This was one of the books I choose from my book jar. I had been planning to read it this year for several reasons 1) I was born in 1984, 2) its an election year so why not? Let me get started by saying this is book is very different from any other dystopian novel I have ever read. It was frightening and carried in it some wisdoms and (I think) a bit of a warning about the way society might actually look like in the year 1984. Its important to note that the book was published in 1949; just five years after the second world war. During this time some people in the world were still struggling to put the pieces of their lives back together. This novel seems to take a look at what might happen under socialist party rule. In this world that Orwell has created Winston is a young man that seems very much a lover of the party but, also hates everything that his party stands for. He hates the rigidity of his life. Hates that he can not truly be his own man and express himself. He and others in Oceania are not even allowed to truly think for themselves. As part of their motto says "ignorance is freedom". They are not meant to play outside the party lines; because this means you will have to pay the ultimate price, by giving up your life.
What I found very frightening about the society built into this novel is that everything is so closely monitored. The citizens from Oceania are not really allowed to marry, they can have children but are not expected to raise them or have any connection to the children. Even when they do raise their children the kids are taught to spy on the parents and are even encouraged to turn them in; because after all there is no real loyalty - unless it is your loyalty to the party. Nowhere in this world can you be an individual. No way that you can be completely free.
To a point, especially with the election in the United States looming large; I can see how this book fits one of our political parties and who one of the candidates for President could fit the role of Big Brother. When I looked at it that way the book was very damn scary.
One of the over all themes of the book was really trust no one. Do not trust your "friends", do not trust the person your "fooling around" with because anyone can be the thought police. Because even when you do not think you're being watched you are. Anyone in this world can betray you. For winston this happens via a co-worker and a man whom he purchased a journal from.
During the story, Winston is silently being watched for months. The thought police giving him enough time to really implicate that he has done something.
What I loved about this book is that Winston was extremely relatable. He was a character that you could really see yourself getting behind; a man who you wished you could be like in that situation. Someone that is willing to face betrayal and even death in order to change your society.
I am very happy to have finally read this wonderful dystopian classic. On Goodreads, I gave this book 4/5 stars.
Here are some of the quotes I liked:
"War is peace...Freedom is slavery...Ignorance is Strength"
"It's a beautiful thing, the destruction of words"
"Until they become conscious they will never rebel, and until after they have rebelled they can not become conscious"
