OTHER ELEMENTS

SETTING

George Orwell's 1984 is set in Oceania in a city that's still named London, in a country called Airstrip One. The most important thing about the setting is that this is London in the near future. This remains true no matter what year you read the book.

In this near future, which is drawn from Orwell's imagination and from conditions in London around World War II rocket bombs launched by some remote and unseen enemy (either Eurasia or Eastasia, according to Big Brother) explode here and there. All the buildings are delapidated. Victory Mansions, where Winston lives, is shabby and rundown. Even in the Ministry Of Truth, where Winston works, everything is drab.

The most important physical element in almost every scene is the telescreen, which both watches citizens and gives war news, music, political speeches and messages from Big Brother. Everywhere are posters with Big Brother's picture, bearing the slogan: BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU.

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