Though people have thought otherwise, Orwell himself was a socialist and a huge supporter of socialist policies. He was therefore deeply concerned by the rise of authoritarian governments such as the totalitarian ones seen during the wars. Orwell also experienced this regime firsthand while fighting in the Spanish Civil War. He believed totalitarianism posed a real threat to freedom and democracy, as it leaves the public without of a voice and under total control. 

 

In terms of the novel’s cultural context, we can tell that 1984 is a product of its time, as it reflects the fears and anxieties of post-war society. With memories of the war fresh in everyone’s mind, the novel's portrayal of a dystopian society where individual freedom is suppressed and the government exercises complete control over its citizens resonated with many of the fears and concerns of the time.​ The novel serves as a warning against the dangers that occur if a government is given total control.

This work gained a lot of attention for its important themes and messages at the time it was published and continues to be relevant to this day. 

 

Orwell has been deemed one of the greatest British writers since the 1945’s, and his works have influenced both popular and political culture since their publishment. The adjective “Orwellian” is still a part of the English dictionary, used to describe totalitarian and authoritarian social practices, the ones that Orwell was known for writing about .