Classics, 245 pages
My desire to read 1984 has been growing for quite some time now, especially given the way it is bandied about in the media these days. I was glad to have a classic really draw me in for a change. And for the same classic to be under 300 pages.
1984 is a kind of political science fiction novel where the world is divided up in to thirds, with each third ruled by a war-mongering hegemon. It is unclear if all three societies have the same political and social climate, but life in Oceania is reduced to a bleak, gray, anti-Utopian caste system society with Big Brother always watching.
Winston Smith, the protagonist, lives in London - now a part of Oceania. He works as a middle bureaucrat in the Ministry of Truth, helping Big Brother censor everyone's behavior and rewrite the past so that it falls in line with Big Brother's desires and predictions. Winston begins to grow disgusted with the constant oppression and drudgery that is life in the totalitarian society of which he is a part. He longs for freedom, forged by an uprising of the proletariat or to join the fabled Brotherhood in its fight against Big Brother's tyranny.
My desire to read 1984 has been growing for quite some time now, especially given the way it is bandied about in the media these days. I was glad to have a classic really draw me in for a change. And for the same classic to be under 300 pages.
1984 is a kind of political science fiction novel where the world is divided up in to thirds, with each third ruled by a war-mongering hegemon. It is unclear if all three societies have the same political and social climate, but life in Oceania is reduced to a bleak, gray, anti-Utopian caste system society with Big Brother always watching.
Winston Smith, the protagonist, lives in London - now a part of Oceania. He works as a middle bureaucrat in the Ministry of Truth, helping Big Brother censor everyone's behavior and rewrite the past so that it falls in line with Big Brother's desires and predictions. Winston begins to grow disgusted with the constant oppression and drudgery that is life in the totalitarian society of which he is a part. He longs for freedom, forged by an uprising of the proletariat or to join the fabled Brotherhood in its fight against Big Brother's tyranny.
At the Ministry of Truth, Winston encounters O'Brien - a member of the inner circle. Winston recognizes a kind of kinship with O'Brien. He begins keeping a journal, for O'Brien in his mind. When O'Brien finally offers Winston the chance to meet with him and the possibility to join with the Brotherhood, Winston jumps to take it. Because of his actions, Winston is ultimately captured by the Thought Police and incarcerated in the horrifying Ministry of Love, where he is 're-educated' and taught to once again love Big Brother.
The story of 1984 is really kind of miserable and depressing, but the prose is clear and the book itself is fairly easy to read. If ever I read a book that I could understand being deemed a 'classic', this is definitely it. The ideas Orwell puts forth are still relevant in today's society. Corey and I have had many thought provoking discussions about how 1984 has been and could be applied to society today, and isn't that enduring quality the real definition of a literary classic?
While I wouldn't go so far as to say that today's media is intentionally changing its past articles to fall into line with the current ideology of a particular political party, I would definitely assert that the media is moving farther and farther away from reporting just straight facts. Any source you use for your news and information always has some type of political slant, and I do get the impression that we are not nearly as well informed as we think sometimes.
Likewise, it also seems true that our personal liberty has been gradually eroded, although not to the degree that this has happened in 1984. Corey is currently reading this book, and I can't wait for the lively political discussions that will ensue in our household after he is finished. I rate this one a 5 out of 5. If you haven't read it, you definitely should!
How great that you liked this one so much! I read it in high school, and I know I didn't appreciate it as much as I could. And I totally agree with you on the more and more opinionated reporting -- you have to be really aware of who you're getting your information from, and how much of a grain of salt you should take that info with. Which is so sad, I think.
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