Have you ever wondered what the world would be like decades after you died? There have been many authors who have written about a dystopian future, but George Orwell’s vivid imagination sets his novel apart from many other dystopian novels. In his novel 1984, George Orwell constructs a world that is much more sinister than the world we know. Orwell wrote the novel in 1949 during the aftermath of World War II. The novel is a cautionary tale that is representative of what he thought the world would possibly be like in 35 years. The consistent themes of mass surveillance and totalitarianism serve as a reminder of the societal and governmental dangers behind watching everyone's every move and having a single party with no opposition.
The novel follows a middle-aged man named Winston Smith who lives in a totalitarian world. In the novel, there are three super-states under the control of the mysterious figure named Big Brother, and everything each citizen says or does is seen by government officials known as the Thought Police through two-way televisions known as telescreens and hidden cameras and microphones. Winston works in the Ministry of Truth, and his job is to alter historical documents to conform to the government’s everchanging truth about history.
The novel begins with Winston doubting his allegiance to his country and Big Brother by dreaming about rebellion and overthrowing the government. He recognizes that his thoughts of rebellion make him a thought criminal and increase his chances of being erased from history, but he continues to think of rebellion and he starts looking for people that think the same way as him. The novel follows Winston on his journey toward independence, and each step he takes adds more suspense and excitement to the story. Winston’s journey is full of unexpected twists and turns that will leave the readers wanting to know more.
I think the novel was extremely well written, and both the characters and the plot kept me extremely engaged. The plot twists made the message of the novel even more prevalent, and I found it extremely interesting to see the different types of characters that exist in a dystopian society. There were some parts of the story that were really slow and boring, but other parts made me want to continue flipping the pages to find out what happens next. Overall it was a wonderfully written story with an extremely important message that has left me more appreciative of the society that we live in.
Comments