Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell Summary and Reviews
|
List Price: Our Price: $7.49 You Save: $9.51 (56%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $5.97 (click here) Category: Book See more book details and other editions |
|---|
Book Reviews of Nineteen Eighty-Four
Book Review: A little late but its finally here.
Summary: 5 Stars
It isn't happening exactly the way Orwell thought it would but close enough for "government work" as they say. The few differences are covered in "Brave New World" (I always tell my associates to take 1984 and Brave New World, toss them in a blender and then pour out the situation that exists today) as far as the covert aspects of a government controlled society (although the government didn't have to take over the media; the media is going along willingly without government control and the "feelies" (to keep people occupied doing ANYTHING other than contemplating the government)are being provided by I-pod, X-box and a host of other distractions provided to preclude the population from observing much of anything outside the immediate sphere of their own existence.
I purchase copies of this book whenever I spot them in a used book store and then hand them out like candy to co-workers and friends - just to get them to start thinking about what's going on now. After reading the Federalist Papers, Letters from Jefferson and other "Founding Father's Documents" it apparent that where we are today is nothing akin to where they would have envisioned us to be - it was "Promote the general welfare" not "give out welfare", "pursuit of happiness" not "make sure everyone is happy". We are where we are today by ignoring what's going on and allowing a government similar to the one's that Orwell and Huxley predicted would develop. If you have yet to read this book then grab a copy and contemplate a further projection of the predictions; where is the control by the government over the "citizens" [subjects?] going to be in another ten years?
Book Review: A review from the classroom of Mr. Jolley
Summary: 5 Stars
Step into a time not too far into the future-a time of hatred, lies, pain, conformity, and secrets. Let this new and horrifying reality encompass and draw in your imagination. This is no ordinary story. There are no heroes, no friends, or family. Only power, enemies, and fading hope exist. War is a continuous part of life. It never ends and never changes. The past can, even, be changed or erased. They call it a perfect world. "It's never been this good," they say. No one objects. No one ever rebels, or at least, those that do are never heard of again. They just disappear. They are wiped out of existence and forgotten. Don't dare think of rebellion, for eyes and ears are always watching and listening. They are waiting for you to make a mistake and give yourself away. The smallest blink of an eye or twitch of a muscle could make you a suspect of a thought crime. Yet, there are rumors of a group of rebels that still fight back. Is it only false hope, or do they really exist? There is no way of knowing. No one can be certain of anything here. Just do and believe what you are told. It is the only way to stay alive. This depiction of the future is revealed in George Orwell's shocking novel, 1984. The book is about an ordinary man named Winston Smith who is lost in the twisted world in which he lives. Nothing is extraordinary about him. He follows the rules and never questions his instructions. Yet, something inside him begins to stir. Deep within the hollows of his mind, it awakes. It haunts his every move, thought, and dream. The yearnings become too much for him, and he can no longer ignore them. Determination, soon, overcomes fear, and he decides to pursue the insane desires. However, one cannot forget that there are always sacrifices to be made in return for decisions. The question is whether or not you are willing to make them. This is what Winston must face. Will he discover what is calling him, or will he turn away in fear? Will he return to the conformity, hatred, and lies of the world? Well, that is for you to discover.
Orwell's amazing novel is thought-provoking and terrifying. This book is definitely worth your time. From the very first word to the very last words of the book, your imagination is captured and inspired. Powerful imagery and symbols give unmistakable meaning to the story. The effects of this book still stay with you long after the book is read. If the chance is ever given, take the opportunity to get lost in Orwell's breathtaking novel.
Book Review: A timeless classic that anyone can enjoy.
Summary: 5 Stars
In 1948, on the island of Jura in Scotland, a middle-aged and gravely tubercular man pen-named George Orwell (real name Eric Arthur Blair), began writing his sixth novel. Orwell, an extremely influential journalist and author who was known for his adroit ability to craft with the English language, his strong opinions on political issues such as totalitarianism, and his satirical novella Animal Farm (1945), sent the final copy of his sixth and final novel to his publisher on 4 December 1948. On 8 June 1949, the novel hit the shelves of bookstores, bearing the name Nineteen Eighty-Four. Seven months after his book was released, on 28 January 1950, Orwell passed away because of complications with tuberculosis. Over 60 years later, people still enjoy this grim, enigmatic tale of a futuristic society gone horribly wrong. The edition I am reviewing is a 328- page reprint by Signet Classics, complete with the story, an appendix with the principles of Newspeak, and an afterword by Erich Fromm.
