Oceania (fiction)

Oceania is one of the three super-states in George Orwell's novel Nineteen Eighty-Four, and is the location of the novel's version of London, where Winston Smith, the main character, lives.

Related Topics:
George Orwell - Novel - Nineteen Eighty-Four - London - Winston Smith

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It is composed of the two American continents, the British Isles, Australia, New Zealand, Papau New Guinea and the southern half of Africa below the River Congo. It also controls - to different degrees, at various times during the course of its eternal war with Eurasia and Eastasia - the polar regions and the islands of the Pacific. It was described in Goldstein's book as resulting from the conquest of the British Empire by the United States.

Related Topics:
American - British Isles - Australia - New Zealand - Papau New Guinea - Southern half of Africa - River Congo - Eurasia - Eastasia - Islands of the Pacific

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It occasionally conquers the rest of Africa, but is later driven back by Eurasia. Oceania doesn't have a single capital, although what could be seen as regional capitals such as London are in place. (See: Goldstein's book.)

Related Topics:
Africa - Goldstein's book

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The ruling doctrine of Oceania is Ingsoc, loosely derived from English Socialism, which is ultimately devoted to the naked exercise of power. Its nominal leader is Big Brother, possibly an abstract personification crafted by the state, and who is officially credited with all virtue, power, success and accomplishment. The cult of leadership is maintained through Big Brother's function as a focal point for love, fear, and reverence, emotions which are more easily felt towards an individual than towards an organisation.

Related Topics:
Ingsoc - Big Brother - Cult of leadership

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The chief language of Oceania is English (officially Oldspeak) and a minimalist deriviation of it, known as Newspeak. The restructuring of the language is intended to ultimately eliminate the possibility of non-Oceanic political thought.

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The society of Oceania is sharply stratified into three groups, the small power-seeking Inner Party, the more numerous and highly indoctrinated Outer Party, and the large body of politically meaningless and mindless proles. Except for certain rare exceptions like Hate Week, the proles remain essentially outside Oceania's political society.

Related Topics:
Inner Party - Outer Party - Prole

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