You really should read 1984. Nothing to do with anything in this thread or your book read it just for itself. The fact it will be helpfull for this book is just a benefit.
This following bit is my impression of that part of the book, others may (will?
) disagree.
The opression in 1984 is not for fun and isn't slightly sadistic (In the classical 'someone enjoys doing it' sense). It is to crush any opposition, at all. You don't just kill traitors or rebels, you make them admit they're wrong and make them love the goverment. Reduce them to nothing but love for the leader and then put them out of their misery. Not a 'I'll say anything under torture' admission, but a genuine feeling/thought.
But that is just one of the many excellent facets of the book. So much of it has entered popular culture, and it's so damn good as a book, that anyone calling themselves an author really should read it.