INTRODUCTION
Imagine being watched all the time. Through the window, through the television. There are eyes everywhere. A big brother they claim him to be, but is he really is a question this book will answer. In this book of mystery, intrigue and fear, follow the main characters in their journey of reclaiming their lives.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Its difficult to image a controlled environment and government. In today’s age we take freedom for granted. The story 1984 is set in a different type of world. A world where control reigns supremacy. 1984 is one of the best seminal works of the 20th century. Its narrative arc seems to be growing truer and truer as we progress to the future.
BLURB
In 1984, our main character is Winston Smith. The land is called Oceania and it is a place where the Party overlooks all human actions under the guise of the Big Brother. Going against these very dangerous individuals, Winston attempts to preserve his individuality by writing in his diary. He also pursues a relationship with Julia, something which is against the law. How he battles against the government is the quest of this book. Filled with mystery, control and death, this book questions the freedom of choice and expression.
THEMES
This deeply thought-provoking book has several interesting themes, some of the best being:
● Love: in this book love is forbidden. How can humans survive without this primal need. This world is very eye opening for readers because it is difficult to imagine a place where love has no space. Julia and Winston’s love story is a breath of fresh air and a stride of individuality and autonomy.
● Choice: in a world of so much control, choosing to do certain basic things can lead you to jail. We watch from the very beginning as Winston writes in his diary secretly, falls in love and reclaims his identity. He is a stark example of someone who utilizes their freedom to choose. He demands his freedom to choose.
CHARACTERS
The central characters of this book are Julia and Winston Smith. Their love story goes in the face of the government organization. This story is the primal arc of the novel and depicts how control and rule can be overridden by hope, exercise of choice and more importantly love.
BEST LINES
A book about power and the rights to one’s own choices is littered with beautiful quotes such as:
– “Perhaps one did not want to be loved so much as to be understood.”
– “Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past.”
– “War is peace.
Freedom is slavery.
Ignorance is strength.”
– “Being in a minority, even in a minority of one, did not make you mad. There was truth and there was untruth, and if you clung to the truth even against the whole world, you were not mad.”
– “For, after all, how do we know that two and two make four? Or that the force of gravity works? Or that the past is unchangeable? If both the past and the external world exist only in the mind, and if the mind itself is controllable – what then?”
– “Nothing was your own except the few cubic centimeters inside your skull.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
George Orwell is one of the most celebrated authors of the 20th century. His work always includes intelligent wit and humor, satire and truth. He was a believer of democratic socialism, and his works reflected this thought. In addition to his literary career, Orwell also served as a police officer in Burma from 1922-1927.
CONCLUSION
1984 is a powerful book. It’s a book that shows how truth can be changed under power and pressure. It is also a book that tells us how important it is to preserve that very truth. It tells us this by showing us the character of Winston – a proud man who lives by his truth and values.
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