1984 George Orwell Individual Freedom

In George Orwell's 1984 novel, the theme of struggle and survival is a dominant commentary on the importance of individual freedom and the dangers of a society striving to control all aspects of human life. The novel depicts a dystopian society in which the government controls every aspect of citizens' lives, from their thoughts and actions to language and emotions. Winston and Julia's characters represent different approaches to survival in such a society, emphasizing the importance of individuality and the right to freedom of expression in all aspects of life.
Winston's struggle for intellectual freedom is central to the novel. He wants to think and act freely, as his diary entries show: "Thoughtcrime does not entail death: thoughtcrime is death" (Orwell, 18). This quote underscores the severity of government control over individual thinking and the consequences of deviating from established norms. Winston's determination to stand by his beliefs is evident when he says, "Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make four. If that is granted, all else follows"

A clear example of this is the government's use of Newspeak, a language designed to eliminate complex thoughts and ideas. With Newspeak, concepts, and ideas are stripped of meaning and nuance to limit the scope of thought and expression. Winston recognizes the danger of language and the role it plays in the government's attempts to control the populace. He wrote in his journal: "Don't you see that the whole aim of Newspeak is to narrow the range of thought? In the end we shall make thoughtcrime impossible because there will be no words in which to express it" (Orwell, 55). This quote underscores the importance of language for individual thought and expression. By taking away the ability to speak the government is restricting the people's individuality and right to an opinion and being able to express