Is George Orwells view of human nature accurate in the novel 1984?

Answer 1

1984 is a dystopian novel which contains elements of contemporary society and acts as a warning meant to alert society to the dangers of oppression or other threat. In 1984 the oppressive element on Orwell's mind was facism, which with the rise of the Nazi party, and the Communist parties in China and Russia, was sweeping the globe. In 1984 Orwell meant to warn society about impending dangers of facism. You can see this theme further illustrated in this other book Animal Farm published in 1945.

Answer 2

There are several different aspects of human nature depicted in the novel, including considerable political/social/economic theory, notes on the power of language and the vulnerability of truth, scenes and discussions about the relationship of torturers and their victims, and notions about resistance to totatilitarian authority.

Orwell was a keen observer of human traits, and I believe his observations were well founded.

Perhaps the most troubling aspect, to me, is the notion of love as unable to maintain itself against the onslaught of oppression. But there are many real-life stories (including some I read this morning, about the Great Hunger in the Ukraine under Stalin) that lead to similar suspicions.