One of the world's biggest fears is totalitarianism. The thought of a government that has complete and utter control continues to alarm people today, remembering the Communism scare years ago and other instances of absolutism. George Orwell's 1984 was a coming of age novel that portrays a "Negative Utopia" that exists under oppressive shadows of absolute power. The story's character, Wilson Smith, helps to demonstrate the importance of maintaining a balance between conformity within society and individualism within oneself. Orwell intends to portray Oceania just realistically enough to convince contemporary readers that such a society has, in fact, existed and could exist again if people forget the lessons taught by history or fail to guard against tyrannical, totalitarian governments. These two themes- totalitarianism and history-tie together the plot and messages in 1984.
             Because the book is based upon Winston's own thoughts the reader is able to see first hand how much control the Party of Oceania has over an individual. The reader can understand how the Party sheds people of their inner emotions and opinions by witnessing its effect on Winston. At one point in the book, Winston reminisces about one of his few memories of his mother realizing his appreciation for what she sacrificed for him. It is from this revelation that he realizes the power that the Party has over everyone in his life. When he was a child, Big Brother was not yet in existence, people had true emotions. However, he has so few memories as an adult because the Party disposes of any evidence of a person's earlier life. All that the people were left with were the claims of the Party so they began to believe everything that it would tell them. "In the end the Party would announce that two and two made five, and you would have to believe it." (Page 98) Winston eventually realizes how influential the Party truly i...