1984
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- Gobberz1990
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Re: 1984
An all-round good book that has intrigue, love, entrapment and someone in a dictatorial world with an inkling on how to question the system.
- allesha
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- sicsempertyrannis93
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It's in the tenth chapter of the second part where Winston and Julia have just finished making love in their secret apartment. I did not find anything interesting in this scene because to me it was just like two teenagers sneaking around behind their parent's back. This is something that was the topic of conversation at every table in the cafeteria no matter the clique of kids the table happened to occupy. But then there were these words:
"'We are the dead.' he said.
'We are the dead,' echoed Julia dutifully.
You are the dead.' said an iron voice behind them."
I vividly remember sitting back down on the edge of my bed and letting out a "Whoa" and suddenly becoming very interested in the book. I then chuckled at the next like that said "Winston's entrails seemed to have turned to ice." The combination of the hilarity of frozen entrails and the creepy iron voice telling them they were dead from behind a picture frame demanded of me to start the book over.
While the beginning seemed to lag to me, and there is a lot of repetition about policy and the monotony of life, I was really jarred that this very well could be a depiction of the types of censorship we could experience in the future. And the just weeks ago it feels like Big Brother materialized from the pages of Orwell's book and into the mainstream media in the form of the new Facebook messenger. I am sure apps like this have existed since all of our technology has begun to advance, but this one has been chosen as the poster child. Maybe Big Brother has decided it is time to start watching us, or maybe still, just like with Winston and Julia, Big Brother has been watching all along, he was just always hiding underneath the other side of our screen.
Pretty crazy that they chose to have the voice come out from behind a screen isn't it? Since it seems we all live our lives in front of or hid behind screens at all times these days. Just something to think about.
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- amybo82
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- Greeneyedphotogirl79
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- ROBBIESMOMMY
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The book, being written after WWII focuses on the dangers of extreme communism, and it does a marvelous job at conveying its anti-communist message. One simply can't say that this book is one of the books that fails at carrying out its designed message, or that the author is one that is new to this topic. As with the novel Animal Farm, George Orwell successfully provides us as readers with dramatic plot developments, dynamic characters, unforgettable settings, and a sense of intellectuality that not most authors are capable of delivering. The novel is centered on the character of Winston Smith, a member of the controlling government party controlling Oceania (Future UK), although he is not high ranking. From the beginning Winston is shown to be more adventurous and rebellious than most of the members of the party, engaging in acts with prostitutes, visiting old world antique stores, even purchasing the at the time illegal Journals to write his OWN thoughts in, an act considered one of the most dangerous in the government. As the party begins to prepare for Hate Week (A holiday where they "celebrate" their hatred for their enemies), Winston is captivated by the beauty of a young woman, who unbeknown to him shares those feelings. The two secretly begin exchanging messages, which lead to a full blown sexual rebellion against the party.
Their relationship furthers, his acts plunge him deeper into rebellious acts against a totalitarian government, and it shows no sign of stopping, and just when it seemed to be at the peak of rebellion, Winston meets a man by the name of O'Brien, who introduces him to the dark world of The Brotherhood, the anti party entity that goes against everything he's been taught. Treason with a side of sexual betrayal. Will Winston escape from his rebellious actions, or will he live to suffer the consequences? Unfortunately, I am only a reviewer, it's up to you as a reader to choose weather it peeks your interest.
All in all, George Orwell succeeds once again at showing the downsides of improper governmental control, and gives us a greatly captivating story to boot. Once you start you won't be able to stop. Five Stars!
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- [irenecunningham]93
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I thought it was interesting, that while people in 1984 were totally dominated-that there were still areas of woods left and that they were encouraged to exercise. Doesn't it seem like those are risky things to allow?
- Blackbeez
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Between the propaganda and the brainwashing that Orwell addresses I think he was right on in predicting the future from his immediate surroundings. I have never thought this book was some sort of Utopian novel but more of a warning of what was to come within our society.
In 1984 we see the citizens divided against each other and saturated with pro-government propaganda. Not unlike today no? We also see that the propaganda is used in brainwashing techniques similar to the marketing techniques of today. Flash the word "Pepsi" in front of people a million times while they are having fun watching a foot ball game and BAM! You want a Pepsi and it's fun to want the Pepsi. I've always thought Orwell meant for 1984 to be more of a warning than a science fiction novel.
Reading 1984 actually made me wonder what I would do under those circumstances since our society stays so close to the surface of this book anyway and it always leads me to join the Proles. That is where I would go, but why do the brainwashed people stay in their totalitarian governments and not go be free with the Proles? Besides the brainwashing factor, I think Orwell also leads us into the realm of "like-minded" thinking. The mob mentality. No one who has been uplifted by the war effort or political gain (in the book) wants to be considered an "uneducated Prole".. they stay in their horrible positions so they are not "cast out" or in 1984's case, tortured into thinking the right way like Winston.
There is also the language factor that can be addressed. If you take away a cultures language, you take away their education system, you take away their ability to understand what is going on and chaos is created. When the very individuals who removed the language give it back, it now means something totally different. For example in 1984, the normal English language is converted to doublespeak and News speak... if a court reporter was not an influential subject, then Orwell had an absolute vision of the future where our language was concerned when you look at it next to the new texting and email languages. I mean really, how far off is IDK LOL, TTYL from Crimestop oldthink, upsub?
- Michael_hayden
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It'll probably be a while before I read it again, but it has left an impression on me.