Freedom, language and control: the contemporary relevance of George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four

This thesis examines George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four, as both a literary masterpiece and an enduring political warning whose relevance transcends its historical moment. Rather than treating the novel as a prophecy of a specific political system, the study argues that its power lies in exposing the mechanisms through which freedom can be eroded. Orwell’s dystopian depiction of a world stripped of privacy, overwhelmed by propaganda and hollowed out by linguistic manipulation offers a conceptual lens for understanding contemporary debates on digital surveillance, privacy, freedom of expression and the manipulation of truth and language. Firstly, the study focuses on Orwell’s life and experiences, concentrating on how they shaped his political development and influenced his works. A critical analysis of Nineteen Eighty-Four follows, together with an overview of literary criticism of the time and contemporary reception of the work. Secondly, the study reflects on human rights as essential safeguards developed in response to the very dangers Orwell identified. By tracing their evolution from early philosophical arguments to modern legislative protections, the thesis shows how these principles seek to prevent societies from drifting towards the forms of control dramatized in the novel. Lastly, a focus is placed on the cognitive and ideological power of language. Drawing on contemporary linguistic and psychological research, the analysis demonstrates how Nineteen Eighty-Four gave a clear example of the fundamental role played by language in the shaping of thoughts and perception of reality. The novel anticipates modern concerns about disinformation, propaganda and algorithmic influence, and the presence of Newspeak terms in current vocabulary shows the relevance they carried. In conclusion, the thesis argues that Nineteen Eighty-Four endures because it captures the structural vulnerabilities of democratic societies: the fragility of truth, the seduction of surveillance and the centrality of language to human freedom. By placing Orwell’s insights in dialogue with contemporary social, legal and technological developments, the study reaffirms the relevance of his warning: freedom depends on safeguarding human rights and preserving the linguistic richness that enables independent thought.