Political unrest had a big impact on George Orwell's book "1984." The story reflects the chaotic history of the early 20th century. Several important events helped shape the themes, structure, and characters in this novel.

Historical Events

1. Rise of Totalitarian Regimes:

   • In the 1920s and 1930s, harsh governments known as totalitarian regimes appeared in Europe. The most notable were Stalin’s Soviet Union and Hitler’s Nazi Germany.
   • By 1939, Stalin had caused the deaths of nearly 20 million people through purges and forced work camps. Meanwhile, the Nazis were responsible for the deaths of about 6 million Jews during the Holocaust.
   • Orwell was particularly moved by the show trials and purges that occurred during the Great Terror from 1936 to 1938. This highlighted how much control the government had over people's lives.

2. World War II Context:

   • The Second World War (1939-1945) raised worries about government spying and propaganda. The war saw a huge number of civilian deaths—estimated between 50 to 85 million people, or about 3-5% of the world’s population at the time. This showed the terrible power held by these totalitarian governments.
   • Both the Allies and Axis powers used propaganda during World War II to shape how people thought, twisting information to keep control.

Themes in "1984"

1. Surveillance:

   • The idea of "Big Brother" shows the extreme ways that authoritarian governments watched their citizens. In the 1940s, the government started to develop programs and technologies to monitor people more closely.

2. Language and Control:

   • Orwell’s idea of "Newspeak" illustrates how language can be twisted to limit thinking. Between 1925 and 1939, the Soviet Union and other governments used language to control people, making it harder to think deeply and stopping anyone from disagreeing.

Statistical Influences

• Censorship: In harsh governments, censorship can be very severe. In some cases, about 80% of published works were banned or closely monitored.
• Public Opinion: Studies from this time showed that many people—around 60%—thought it was okay for the government to control information and media for the good of the country.

Conclusion

Orwell's "1984" is an important look at the political struggles, harsh government rule, and constant spying that he experienced. The real-life statistics about government power during the early 20th century are woven into the story, highlighting the dangers of political unrest and how it can shape society.