Book Review- 1984 by George Orwell

Book Review- 1984 by George Orwell

I would rank this book as the top in my list of favourites. I have always been very fascinated by Dystopias after reading Animal Farm and The Giver. Therefore, 1984 ranked highly on my “To Read list”.

The main character, Winston Smith, has highly different views (even criminal) from the rest of the populace, who generally agree with the views of the Upper Party, an authoritarian government.

There are three classes in Oceania (Which is a new boundary formed with part of Britain) - The Proles, the lower Party, and The Upper Party. The Proles are treated like animals, but have freedom not enjoyed by the lower party - they can marry freely, divorce, drink, and relatively little is expected from them. The Lower Party is kept in control by the upper party, and are constantly watched by Telescreens - they cannot have privacy even in their home. They must also control their emotions and their thoughts (Facecrime and Thoughtcrime in newspeak) or risk capture and imprisonment in the Ministry of Love. The Upper Party, on the other hand, enjoys privileges not accorded to either the lower party or the proles. These privileges include well furnished apartments, servants, and proper food such as tea and even wine.

However, Winston has managed to keep a low profile despite his thoughts against the government. However, he soon becomes involved in an explicit affair with another member of the Lower Party, Julia (her surname is never revealed). Soon after beginning their relationship, they believe that a member of the upper party, O’Brien, is part of a society against the government (The Brotherhood). They thus go to meet that member of the Upper Party, (where they also get a glimpse of the privileged life of the Upper Party) which holds a short meeting with them and promises to send them a copy of “the book” (Yes it is written in italics in the book.), which is a text written about the government in Oceania. However, they are captured soon after and imprisoned in the Ministry of Love.

Will Winston escape? Did O’Brien betray them? Does the Brotherhood really exist? Will they manage to help their two new members?

I felt that this book is truly a great read and portrays a great vision of a dystopia - there is no friendship between people, their children are turned against them, and may report them at any moment to the police, and people may disappear suddenly (As with some of Winston’s friends - Syme being the notable example). Even worse, is the fact that history in the book continues to be re-written constantly, with inaccurate speeches being rewritten and republished under the date of the old speech - nobody can even be sure of the current date, let alone of what is true and what is not. It is also impossible to tell when the telescreen is watching you. Always, or periodically? The dystopia in this book is wonderfully potrayed (pardon the irony) and shows the extent of how power can corrupt.

“Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely.”