Characters
Winston Smith – The main protagonist of Orwell’s 1984. He resents the authoritarian regime of the Party and tries to rebel, but is finally crushed in body and soul.
Julia – Winston’s girlfriend. She also starts out with a strident anti-party stand and is suppressed in the same way as Winston is.
O’Brien – a prominent member of the Inner Circle of the Party. He traps Winstoninto betraying his unorthodox views and presides over his torture and degradation.
Mr. Charrington – a member of the powerful thought police, who disguises himself as a “prole” and entraps Winston.
Ampleforth – One of Winston’s colleagues at the Ministry of Truth, whose job is to “rewrite” old poems in keeping with Party ideology. He is arrested for thoughtcrimes.
Parsons – Another colleague of Winston’s who despite stupid and unquestioning adherence to the Party line is still arrested.
Symes – Colleague of Winston’s who is executed.
Jones, Aaronson and Rutherford – three original leaders of the Party who were later denouncedas traitors and executed.
Emmanuel Goldstein – The number One Enemy of the People according to the Party. He is believed to have written a subversive book and to head a mysterious anti-party organization called The Brotherhood.
Big Brother – the symbol of Party dominance. Big Brother’s precence is everywhere on posters, on cigarette covers, on coins and on telescreens.