Oceania-- a Dystopian Society

Oceania is one of three superstates vying for power in the world of 1984. According to the novel, Oceania was founded in the mid-1950's when the United States annexed the United Kingdom. Then, English-Socialism (Called INGSOC) became the political ideology of the state. Later, in the 1960's, Big Brother and the Party took control of Oceania, and after many years of nuclear warfare between the three superstates, Oceania became the twisted world that we see in 1984.


How is 1984 a dystopian world? A dystopia is the opposite of a utopia (A perfect world). Many dystopian worlds feature futuristic technology to oppress its citizens (For example, there were mental and physical handicaps in Harrison Bergeron). The telescreens and the speakwrite machines are excellent examples of the futuristic technology, because the novel was written in 1949, when computers were not invented yet. Orwell features technology as a way to ensure total control over the Party's subjects.

There are three social classes in Oceania- the Proles, the Outer Party, and the Inner Party. The Inner Party, contributing 2% of the entire population, effectively controls the state are given many privileges. The Inner Party can be classified as the oligarchical minority class in Oceania, while the other classes live lives of fear in constant surveillance and oppression. In short, while 2% of the population live lives of luxury and ease, the rest of the population live lives of scarcity, starvation, and hardship. According to Winston, more than 50% of the population in Airstrip One do not wear shoes, while the Inner Party members live in mansions and eat chocolate, real coffee, and many other luxuries that other classes cannot acquire.

 Only a small oligarchical minority of the population live luxurious lives while the others live lives of hardship and starvation, and the environment in the world of 1984 is a ruined world; London itself is a devastated city with ruined buildings, and only the four ministry buildings have been built over the past few decades. Citizens of Oceania are constantly brainwashed with propaganda, and the Party has absolute control over its subjects.

Therefore, Nineteen Eighty-Four can be clearly called a dystopia.