Faculty Mentor

Beth Torgerson

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2016

Department

English

Abstract

In 1984, George Orwell depicts a dystopian vision of London. The novel, published in 1949, is a depressing and unhopeful look at the future. However, at its core 1984 is much more than just a futuristic science fiction tale, it is a sexually tragic love story. Throughout the novel, Orwell represents sexuality in this dystopian society as something that has to be suppressed and ultimately warped into a forced love for Big Brother. The very act of sex for fun is viewed as an act of revolt, and those who participate in it are depicted as insurgents. This distorted view of sex causes the protagonist to despise virginal qualities, which he equates as devotion to Big Brother, provoking him to put whorish values on a pedestal. Finally, sex is shown to be a path that leads to an eventual destruction of the self. By having Big Brother twist the joy and ecstasy out of sex and love, Orwell is giving a warning to future generations: do not let any government overly control the personal lives of its population, for the consequences will ultimately be sexually and politically disastrous.

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