If someone controlled every aspect of your life: what you did, what you ate, whom you could talk to and how you could talk to them, or even the facial expressions you made, what would you do? You would become machine like, without any emotions, except what was accepted, and without any thoughts that were not already given to you. Oceania's society and the Inner party's position in Gorge Orwell's book, "1984", is sustained by controlling the Outer party's personal freedoms, their memories and past, and their ability to express emotions/individuality.
Well I have to say I quite enjoyed this book although the material in the book is abit disturbing ... But it is really beautifully written ...
Tells the story of a man named Winston who has doubts of what he see's and hear's and starts to question everything around him .... The scary thing about this book is that in some way we are all abit like Winston we go through life believing what we see and hear on the news and in newspapers ... Is what they are telling the exact truth or something that they wish us to believe so that we will react ???
History in itself is a record of the victors so is that an accurate account of events?? If records where changed would that effect how we live our lives today??
There was a very interesting statement on pg 279 which asks "How does one man assert his power over another?" ..... The answer given "By making him suffer .... Power is in inflicting pain and humiliation. Power is in tearing human minds to pieces and putting them together again in new shapes of your own choosing"
Wow I thought that was quite powerful ... (Excuse the pun) It is disturbing to think that man could exercise so much hatred towards others and get so much pleasure in seeing their work !!! We would live in a world where there is no free agency ... We couldn't act, speak or live the way we wanted ... We would all be the same and become like mindless robots !! ... Gosh does that plan sound Familiar !!! ...
George Orwell really has a way with words and although we may not wish to see divides in classes and races it is there .... But the real question is are we trying to break down divides or just ignore them ... Do we seek to grow or remain stagnate and blind to things around us ???
If anything this book taught me to rely on my feeling and things I know .... And to be so thankful for FREE AGENCY that we have to right to CHOOSE ....
Is Big Brother really watching ??? Would you change how you act if you knew you where being watched ???
I will probably not read this book again for some time but I am going to give it 4 stars mainly because it is really well written and fascinating even though the concept is disturbing .... I would recommend you read this book at least once !!!
I rate this book 4 ****
If you are doing this book for your book club below is some study notes and also discussion questions ....
http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/1984/
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