1984

Book: 1984 by George Orwell published 1949
ISBN: 0451524934

How I found this book: School book list

Average Goodreads Rating: 4.09 stars (out of 1,396,869 ratings)

My Rating: 3 out of 5 sleeping puppies


    1984 by George Orwell is a classic dystopian novel that stars a 39 year old man named Winston Smith. In Winston's world, Oceania everyone is constantly under watch through futuristic tv sets that broadcast government propaganda at all times. Everyone is not allowed to say or even think anything negative towards the party or Oceania's mysterious leader, big brother. Winston himself has a job altering historical documents to favor the government knowing full well what he is doing and the consequences of doing so.

   A key point in the book I have to mention, is the slogans of the party:

                                                          War is Peace 
                                                    Ignorance is Strength 
                                                     Freedom is Slavery
  
 There is lots of discussion about the meaning of these statements floating around, but my interpretation of them is this... 'War is Peace' In Oceania the people are united by having a common enemy. While the people are busy participating in Hate Week they are distracted and their hate is directed an outside force instead of at their own government. It also acts as a way to burn resources as stated in the book of the brotherhood Winston obtains.
      
          'Ignorance is Strength' A common theme in dystopian literature is the idea that government leaders are hiding important secrets from the people under the rational that 'what they don't know can never harm them'. Which seems like an almost good idea on the surface, but as shown in these novels time and time again is, it never lasts. 
     
      Another frequently used trope in Science Fiction and YA literature, 'Freedom is Slavery' if people are free to think for themselves they will fail. That is what tyrannical leaders say in order to keep people afraid and in their power. However, a literate, individual minded person is dangerous to an unjust society. They are aware. Awareness is the first step in changing a situation which is what the party of Oceania fears.
         
            One of my favorite parts in the book is the complex character relationship between Winston and his young lover, Julia. Throughout the book I kept going back and forth over ''do they really love each other''. Yes they have sex. That doesn't necessarily mean anything emotionally. I was under the impression that Julia, a twenty something year old girl seduces Winston just for sport. She is against the party but whenever Winston wants to have a deeper conversation on this she seems distant, uninterested. Nearing the end of the novel she throws him under the bus and confesses him to the thought police. Granted, he does the same eventually. But Winston doesn't betray her for a very long time proudly saying to his torturer, ''I have not betrayed Julia''. He thinks of her while held captive. He definitely had some feelings for her but I don't think she shared those feelings on the same level.

         I did this book a lower rating. There were a lot of good points brought up by Orwell in this book about both government and philosophy and I do have respect for this novel. However, it was a very dark, heavy book. I'm almost used to YA fiction in which the main character gallantly saves the day and we have a happy ending. I kept finding myself waiting for that to happen and in a way I was disappointed I didn't find that.

             Thanks for reading!                                 - R