How does the novel 1984 start?

The story unfolds on a cold April day in 1984 in Oceania, the totalitarian superpower in post World War II Europe. Actually, “Oceania” is a little too broad, seeing as the superstate encompasses the continents formerly known as the Americas, Australia, parts of Africa, and the British Isles. 1984 takes place on those Isles, now referred to as “Airstrip One.”

The ruling party is known as The Party. The Party is an ominously vague entity with an ominously vague mascot: Big Brother.

Big Brother is there to remind all the Party members and citizens of Oceania not to step out of line.