Book Review: "1984" by George Orwell

 

1984

- Book Report by Isaak Kumar

    "Thus, at one moment Winston’s hatred was not turned against Goldstein at all, but, on the contrary, against Big Brother, the Party, and the Thought Police; and at such moments his heart went out to the lonely, derided heretic on the screen, sole guardian of truth and sanity in a world of lies."

(Orwell 19)

    These statements summarize the main character's realization as he pulls back the curtain of lies to reveal the truth. 1984 is a dystopian novel written by George Orwell, an outspoken advocate for democratic socialism, in 1949. This book, written in the middle of World War 2, explores the possibilities of a German occupation and totalitarian rule over Europe. The main character, Winston, lives as a secretary in the nation of Oceania, once called London. In his work, he drastically changes displeasing but veritable documents to fit the agenda of 'The Big Brother'; the mustached face of Oceania’s government. With hidden cameras everywhere and a police force that monitors his thoughts, Winston finally comes to realize the hypocrisy behind his totalitarian government.

    

    Throughout this novel, George Orwell describes the lies made to pursue a dictatorial government. False propaganda, used by both the Axis and Allied powers in World War 2, is a main component of this book. Winston’s job is to change the outcomes of battle statistics and exponentially increase crop yields to create a utopian façade for Oceania. The news shown to the public is entirely different from reality, but the citizens of Oceania blindly believe and praise their government for their imaginary feats. This dark reality shows the importance of relying on veritable information. It also depicts the power the government has over its people through false information.

      

     George Orwell humanizes the main character of his book, Winston. He gives Winston a plethora of personality, making him the center of attention throughout the book. From the start, we see that Winston is different from others, as he remembers his past, such as details before the Oceanian occupation. This makes him question his government's veracity, and he soon pulls away the curtain of the Big Bother's lies. Despite his revolutionary discovery, Winston keeps to his ordinary life, too scared to tell others and too indifferent to care. These feelings, although complex, are portrayed perfectly in George Orwell's writing, and make this novel complex and interesting. The unresolved ending of this book leaves one with much to think about. People's reactions to change cannot be predicted.

    The book has moments of joy and heartbreak. "‘I am with you,’ O’Brien seemed to be saying to him. ‘I know precisely what you are feeling. I know all about your contempt, your hatred, your disgust. But don’t worry, I am on your side!’" (Orwell 22). Such heartwarming instances give hope for a better future. Unfortunately, this book is full of depressingly sad moments as well. "Do you begin to see, then, what kind of world we are creating?... A world of fear and treachery and torment, a world of trampling and being trampled upon"(Orwell 336).  

    "To know and not to know, to be conscious of complete truthfulness while telling carefully constructed lies, to hold simultaneously two opinions which cancelled out, knowing them to be contradictory and believing in both of them, to use logic against logic, to repudiate morality" (Orwell 44). Truth and lies, honesty and corruption, courage and fear were prevalent then and  can still be seen in our world today. George Orwell's 1984 is not just a possible reality, it encourages us to seek the truth. And for all these reasons, I strongly recommend this book.