Review of 'Nineteen Eighty-Four', by George Orwell

BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU!

In a dystopian society set in 1984, the Party have complete control over the population of Oceania, even to think the wrong thoughts is a crime. Orwell's novel follows Winston Smith, a Party Member who works in the Ministry of Truth, editing historical documents to fit the Party's agenda. With a secret detest for the Party, Winston starts a diary where he documents his hatred, but in a society where all is seen and heard, can Winston keep his dissent a secret for long and who can he trust along the way?

I read this book for a group presentation that I did in University and let me just say that it's a classic for a reason. You might possibly be right if you think that Orwell could predict the future, Nineteen Eighty-Four is eerily similar to our lives in this global pandemic. It is scary to read about how our lives could possibly be controlled to the extent that this novel depicts, but equally scary to read about how willing the people are to accept a totalitarian state.

Winston is a complicated character to say the least. He's no hero, actually I though he was quite a weak character, but his narration is certainly not boring. After a while, you come to realise that his world is so twisted that you can't really compare him to any other character is any other book, he is entirely unique but simultaneously a clone of his society. He does not understand simple emotions like love or fear, but is willing to put his life on the line nonetheless to express his hatred of the Party, an emotion that I don't really think he quite understands either.

This is truly an amazing book. It's complicated to say the least (and by that I mean it is very complicated!) and I don't know if I recommend reading it if lockdown's got you down, but it's one of the few classics that I have read and actually really enjoyed because of how stimulating, frightening and downright sadistic it is.

A definite read, but maybe not right now...