1984: 75th Anniversary

What can be said about this book that has not already been said? Orwell’s despondent view of an evil utopia hits all the right notes. His vision into a near-possible future is stunning, depressing and all too understandable. A warning, a final prophesy written by a spirited visionary in the final stage of his life.Many have read this book early in their youth, most likely as part of their educational upbringing. 1984 and Animal Farm are standard, pedantic texts battle ready for disaffected youth to sink their teeth into. This book, among the greats, seems boundless in the echoes and touchstones resounding within its tome. In revisiting the text many years later, one will find that Orwell’s words seem strangely even more relevant than they were at first blanch. Perhaps even more so than they were when original meted out and scratched into paper during the author’s self-imposed exile in the Scottish isle that was his final home so many years ago.There are so many elements here that have such deep and broad depth that will keep this work of literature relevant for many more years. Orwell invented the terms “Big Brother” and “Thought Crime” and dove unrepentantly into issues of privacy, personal freedom and individualism. All this before the revolution of the internet! He also fretted over the degradation of language (OMG!) and the breakdown and bastardization of society’s communal bonds, family bonds, bonds of friendship and the abolishment of simple love. His vision of a mechanized society (one that even turns books out by machines), is more than a decry by a luddite so much as it concerns the debasement or obliteration of the individual and sense of self.Orwell’s main thrust seems to be right at the heart of man and the core inner lust for domination and power, simply for its own sake. That ever-present evolutionary tendency to thrive at all costs without purpose or direction, and the ability of that singular impetus to take over and distort all else toward its own end. He digs that up out of the blackest parts of the human heart and disgorges it upon the shoreline of society receding tide as if to say, “This too is what you are. Do not kid yourself.”For me, this book was rough. The tone was bleak. Throughout. Unflinchingly somber and hopeless. Yet, the story of the protagonist and his struggle amid this world turned upside down, is relatable and believable. Despite the obvious despair and immeasurable odds, we do feel for Winston Smith (the protagonist) and we do root for him. We follow him in his desperation to find something, some way to express himself and make a dent in the impenetrable wall that has become the totalitarian society which he is a part. We feel his constant fear and ever present distrust of everything—almost. The little glimmers of possibilities, even when they are squashed, keep your interest and balance the grim-gray that pervades everything.One thing that struck me was that the female character Julia, is an interesting addition. She has a good amount of gumption and serves more than just a goal or love interest. She is fleshed out pretty well and adds a lot of dimension to the story by sharing the protagonist’s goals, but also coming from a slightly different more realistic viewpoint.Another thing I found interesting in reading this book in present time was how insular the story is. We are just as stuck as the protagonist. All news of the outside world and the society is filtered to the reader through the regime in power. We never really know who to trust or when something might be real or made up or mere speculation. Nothing ever really seems certain. The story never ever escapes this – there is never an Oz-like “Man behind the Curtain” moment. Not really. We are told how some things work, and sometimes by sources that are deemed more reliable than others, but we don’t truly find out.This tight view point, keeps up a claustrophobic feeling that forces the storyline to remain connected to the protagonist’s individual struggle. Even though Winston Smith is concerned with larger concepts and a revolutionary struggle on a society level–the story remains individualistic. However, the tale is not a man’s struggle with himself, it is a man’s struggle to find himself among others; the interrelatedness of things and how important that is. The totalitarian regime in power has distorted this effect and is manifesting control by continually putting up road blocks and pseudo-constructed, societal norms to hamper true progress and growth.Even still, the individual struggles to find their place in society. As the story goes on, I think it is clear that most of this doomed society continues to struggle with this. And the powers that be, must expend an immense amount of effort and expense to constantly suppress this. In the end, can that really work? Have a care. Big Brother is watching.Podcast: If you enjoy my review (or this topic) this book and the movie based on it were further discussed/debated in a lively discussion on my podcast: "No Deodorant In Outer Space". The podcast is available on iTunes, YouTube or our website.

“Books like Orwell’s are powerful warnings, and it would be most unfortunate if the reader smugly interpreted “1984” as another description of Stalinist barbarism, and if he does not see that it means us, too” -Erich Fromm. George Owell’s book 1984 speaks about the questionable actions the government takes in order to protect and watch over the people living in their dystopian society. The themes outline the dangers of a totalitarian government and waves of manipulation as they suppress any sort of possibilities of citizens questioning their power. Some of these themes can be compared to our present day life. I recommend “1984”, because it is a controversial book that grabs the reader’s attention as it reflects on government manipulation and social class issues.“The Party” is described as an unknown higher power that has total influence over its citizens. It is clear that the Party has manipulated its citizens to think in a “certain way”. One way they manipulate the citizens is the rewritten text from the past. The mutability of history causes citizens to believe that some make believe figures and events actually existed when in reality, it was created in favor of the Party. This is described when Orwell states “Who controls the past,’ ran the Party slogan, ‘controls the future: who controls the present controls the past.” Winston participated in this when he invented a figure named “Comrade Ogilvy”. This idea is a parallel to real life because in different countries, certain events are rewritten to appear patriotic towards the country. Another example of government manipulation is the widespread propaganda. Citizens were forced to view advertisements of hate towards “The Brotherhood” (anti-government) group and Goldstein (Brotherhood leader). Citizens also participated in a week long event called “Hate Week” which was designed to ignite anger and hatred towards the “enemy”. Telescreens were also posted everywhere in order to keep track of the citizens' lives. These ideas are controversial to today’s society. Many are weary of the government spying on our actions through webcams and cell phones. During election season, propaganda of leaders can be seen to create hate similar to how the Party forces propaganda to its citizens. There are three slogans the Party lives by: “War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength”. Citizens of Oceania live by these quotes believing it is the correct ideas because the Party constantly repeats it. The parallel for this is that there are certain ideas that some countries live by that overall can be dangerous towards its citizens. The idea of government manipulation in 1984 is an eye-opening experience to read and will make any reader question whether any of these practices are happening in their real life.Social class issues were presented with the story through a concept called “Inner Party” and “Outer Party”. The “Inner Party” is the high and elite class of citizens of Oceania and they have less privileges than the “Outer Party”. The “Outer Party” is described as the “middle class” of the story. Most are given government jobs however, they are the most threatening to the government because they are intelligent enough to start a revolution. There are also the “Proles” that have poorer conditions than the “Outer Power” and makes up 85% of the population. The Party controls the “Proles” by exposing them to vices such as alcohol and pornography; furthermore, they are considered and viewed as animals. This social class system can be seen in today’s society. For example, in the United States, the “Inner Party” is compared to the “Top 1%”. The “Outer Party” makes up the middle working class. Though not as extreme as described in the book, the “Proles” can compare to the rest of America’s population: low working wages and mostly involved in vices as well. In the book, Winston writes “If there is any hope, it lies with the Proles” meaning that if there is any hope for change for the regime, it would start the majority of the population. This is an idea that is popular in American politics. Leaders tend to campaign towards the low working class population because they know there is more of “them” in the population to vote. This theme can bring attention to the reader and persuade them to understand how their society is composed and “controlled by the government”.“1984” was one of the first books to explore the ideas of change and “free thinking”. This caused many institutions to ban this book, which is ironic because censorship was one of the ways the Party manipulated its citizens. I would recommend this book to encourage conversations about individualism and power.