Nineteen Eighty-Four   by George Orwell

Fall 2004     A gift from my Big Brother, (Andrew. :-)

Well, unfortunately, it's been a long time since I've read this book, and I've been doing too many other things to write this review. So... I'm surly not able to remember all my first impressions.

Generally, it is a futuristic book, about what the world could be like in 35 year's time. And the picture it pains is... a little painful: The world divided into three stable super-powers, each of which has more or less the same, socialistic, ultra-controlling government. And it's a tale about one man, the forbidden love he has, and the struggle, because he doesn't like the system, and the way it works. Naturally, it is a great deal of commentary on civilisation, and the trends it takes, and... human nature.

The story it's self, which all of this is mentioned in, is not a weak thing, or a dry thing, (as I would imagine could easily be the case, when people set out to write some form of political/social commentary.) The story here was in fact, rather compelling, and I could not distinctly say: if the political situation was used to make the story more poignant, or the reverse. (Or, I suppose, it could truly have been a combination; that the two were meant to go together, and feed off each other.)

I do not, of course, remember much in the way of details, or specific places that caught my imagination. But, I do remember that it was well, written, (I mean the style of writing,) and that it seemed researched, and thoroughly thought out. It was just plain... interesting, too.

One part that disturbed me though, was the way Orwell chose to end it: Not with a glimmer of hope, or the beginning of the Revolution, or anything like that: It ended with the crushing and destroying of the protagonist's will. In the end, there is No hope of escape from his world. -In the end, he is made to see that the world is the best the way it is. And, as we are privy to his thoughts; we see that his government is wonderful, and a blessing... and that he loves them.

I guess that this invites thought. And much more reflection; If even the enemies are made to love the System in the end, then... isn't that a type of Utopia? Is not Everyone happy then? -Even though it may be forced upon them, Everyone Is Happy in the end, are they not?

Also, there was a thought about what was said about fear, and hate; How similar it seems to the "War of Terror" in the states, and the continual state of paranoia there. I can not remember the complete thought, but it was about that. -And a similar one, came from the statement that "Each government must find some way to use up the excess: As there is not enough work that Needs to be done, to give every person employment, all the excess production must be wasted through warfare. That also reminds me of America: which goes to war to make it's economy work better, or for other corporate reasons.

Well, it was an interesting book, and one I ought to at least flip through again, to see what my last forgotten thought was, back in the last paragraph.