1984 by

Hi, I don’t know if you’ve heard of me, since I joined “The Brotherhood”, but my name is Winston Smith. I don’t exactly know for sure if you really do exist, or to whom I am writing this for. I am not even sure if you will ever receive this letter, but either way, I am going to write it in hopes you read this. Before I was introduced to O’Brien, I had felt different from everyone else working in the Party. The thought of the Party, and Big Brother himself, gave me a feeling of anger and hatred. I knew I was an outsider among the other members of the Party, since everyone loved Big Brother, until I met O’Brien. All it took was one glance into his eyes and I knew what side he was on. Which then led me to believe in you. “Goldstein” then became the only name which appeared in my mind. I looked at you and saw a leader, a role model, someone who led me to believe I wasn’t crazy. I instantly knew “The Brotherhood” existed. A world without Big Brother watching your every step, and plotting your thoughts based on the analyzing of your face. You had the courage to stand for what you believe in, and by writing your book, you showed me that I am, in fact, different than everyone else. I despise Big Brother, and all it stands for. So, thank you, not only for accepting me into the Brotherhood, but also for opening my eyes to reality. Anyways, thank you for taking the time to read my letter, hoping you actually received it.

It all started in Mr. Charrington’s shop, with the touch of a diary, the look of a simple paperweight, that’s what started it all. Everyday I look outside the window of the small room above Mr. Charrington’s shop and I see a dark and gloomy world. Seeing the emotionless expressions on the faces of the proles made me think about our community, how we live, and Big Brother. Which brings up the question: What would life even look like without being under the control of Big Brother? Books these days won’t ever tell you the truth about the past, our only hope is the one place where they can’t get to you: your own mind and memories. The books claim that life before the Revolution was filled with poverty and injustice. I imagine it to be quite the opposite. Sure there was poverty in most places, but people were happy. They were allowed to express emotion, allowed to laugh or cry. People were free to live and to love, like Julia and I. Two people would be allowed to marry one another without question, have children for the sake of starting a family. Especially, there would be NO TELESCREENS. Oceana would have no hierarchy or “favouritism”. You would have the freedom to express yourself without fear of being caught, by a telescreen or even your own child. Having your own opinion and your own thoughts that belong to you would not only be accepted, but encouraged. Like the paperweight, it was an escape from reality. The tiny coral was my life with Julia, enclosed in a glass barrier which enclosed Julia and I in our own little world, where things would be different. Having these kind of thoughts shouldn’t be considered unorthodox. A person’s thoughts and ideas make them who they are, it builds character.

Dark clouds and fog go passing by.

They’ll be waiting outside.

A world where everyone is free

Came crashing down on me.

Where your thoughts are liberated,

You can be whoever you want to be.

A world with no lies,

A world with a prophecy.

However long it takes

Our fears will float away,

Down with Big Brother they say,

We’ll all be happy one day.