In the futuristic super-state Oceania, which consists mainly of the Americas, the Atlantic islands, Australia, and the southern portion of Africa, the story takes place in what used to be called Britain, but is now known as "Airstrip One". One could infer from the title that the story takes place in the year 1984 (although the government's falsification of history has created some uncertainty regarding what year the story really takes place in). Oceania itself is governed by a three-tiered totalitarian party, separated into an Inner Party, an Outer Party, and a large proletariat population, all of which are led by a mysterious dictator named Big Brother. Winston Smith, a member of the Outer Party who works in one of the ministries of the Party, takes the main role in this story. Because he possesses a mind unlike many of those within the Party, a mind full of resistance and hate towards the Party, Winston regularly does things that would be considered a crime in Oceanic society, a society in which the truth is censored, the actions of people are closely monitored, the thoughts of people are controlled and altered, and peoples' individuality has been removed.
At the opening of this story, we find that Winston works in the Ministry of Truth, a large governing ministry which is responsible for rewriting historical documents and media and changing facts to fit Party doctrine and make it seem like the Party is absolute and never wrong, in essence turning most news media, and even some books and some forms of art, into propagandist media (and also turning the name of the ministry into a lie). Normal Party members are oblivious to falsification because their minds have been trained to simultaneously accept two contradicting beliefs as correct (this is referred to in the story as doublethink). However, Winston is different. He begins to see through the party, their abuse of power, their lies, and their hate, and because of this, he seeks psychological freedom.
Winston seems to recall a time in his life when things were much better. However, he doesn't quite remember when that time was, or what it was really like. This mere feeling causes Winston to ponder whether or not there was a time before his where life was much better; a time without perpetual war, political unrest, or harsh living conditions. Because of this, he seeks a way to bring down Big Brother and the Party. He finds hope in rumors of an underground organization known as the Brotherhood, created for the purpose of overthrowing the party. He also finds hope in the proles, theorizing that with the size of their population, if they realized that their life could be much, much better (though how can you do that when this is how you have lived since the day you were born?), they might band together and overthrow the party.
He also finds hope in a fellow employee, Julia, who Winston at first believes is an agent of the Thought Police. However, an encounter at work changes his mind when she reveals to him that she loves him. They begin an affair, rendezvousing in remote locations to make love; not just because of love, but also for rebellion against the Party. They then make a home in an antique shop in a proletarian quarter of Airstrip One. Another fellow employee of Winston's, O'Brien, displays discontent for the party as well, and upon Winston and Julia meeting with him in his flat, he reveals that the Brotherhood really does exist, and he allows Winston and Julia to be a part of it, so long as they understand that the change they desire will not happen in their lifetime.
Winston had finally found paradise in a collectivist hell. Not only that, but he had also become part of the force that was going to bring down the Party! He knew he had people on his side! Although this seemed very, very promising, this proved to be nothing but a lie. Winston receives a book from O'Brien regarding oligarchical collectivism that was written by Emmanuel Goldstein, a co-founder of the Party who ended up betraying it and, because of this, becoming the primary object of hate in Oceania. Shortly after this, Winston and Julia are betrayed by the owner of the antique store they lived in, who turns out to be an agent of the Thought Police. Shortly after this, they are both taken away to the Ministry of Love.
During his captivity in the Ministry of Love, Winston is beaten, abused, neglected and periodically interrogated by members of the Inner Party (his treatment being indicative of yet another misnomer of a ministry that specializes in interrogation through torture). O'Brien, who revealed himself to be a member of the Inner Party, interrogates Winston several times, and at one point reveals to him that the Party wants more than just confessions from people who are considered "thoughtcriminals". The Party needs to be certain of every citizen's love for Big Brother and the Party because they simply want every citizen to believe in Big Brother and the Party. They don't want to exterminate those who do not believe. Rather, they want to go to the fullest extent to force them to believe. With this as their motive, what will happen to Winston? Will he continue to resist the Party? Will he end up just like every other brainwashed, orthodox citizen of Oceania? The conclusion of this story reveals all of this and more. What O'Brien revealed to Winston shows that in a totalitarian regime the top priority of the party is to control everything they can possibly control. Even your own mind. This book clearly illustrates for the reader the dangers of totalitarianism and how this political system dramatically affects the quality of life for the citizens held within it.
