The preservation of liberty stands as one of the central hallmarks of a democratic government. Deprived of this essential human right, people are no longer free to exercise their individual autonomy to decide for themselves what kind of life is worth pursuing. At the middle of the twentieth-century, the world was emerging from under the shadow of Nazi totalitarianism, while simultaneously being gripped by Joseph Stalin's implementation of a communist state. Several reactionary novels were written during this time, perhaps the three most famous of which are Aldous Huxley's Brave New World (1932), Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451 (1953), and George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four. Published in 1949, Orwell's depiction of a dystopian future provides an alarmist account of the dangers of totalitarianism, through a fictional rendering of the life events of Winston Smith – a citizen, or perhaps more aptly, a subject, of the totalitarian super-state of Oceania.
             The world of Winston Smith is a harsh reality, one that is devoid of all vestiges of personal freedom and choice. All aspects of life under the Oceanic government are heavily regulated and controlled, all coordinated in a supreme effort to curb any revolutionary tendencies that could threaten the hegemony of those few that hold the power. Orwell's prophetic message against absolute governmental control influences the tone of the book, and drives every aspect of its plot. By interweaving discussions of the historical context in which Orwell writes, and the almost parallel events and policies depicted in Nineteen Eighty-Four, a complete picture of both the major thematic elements of the novel, and Orwell's commentary on the dangers of totalitarianism, should fully develop. This picture is meant to underscore Orwell's belief that authoritarian governments are inherently threatening, and allowing them to gain support and flourish will se...