Humanity has always been captivated by the idea of an alternative universe, whether it be a dystopia or a utopia, and even more curious about what the future holds for society. George Orwell’s 1984 is a cautionary tale of totalitarianism, set in the dystopian imaginative era of 1984, which was roughly 35 years into the future when the book was written.
1984’s location is set in Oceania, and everything in the nation is controlled by the "Party" and the supposed head of it, Big Brother. The story follows Winston Smith, a minor member of the Party in Oceania and 39 years old at the beginning of the book. A character that I can only compare to the common buzz of the daily routine of a normal human living in today’s society. Every apartment, every store, every road, every movement made by a citizen, all of it is watched by "Big Brother" and the party’s cameras. Tired of the claustrophobic captivity of the party’s policies, Winston longs for the feeling to be free from the party’s eyes and seeks out ways to rebel against the party’s expectations.
The strength of a book can be its weakness and vice versa. Orwell’s decision to limit the readers’ knowledge of the world of 1984 creates suspense and curiosity. It leads the readers to reflect on their society and question whether or not it is similar to 1984. The vagueness and unanswered questions about 1984 could also lead the readers to feel dissatisfied with the ending. Personally, I’m not into political commentary, but I found 1984 still engaging to read because I could connect many of Orwell’s ideas in the book to modern society. His subtle commentary gave me insight on views that I would've never considered. Those who are interested in political discussion or just enjoy reading books from authors that build stories based on their observations of the society around them would definitely get a piece of something thoughtful from reading George Orwell's 1984, whether it be a negative or positive.
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