Late teens to adults of any age who have strong opinions on political issues or enjoy dystopic fiction or social science fiction will enjoy this book. However, people who are sensitive to sexual content or violence might not like certain aspects of this story, because there are points where topics like this are either hinted at, or sometimes even elaborated upon. Also, a recommended prerequisite to this book is to possess a rather advanced vocabulary, that is to say that if your reading level isn't quite at the college level, then you may have some difficulty getting through this book. I enjoyed this book. I actually enjoyed it a lot. The ending, however, I did not exactly enjoy because this book did not end the way I wanted it to or the way I thought it would. However, by no means does the ending negate the book's appeal; the book is sure to be a great choice for anyone who enjoys complex characters, an enigmatic storyline, and outstanding, elegant usage of the English language.
Book Review: A work of genius that provides warning
Summary: 5 Stars
1984 is one of the best novels ever written in English. The dismal world of the "future" presented here is beyond belief but also seems within reach. Although it may seem to be a warning against communism (some of the elements are found in A Darkness at Noon - a true critique of the pogroms of Stalin), it is in fact a warning against excess that can occur in any government system.
The foreward by T. Pynchon provides some insights, especially about the last chapter on newspeak, but be warned that it does provide spoilers.
Book Review: Among the Literary Greats for Reason
Summary: 5 Stars
It seemed so innocuous, just sitting there wedged between two other books on the shelf, collecting dust with the others on my "yet to read" list. I may have passed it by altogether had it not been for the fact that I needed to complete my three hundred pages for the second quarter of my junior year. Besides, I'd read this author's work before and knew that I enjoyed his writing fairly well. So, without realizing what I was plunging into, I picked up George Orwell's 1984; the most unceremonious beginning for a most extraordinary event.
As I unconsciously flipped the pages, not realizing that I was still me and not Winston Smith, the story's protagonist, barely cognizant, in fact, that this was a book and not reality, I was dimly aware that this was something special; something far beyond what I had been expecting. If Animal Farm was a slightly humorous, if morbid, look at communism, then 1984 was a ghastly, apocalyptic vision of a demented future. After reading the first twenty pages, I determined that this was the single most quotable book of all time.
The infamous Party slogans: "War is Peace," "Freedom is Slavery," "Ignorance is Strength."
"Thoughtcrime does not entail death; thoughtcrime IS death."
"I understand HOW: I do not understand WHY."
"Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make four. If that is granted, all else follows."
Chilling words from what could have been, from an averted catastrophe in which the human race subjugates itself through ignorance. Yet who's to say this could never come to pass? None can honestly look another straight in the eye and say, "That is not the future." To presume so is vanity manifest.
The one enemy man need truly fear is himself. The notorious Big Brother, the faceless autocrat in charge of Orwell's nightmare world (incidentally, it is never established whether Big Brother is a single man or a surreptitious group superciliously dealing justice to the masses), mercilessly dominates life on Oceania, one of three nations in existence. These countries, Oceania, Eurasia, and Eastasia, are continually in a state of war with each other, in which Oceania and one of the others are allied against the last. Big Brother's control over his people is absolute, executed through a methodical censorship that keeps the façade of truth as a contorted mask. Big Brother has the power to efface any record of an event or person - to rewrite the past as he sees fit.
Perhaps less relevant as a prophecy today (1984 has come and gone and no dictatorship has arisen to consolidate the Americas and the United Kingdom into a single communist entity), 1984 remains a very real piece of culture, with its own voice in the way it challenges one's preconceived notions and ideals. My English teacher perhaps said it best, when comparing 1984 to Animal Farm: "Animal Farm hits you with gloves on; 1984 just smacks you bare-fisted." And it's no slap, no half-hearted jab; it is an in-your-face, force of a moving train blow to the jaw from which the reader reels for weeks, even months after. It is an illustration, as well, of the need of consolidation and the hopelessness that such a government can be beaten: Winston, after waging a personal crusade for his secret freedom, winds up a brainwashed pawn of Big Brother.
In the end, Orwell proves that, if the government so wills it, two and two really make five, not four, and no amount of protest is going to change that. This book was a life-changer for me in many ways, but mostly because it made me see a broader view of the world and made me appreciate life as I know it just that much more.
"He gazed up at that enormous face. Forty years it had taken him to learn what kind of smile was hidden beneath the dark mustache. O cruel, needless misunderstanding! O stubborn, self-willed exile from the loving breast. Two gin-scented tears trickled down the sides of his nose. But it was alright, everything was alright, the struggle was finished. He had won the victory over himself. He loved Big Brother."
Quotes taken from George Orwell, 1984, copyright 1949 by Harcourt Brace Javonovich, Inc.