1984

Winston Smith, a member of the Outer Party, lives in the ruins of London, the chief city of Airstrip One, province of the totalitarian superstate Oceania. The Thought Police have a telescreen in every household and public place, as well as hidden microphones and spies in order to catch potential thought criminals who could endanger the sanctity of the Party.

The Ministry of Truth, which exercises complete control over all media in Oceania, employs Winston at the Ministry's Records Department, where he doctors historical records in order to comply with the Party's version of the past.

While Winston likes his work, he is also fascinated by the real past, and tries to find out more about the forbidden truth. At the Ministry of Truth he meets Julia and the two begin an illegal relationship, regularly meeting up in the countryside or in a room above an antique shop in the Proles' area of the city. Julia and Winston find their new hiding place a paradise, as there is no telescreen and so they believe themselves completely alone and safe.

Unknown to the two (or to the reader), he and Julia are under surveillance by the Thought Police. When he is approached by Inner Party member O'Brien, Winston believes that he has made contact with the Brotherhood which is opposed to the ideals of the Party. O'Brien gives Winston a copy of "the book" written by the Emmanuel Goldstein, leader of the Brotherhood.

In the room above the antique shop is a picture. But behind this picture is a hidden telescreen. So the Thought Police see everything they do and arrest them to bring them to the Ministry of Love, where opponents of the regime are tortured and executed. O'Brien is there, and reveals to Winston that he has been brought to "be cured" of his hatred for the Party.

Room 101 is the most feared room in the Ministry of Love, where a person's greatest fear is forced upon them. Since Winston