1984

George Orwell’s dystopian novel 1984 is the epitome of this functional literature. It fully illustrates the imaginary circumstances in 1984, which is about 30 years after the book was written. In 1984, former Great Britain, Oceania is taken over by an oppressive government that does not allow any freedom to its people in order to prevent uprisings. People are always being watched and heard by cameras and radios controlled by the government. They cannot keep documents, marry someone whom they really love, nor study the past. While most citizens are brainwashed by the system and they absolutely believe in the rectitude of the government, the protagonist, Winston Smith, regrets the helpless reality. He even keeps a diary and secretly visits an antique store that sells forbidden goods from the past. Although he knows in his heart that the government should not be allowed to subjugate its people, he hides his feelings for a fear of being “evaporated.” One day, while he was disposing of the documents from the past, he finds a piece of propaganda poster. While he is still hesitant to face the government, Julia, a revolutionary coworker at the Ministry of Truth triggers his will to stand against the corrupted government. The two of them share their opinions on the foul system and try to make a change. There seems to be no problem in their plan to overthrow the government until the very last moment and they even win a sponsor. In the end, however, it turns out that the shopkeeper at the antique store was an employee at the government and that he has been observing the two all along. Even the sponsor turns out to be a member of the government staff. Winston and Julia finally succumb to the inevitable fate.