Abstract

George Orwell, an English novelist, essayist, journalist and critic, is honored as one of the 50 greatest British writers since 1945. The Nineteen Eighty-Four is one part of Orwell’s masterpieces.
Nineteen Eighty-Four was written in 1948 and published in 1949. It describes a totalitarian society in the future. Under the ruling of totalitarianism, people live for the “Party”, for the “Big Brother”, and there is no human nature in their lives. The novel not only reveals the loss of human nature under the totalitarianism, but also shows author’s exploration of the meaning and truth of life. People believed that war is peace, freedom is slavery, and ignorance is strength, and they lived just like machines. People participated in the “Hate Activity” every day, which they followed all orders of the “Party”. They had to speak in “Newspeak”, thought with “Doublethink”. Any exception was crime.
The thesis is divided into three parts. First, it gives a brief introduction to George Orwell and his Nineteen Eighty-Four. Second, it describes the loss of human nature from three aspects, which are language, action and feeling. Third, it describes the glory of human nature from family affection, love, and the meaning and truth of life. Then it comes to a conclusion that we should pursue the truth and find the meaning of life.

Key words: 1984; totalitarianism; human nature

摘要

乔治•奥威尔是英国作家，散文家，记者和评论家。他被誉为“1945年之后最伟大的50位作家”之一。《一九八四》是他的代表作之一。
《一九八四》创作于1948年，出版于1949年，它描述了一个未来的极权社会。在极权主义的统治下，人们只为了“党”而活，只为“老大哥”而活。小说不仅揭示了极权主义环境下人性的丧失，也展示了作者对人生意义和真理的探索。人们相信战争即和平，自由即奴役，无知即力量，他们像机器一样活着。人们执行“党”的一切命令，每天参加“仇恨活动”。人们还必须讲“新语”，用“双重思想”思考，任何例外都是犯罪。
本论文主要由三部分构成。第一部分简单介绍乔治•奥威尔和他的作品《一九八四》；第二部分从语言、行动和情感三方面分析人性的丧失；第三部分从亲情、爱情以及人生的意义和真理三方面阐释人性的荣耀。最后得出结论：我们应该努力追求真理，寻找人生的意义。

关键词：《一九八四》；极权主义；人性