1984
About the Author: George Orwell’s real name was Eric Arthur Blair. He was British and also lived in India. He was a novelist, essayist, critic, and journalist. He wrote about political subjects like totalitarianism, capitalism, and democratic socialism
Context of the Novel: Orwell finished writing the novel in 1948, a time when the world was in turmoil, slipping into a cold war between the two superpowers. It was also in the same century that dictators like Stalin in Russia and Hitler in Germany had wreaked havoc. Thus, in the midst of war and revolutions, coups d’etat, and anarchy, Orwell wrote 1984 as a warning to highlight the immediacy and urgency with which such matters needed to be dealt with. The political regime in ‘1984’ has been inspired by various elements of different governments and leaders of the world.
Themes: Censorship- The political regime prevalent in the country of the protagonist mandates absolute and complete surveillance. That means even thoughts are monitored, in order to nip the bud of any revolt or resentment. Every media is controlled strictly by the government, and it has such huge control over information that history and all happenings that threaten the respect given to the regime are erased from all records.
Excessive Nationalism- In the novel, citizens are educated to respect the ‘Big Brother’ and his orders. Children are trained in such a way that they eavesdrop on their parents and report any scandals or signs of protest. People blindly follow everything, and the protagonist is left wondering if he is the only one alive who sees through the control that ‘Big Brother’ exercises over everything.
Review:
1984 only gets more and more horrific. That is not shocking, since it is a dystopian novel. However, there is a magic that Orwell possess, which makes you imagine everything, from the rained down cobblestone paths of London, to the private room that holds a very crucial role in the story. To me, the story is a warning to everyone to not be very blind to how the government is slowly but surely getting into our heads, controlling our thoughts and clandestinely establishing a despotic rule. The protagonist is continuously troubled and disturbed, and the end is not satisfying at all. There are many questions that the reader is left with, much like the protagonist himself. However, the novel does make the reader cynical of the actions taken by people around them, it also makes one question the people they trust. 1984 is a gruesome story of betrayal and complete control. It paints a terrifying picture of the ramifications if a single person is allowed to rise in power and control everything. It is almost an essay and is actually derived from Orwell’s essays called ‘Notes on Nationalism’ where he explains why nationalism is detrimental. All said and done, ‘1984’ is a treat to read, because it not only leaves your heart pacing, but it also makes you more aware. 1984 lets you get into the real human mind and tells you all about our instincts, as it presents hypocrisy and treachery at its finest.