“Under the spreading chestnut tree; I sold you and you sold me; There they lie and here we lie; Under the leafy chestnut” (77). This quote seems meaningless, until you know the meaning behind its puzzling symbolism. The novel 1984, written by George Orwell, is a novel based on a strict government rule. Yet, the way the novel is written is what makes it both a political warning and a timeless treasure. George Orwell has such a writing style that his irony and symbolism can easily go unnoticed until the end of the novel, when everything is put together. 1984 is about a man, Winston Smith, where he lives under a strict government rule where he is not free to think as he wants. He commits a series of crimes against the rule, also known as big brother, including having relations with a woman named Julia. The two are eventually discovered and betray each other to stop their horrific torment. The above quote was said to be a nursery rhyme, however it turned out to be a gruesome truth about how they reported each other to the party that enforces Big Brother rules. 1984 is a disconcerting novel due to its constant use of symbolism, irony and imagery. 1984 is a stunning novel largely in part for its abundant use of symbolism. Throughout the novel George Orwell gives meaning to small and delicate elements which, until the end of the novel, cannot be fully grasped. The simplest example of using symbolism in 1984 was the weight of glass paper. Winston purchased the paperweight from a parole store owned by a man named Mr. Charrington. During this time Winston was led to believe that Mr. Charrington was a parolee, a free-thinking person because he is considered not…half of paper…war is peace. , yet we are always at war and nothing is ever peaceful. The party lies to cover up acts of war that are not peaceful anyway. Freedom is not slavery. Freedom is the ability to think and act freely, yet the characters in 1984 are slaves to the rule of their government. And ignorance is strength, because those who know the truth, like Winston, cannot act without going against the party. Yet, those who know nothing, like words, would have all the power if they would only recognize it. Paroled liberals are the only ones who might have enough freedom to say that “two plus two equals four” (81). Furthermore, the government is made up of four parts. Ministry of Truth, Ministry of Love, Ministry of Peace and Ministry of Abundance. The Ministry of Truth houses party members who actually edit the past to include what the government wants it to say (39).