Some 

literary works, although set in a particular place or time, convey ideas that are universal.
In what way is one of the works that you have studied? 
 
The novel 1984 was written in 1949 by George Orwell and is set in an imaginary world
mirroring ours, which questions and subverts modern-day values and emphasizes the man-caused
issues to arise. As a writer, journalist, and social critic, Orwell is often seen as a literary prophet
since he has covered a wide variety of ideas that serve as omens for the events to strike or have
already hit humanity.   
He believed that literary works should depict the lives of the middle class, its everyday
simplicity, difficulties, and ordinary moments as in Down and Out in Paris and London but
should also make it possible for them to grasp complex matters and affairs occurring in the
world. Thus, Orwell consistently delved into common people's logic and explored their
susceptibility to specific political regimes. 1984 and Animal Farm are two magna opera of
Orwell's majestic, almost revelatory, and far-seeing mind and although set in different places and
times, or one can even say realities, the audience can comprehend the element of universal truth
omnipresent in the novels, as discussed in this essay with special focus on 1984.  
In order to fully grasp the purpose of this essay, one should be familiar with the
term universal truth. It is defined as a truth regarded as universal, common, and all-inclusive in
every event, time, and place, both fictional and real. It is tackled and explored from different
aspects, including history, folk tales, myths, philosophy, ethics, etc. In the case of 1984, such
truths could be seen as eternal, absolute, and repetitive, serving a range of purposes that are to be
elaborated on in the following part.
The first universal truth, totalitarianism, and its dangers are presented through constant
surveillance and all-pervasive control. Even though 1984 was written to show the current
situation in Orwell's time, this element does not only apply to that particular era. Rather, it has
been recurrent over the flow of history in different places and governing systems. Moreover, the
novel is purposely written to forewarn society about totalitarianism and its extreme, undesirable
elements. Orwell expresses his concern about technology by introducing the notion of
a telescreen in the novel. Telescreen symbolizes physical surveillance and is depicted as
a camera that watches over the party members, monitors their actions, and reprimands them for
any unwanted behavior. Also, surveillance is portrayed through the group of youngsters called
Junior Spies. They keenly observe their parents and other adults and report any unacceptable
conduct to the party once a thought crime is committed even though they are aware they bring
grave torment and death upon a wrongdoer. This image can be very upsetting since junior spies
are miserable, brainwashed creatures misused as surveilling machines within living flesh who are
more than willing to renounce their family for Big Brother's ideology.  Orwell believes that the
power of totalitarianism lies in absolute control, surveillance, and fear, a state in which origin,
heritage, and blood are insignificant and, as such, easily discarded, forsaken and obliterated.
In addition, Orwell highlighted the significance of different aspects of control throughout
this novel. His understanding of control can be separated into three distinct parts: control of
independent thinking, control of physical actions and control of psychological behavior. First,
the control over independent thinking is notable in the scene presenting a particular Hate Week
when the public speaker deliberately switched sides in the ongoing war in the middle of the
sentence causing the present masses to blame themselves for the misconception and experience
sheer embarrassment and humiliation. The majority of the audience firmly believed that the party
could never be wrong and that it must have been their mistake. This universal truth can be
applied to every political party and regime that almost invariably makes their best efforts to
manipulate the public, eliminate free thinkers such as Winston, and obtain unlimited control.   
Secondly, physical control is constantly lingering in Orwell's work. All party members
are compelled to simultaneously perform a uniform set of exercises every morning. In reality,
this kind of activity is uttered to increase communal spirit and uniformity, as is notable in the
customary practice for Chinese elementary and middle school students who are expected to
perform a specially designed dance every morning with the aim of increasing the unity of a
group. This action is agreeable with the Chinese political regime's principles that intend to
produce obedient and meek employees deprived of independent thinking and free will.  
Moreover, room 101 is the main symbol of psychological control in the novel. As the
readership later discovers, it includes a forceful confrontation with one's worst phobia, in
Winston's case, womb-eating mice. What is even more fearsome is the fact that Winston has not
told anyone about his greatest fear, but the party somehow knows. This scene shows the
psychological surveillance over Winston and depicts the idea that an individual is never alone,
safe, or with one's own thoughts. Our worst fears can become a reality if somebody else, who
controls the world, sees it suitable.   
 Furthermore, the party sees sexual intercourse as only the method to increase the
compliant generation of supporters. However, it prohibits enjoyable sexual pleasures that do not
serve the abovementioned purpose, which illustrates Big Brother's control of both physical,
innate instincts and psycho-emotional desires. All of the above occurred before, with Gladiators
or eunuchs, and has been happening even now, in contemporary times with soldiers, hermits,
religious fanatics and sometimes even professional athletes. Thus, it can be regarded as physical
and mental control of one over many, which is another universal truth of the world.  
"History is always written by the winners" is another noticeable universal truth in 1984.
This phrase conveys the idea that history is subjective, determined by one's selfish and self-
consumed perspective. The party changed all historical evidence, journals, photos, both official
and personal, to suit their version of events. The annihilation of truth is an everyday practice in
Orwell's world, as the audience learns from Winston, the officer in the Ministry of Truth
responsible for turning the "wrong" history into the "correct" one.  The abovementioned could be
seen as another universal truth since many civilizations, including all ancient Chinese dynasties,
believed that it was only natural for history to be written by winners. There was a respected
position in the palace, called historiographer, who would record all of the emperor's rule.
Yet, interestingly, no historiographer had ever written anything to hurt the reputation of the
current ruler, and most of the information contrasts the recorded texts from other, typically
neighboring countries. Also, the party in 1984 controls personal history and childhood by
obliterating all personal records from the past towards the complete absence of any memorabilia
that could kindle selfhood and empower individual identity. To fit in the party, one has to neglect
their unique essence and become one with the herd.   
 Finally, the eternal failure of resistance and revolution is
another significant universal truth in 1984. The party manages to quietly yet efficiently
exterminate anyone that threatens to start a revolution. For instance, Syme, another employee in
the Ministry of Truth, is the individual that is clever and conscious enough to see through the
party's propaganda and oppose the system, which is why he vanished pretty soon after sharing
his rebellious thoughts with Winston. Interestingly, there is a disparity in the main characters'
attitudes and impulses towards the party's suppression. Winston considers the act of sexual
intercourse with Julia as a symbol of freedom and rebellion, whereas she sees it as an
opportunity to fulfill her selfish desires and seize the day.  This contrast significantly shows how
people react contradictory and diversly to the same stimulus and thus there is no one objective
truth or perspective. The universal truth illustrated through their opposition shows that every
political turmoil such as the Chinese institutional revolution or, even more contemporary, the
Belarus antigovernment demonstration, gives rise to a variety of characters, noble and greedy,
selfish and humble who all, according to Orwell, once again end up beaten down and
restrained.   
All in all, 1984  is abundant with cautionary ideas and distinct universal truths
regarding totalitarianism, mass control, and failure of resistance. The novel is a harbinger of a
gloomy future, a tragic consequence of human greed, thr temptation of the ruling power, and a
naive tendency to fanatically believe in ideals. People are easily seduced creatures who readily
turn their back on what makes them human and promptly betray the ones they love, only to
ultimately find themselves imprisoned in the marsh of desire before they irrevocably fade in the
grand river of history.  
"History repeats itself, first as tragedy, second as farce." —Karl Max