1984: Character Profiles
Winston Smith
- Protagonist: Outer Party member; works at the Ministry of Truth
- Characteristics: Thoughtful, rebellious, introspective, tormented by oppression
- Rebellion: Secretly despises the Party; engages in illegal acts like keeping a diary
- Relationships: Love affair with Julia; complex feelings towards Big Brother and O'Brien
- Development: Evolution from passive discontent to active resistance and back to subjugation
Julia
- Role: Winston's lover; works in the Fiction Department at the Ministry of Truth
- Characteristics: Pragmatic, sensual, rebellious, opportunistic
- Rebellion: Engages in acts of rebellion primarily for personal pleasure; sceptical of organised resistance
- Attitude: Nonchalant about political philosophies; sees rebellion more in terms of personal freedom
- Impact on Winston: Spurs his deeper rebellion and hope; represents a contrasting approach to resistance
O'Brien
- Role: High-ranking Inner Party member; enigmatic and manipulative
- Characteristics: Intelligent, authoritative, deceptive
- Dual roles: Initially appears as ally in resistance; later revealed as agent of the Party
- Philosophy: Deep commitment to Party ideology; sees power as its own end
- Interaction with Winston: Lures Winston into a trap; key figure in his eventual torture and reprogramming
Big Brother
- Role: Figurehead of the Party; omnipresent leader
- Characteristics: Symbolic, omnipotent, fearsome
- Imagery: Appears on posters with tagline "Big Brother is watching you"
- Function: Embodies the Party's control and surveillance; generates both fear and affection among citizens
- Reality: Uncertain if he actually exists; serves as focal point of the Party's power and propaganda
Emmanuel Goldstein
- Role: Alleged leader of the Brotherhood; symbol of rebellion
- Characteristics: Elusive, subversive, traitorous
- Writing: Author of 'The Theory and Practice of Oligarchical Collectivism,' a forbidden book
- Purpose: Scapegoat in Party propaganda; focus for collective hatred during the Two Minutes Hate
- Existence: Unclear if he and the Brotherhood are real or fabrications by the Party to control dissent
Syme
- Role: Expert in Newspeak; works on the Eleventh Edition of the Newspeak Dictionary
- Characteristics: Intelligent, orthodox, meticulous
- Contribution: Enthusiastically supports Newspeak, believing in its power to eliminate unorthodox thoughts
- Fate: Eventually vaporised due to being too intelligent and perceptive, posing a potential threat to the Party
Mr Charrington
- Role: Shop owner; appears kind and supportive
- Characteristics: Deceptive, duplicitous
- Interaction with Winston: Provides the room for Winston and Julia's meetings, seemingly supportive
- True identity: Member of the Thought Police; instrumental in Winston and Julia's capture
Parsons
- Role: Winston's neighbour; fervent Party supporter
- Characteristics: Orthodox, complacent, ignorant
- Personality: Enthusiastic about Party activities; completely loyal and unquestioning
- Irony: Eventually betrayed by his own children and arrested despite his loyalty