Most misunderstood novel of the 20th century
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"1984" is one of the most well-known novels of the 20th century, perhaps ever. It is also one of the most misunderstood.
Many readers assume that the novel is anti-Communist and anti-socialist. Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, Orwell was a socialist himself. During the Spanish Civil War, he fought for a revolutionary party called POUM, "the Workers Party for Marxist Unification". Sounds pretty socialist to me. Orwell was anti-Stalinist, but believed Stalinism to be a perversion of true socialism.
So is his novel an attack on Stalinism, then? Both yes and no. "1984" was written in 1948 and published in 1949. During this time, many intellectuals believed that Stalinism and capitalism would eventually merge, creating a new system, combining the worst aspects of both. This feared system of the future was often called "bureaucratic collectivism". Rizzi, Schachtman and Burnham believed it could happen. Trotsky vacillated on the issue. Orwell must have believed in the grim possibility of "bureaucratic collectivism" himself. That is what his novel is really all about.
"1984" is set in a futuristic society called Oceania. On the surface, Oceania is Stalinist. But on a closer look, it actually looks like a strange mixture of the Soviet Union and the British Empire. On the one hand, Oceania has a unproductive planned economy. On the other hand, it fights for colonial supremacy in Africa and Asia. Indeed, its main bases of power are the Anglo-Saxon nations.
The ideology of Oceania is called "English Socialism", an obvious combination of the British and the Soviet. Oceania is run by a party, divided into the Inner Party and the Outer Party. The underclass is called proles. This is both a reference to the hierarchic Stalinist party in the USSR, and to the traditional British class structure: upper class (Inner Party), middle class (Outer Party) and working class (the proles). Interestingly, the proles are kept in line by mass-produced pornography. This, of course, is another veiled reference to the West. No such thing existed in Stalins Soviet Union.
Even Big Brother himself may be a composite character. Principally, he is a symbol for Stalin, and apparently even looks like Stalin. (And his constant opponent, Goldstein, is a symbol for Trotsky. The mysterious "book" is presumably Trotskys "The Revolution Betrayed".) However, some people believe that the inspiration for Orwells slogan "Big Brother is Watching" comes from a 1930s advertising campaign in the US, where a certain corporate owner declared "Let me be your Big Brother" amidst an enormous portrait of himself!
"1984" is undoubtedly a very influential novel. Many terms from the book have become household words, like "Newspeak", "Thoughtcrime" and "Memory Hole". The same is true of the slogan "Big Brother is Watching You" or even the term "Orwellian", derived from the very name of the author. Indeed, if you havent read this novel, you could be considered culturally illiterate.
Its a pity that such a popular novel has been so misunderstood. But perhaps that is the fate of all popular novels?
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Prophecy slowly being Forseen!
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This novel is something that continues to scare me to this day. The prophecies of an Orwellian society make this fantastic work of literature a powerful story. Protagonist Winston Smith is the perfect anti-hero, refusing to be oblivious to the situation that paranoies him. The corrupt government villian O'Brien conforms the citizens to just about everything that he decides upon. Whether they have casual sex (intercourse in this politically corrective language that reflects the novel), free thinking of imagination, a cease in technological developments (where man never travelled to the planets and there is no public use of gadgets), neverending wars between three superstates, a single currency and use of language. A finely crafted dystopia unlike anything else.
The themes of this novel are also the signs taking place today. We have greedy politicians who decide on who goes to prison: a litterer or a murderer. We have bicentennaries bared so that politicians can use them for the advantage of their own egomaniacal activities for money or pleasure. Conspirators convinced that a war on terrorism is just an excuse for invading the Middle East, whereas 9/11 was a sound reason for attacking powerhungry fanatics in the Islamic world. The hated European Constitution trying to take vast swaths of power from Britain, Germany, France and Denmark. The single currency concept is barely noticed but in the book Oceanic Britain has somehow swapped the pound for the dollar. A civil war destroyed it's civilisation and America took it after WW2. The Euro is an example of an international currency.
How could Orwell have envisioned such a predictable future? Was it because of the Arms Race in the 50s? The atom bomb experiments in the 60s? The post war anti-collonialism he saw just before his death? Or was it his personnel remarks that made him a target of the socialists? Whatever the reasons he has had such an extraordinary life story to be told into the highlight of his career.
I'm taking a literature course in September and I hope to get an essay done in order to impress my tutor about the philosophy and predictions Orwell set out in this novel.
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Frightening when we see how this is what some plan for us
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More relevant than ever over 50 years after it was written.It is more frightening than any Steven King novel because this is where we are heading if we are not vigilant. Too many on the left are still hellbent in plunging us into a worldwide Orwellian nightmare. Just observe their obsessive Orwellism, where aggressors are defenders and defenders are aggressors, where justice is injustice and injustice is justice, where war is peace and peace is war, where freedom fighters are terrorists and terrorists are freedom fighters, and with its total lack of interest in facts and truth. Despite the chilling socio-political warning the book still shows us an endearingly poignant portrayal of humanity and love struggling to survive in totalitarian society which will not stop at anything to stamp out all that is good and compassionate. Next time you hear anyone refer to anything disparagingly as 'borgeois' think of the alternative to love,honour,fair play and all the noble things that some brand 'bourgeois' and therefore plan to destroy
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Enjoyed it again
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This is definitely my favourite dystopian novel. Not saying that the likes of Fahrenheit 451 and Brave New World are not good, but I just enjoy this book a lot more. I have read it about 3 or 4 times since the late 80s, and it seems that every time I pick up the book I notice elements in it that are so like current day events. Obviously not to the extreme as portrayed in the novel, but it's still amazing how these ring true. I don't think there is much more I can add to the countless reviews. So I'll just say that I highly recommend this literary masterpiece.
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A deep insight into the rule of a fascist state
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A powerful book, that eerily depicts the direction the world is going where truth is shunted and lies are promoted by all the mainstream media. The three slogans of the Party as described in book is very familiar with what we hear from our leaders in these times:
War is Peace
Freedom is Slavery
Ignorance is Strength
Orwell paints a picture of how this fascist totalitarian state is controlled by control surveillance, the new language of Newspeak and the three main ministries that are:
"Ministry of Peace", which concerns itself with war
"The Ministry of Truth", which takes care of news, entertainment, education etc. in short translated as the place of propaganda
"The Mihistry of Love", which is concerned with law and order and according to Orwell the most frighening one.
It is truly a must read book as the rise of fascism is happening. Can also highly recommend seeing the movie called "V for Vendetta", as it is also set in a fascist environment, that closely resembles the one George Orwell depicts in this book.
Can recommend the book "Political Ponerology" to understand how a society becomes a fascist state.
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