Book: 1984
Author: George Orwell
Publication: Penguin Publishing House
Price: Rs. 330
Pages: 326
Plot: As the name suggests, set in 1984, this is the story of a totalitarian state Oceania. A state which is governed by an all-controlling Party, a party which has brainwashed its people of thoughtless obedience to its leader called the ‘Big Brother.’
Big Brother controls every aspect of life. He watches everyone from everywhere through telescreens, there are posters across the streets saying ‘Big Brother is watching you.’ Even in houses, people are not free. What they speak, what they do everything is under scrutiny. A totalitarian state can do anything, they can change the history and language of people, and they can manipulate people and make them nothing but robots. The Party do not want any rebellion. Even a rebellion in thoughts. People of Oceania are not allowed to think, to write their thoughts. They are forced to believe in ‘WAR IS PEACE, FREEDOM IS SLAVERY, and IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH.’ There are ‘Thought-Police’ who keeps an eye on people and if someone is found revolting the Party, they are given a punishment, they are sent to the dreaded room called 101.
The story starts with the protagonist, Winston Smith. Smith is a minor party functionary living in London. His job is to rewrite history in the Ministry of Truth bringing it in line with current political thinking. Smith is frustrated with the omnipresent Big Brother. In his frustration, he commits a crime of buying a diary and writing his thoughts in it. This is a deadly crime in Oceania. But that’s not all, he did another crime, he fell in love with Julia who is his coworker.
They both started having a secret affair and hating the Party more with time. But till when this secret is going to be a secret? Will a small rebellion of Smith can change his and other’s life in Oceania or will this incident change him?
My Views: I have mixed emotions about this book. So let me start with what I liked.
This book is like a horror movie, it can give you chills and goosebumps. I was so scared to think of a party which controls people’s thoughts. I was scared for Smith and Julia, what if they got caught? What will they do to them? These were the questions which occupied my mind. The thought that Big Brother is watching everyone, even in their houses is spine-tingling. It seems like a prison, a prison for the mind too.
The book caught me off-balance. I have not read many such dystopian novels, I think the only one I read before this one was ‘Animal Farm’ written by George Orwell only. He has taken a situation from the present situation and then made a world with exaggeration. But these are not just exaggeration, these are like a warning to society. A warning that giving power to one or a group of dictators can change our world completely, so much that we won’t be able to know the correct date and year. Whatever the party or government told us will be the ultimate truth.
It is a profound, powerful book which can leave you hollow inside for some time.
But there are a few things which I didn’t like. I didn’t find it engaging. There were some pages which I just could not finish, they seemed so long and dreadful. Not that there were not good moments, but having these moments where you start finding a book little boring is kind of a turn-off. It can also be because politics is not really my genre.
Also, if you are not used to of reading classics, you may find the language little difficult. George Orwell books are not that easy to read, especially for beginners.
Coming to the characters, you won’t find much depth in characters, and that’s what makes the book scarier. The characters are so used to being ruled in every aspect of their life that they have totally forgotten who they are, what their essence is, what is it that they want.
The book is colourless, hopeless, joyless, dark, and frightening but absolutely powerful, profound and brilliant.
Recommendations: If you love reading political books, then this one is definitely for you. But if you are ready to go through some unappealing pages, then please read this book, because it has the power to leave you contemplating and vacuous at the same time.
Ratings: 4/5
Oh, yes and remember Big Brother is watching you.
6 Likes
I also read this book more recently even though I am 46 and knew of it forever.
It really moved me because it reminds me of modern day North Korea’s way of life almost. It’s utterly frightening that real people in 2021 could live in a version of Oceana. The part when he goes to the Ministry of Love to be tortured and brainwashed is extremely disturbing and yet, it’s happening every day to real humans in its own way. I did not find the book boring at all. The only part I disliked was when they were reading the book and the entire thing was written out for us to also read. Otherwise, I was interested and keep in mind Owell wrote this book whilst very ill with TB, in a Sanatorium and he himself said he would have written it better had he felt better. There’s also an additional Appendix around talking about the future and how Newspeak failed.
There is also a version where he writes 2+2= and does not write the 5 at all.
Wow Alana, I never knew Orwell wrote it when he was ill. And yes, you said it right, it was very disturbing to read when he was sent to the Ministry of Love. What I found disturbing while reading any of Orwell’s books is that though he has written them years back, they are still valid. People in power still take advantage of those who are not in power, and they will go to any extent to remain in power. It is like George Orwell knew powerful people to the core and he did his best to tell us all. But we still haven’t learned much from him. While reading this book I realized political books are actually not my kind of genre, that’s what I found it little boring and disturbing.
Thank you for taking time out to read this post and commenting here, I really love the information you gave me about this book and loved to know your thoughts. Thank you so much.