Extended Book Review: 1984--Alexis

1984, ​by George Orwell is by far one of the most famous novels of the negative utopian, or dystopian, genre. While in a utopian novel, the writer portrays the perfect human society, in a dystopian novel, her or she does the opposite by showing the worst human society he or she believes to be possible. This dystopian novel does so in an effort to convince readers to avert any path that might lead toward such societal degradation. In this case, Orwell conveys the audience his prophetic and nightmarish vision of what he believed to be the outcome of the totalitarian regimes reigning in the Soviet Union, Germany, and Italy during the 1940s. Orwell adequately demonstrates the power that a totalitarian regime can possess over a wide population who has succumb to the persuasion of radical ideals and desperate solutions in order to resolve what they believe to be a state of ceaseless anarchy. He emphasizes his interpretation by stating,“Power is not a means; it is an end. One does not establish a dictatorship in order to safeguard a revolution; one makes the revolution in order to establish the dictatorship. The object of persecution is persecution. The object of torture is torture. The object of power is power.”
In ​1984, ​Orwell illustrates the consequences of a totalitarian regime overseeing a country by implementing acts of terror, surveillance, and repressive bureaucracy that are used in order to

exert total power over the country. The main character, Winston Smith, rises against the omnipresent rule of totalitarianism in Oceania, a place where the Party (government) peruses human actions with the attentive eye of Big Brother (the authoritarian leader of Oceania). The novel takes place in London, where an authoritarian dictatorship is under power, leading a ceaseless war against opposing countries. In order to preserve and control society’s thoughts and actions toward the authoritarian system of government, the Party keeps a vigilant eye on all of their citizens. They do so by enabling a Thought Police (secret police) and utilizing hidden cameras and microphones to detect and punish individuals for any speculation or actions they consider to be a form of defiance or treason against their reign. Under the notion that all emotional energy should go towards idolizing Big Brother, The Party prohibits having close friends, being in love, dating, and having sexual intercourse with anyone whom you might have remote attraction towards. In addition, the Party requires all citizens to watch their mandatory programing and attend the Party’s pep rallies which include “two minutes of hate”-the time designated toward hate speech directed at enemies which the Party uses as a physically engrossing form of propaganda. Defying a ban on individuality, Winston dares to express his thoughts in a diary and pursues a relationship with Julia (a woman he works with). These criminal acts then bring Winston into the eye of the government watchers, who then must reform who they believe to be a nonconformist in their dystopian society.

The world in which ​1984 ​takes place in is one of tyranny, ignorance, and inevitable warfare. After reading this novel, I felt that Orwell accurately depicts the setting of a totalitarian regime and meticulously epitomizes the goal in which every existing fascist or communist leader has ever aspired to reach: absolute power. Orwell most effectively compels the audience of the

absolute power these totalitarian regimes aim to obtain by continuously referring to the Party’s slogan,”war is peace, freedom is slavery, ignorance is strength.” This phrase introduces the novel’s concept of doublethink: the idea of an individual being able to hold completely contradictory thoughts simultaneously while believing both of them to be true. Contradictory statements such as these are upheld by the Party in order to justify their actions and cement their authority over the people. For instance,“War Is Peace” corresponds with the idea that all citizens of Oceania have a common enemy, thus keeping the people united against what they collectively consider to be the cause of all their dismay. The Party does this in order to justify their war expenses, so it appears as though all are in favor of the war’s continuation. The citizens belief that they are contributing to the wars end when in fact they are only advancing its continuation is a sheer example of how the Party is able to remain practicing their manipulation. Additionally, “Freedom Is Slavery” is upheld because, according to the Party, those who dispute social confines are doomed to fail. However, if they are subjected to the collective will of the Party, they will be free from the perils of independence. Furthermore, “Ignorance Is Strength” is enforced as the Party believes that the people are incapable of distinguishing between what they consider to be just and unjust thoughts and actions. Orwell’s insistence on emphasizing the Party’s aim to weaken the individual mind through constant propaganda-induced fear strengthens his grim perception of living amidst a totalitarian regime. In the novel ​1984, ​Orwell’s compelling and admissible persuasion of the power one can possess over a wide population definitely classifies it as a “good book.” Likewise, he captivates the reader’s interest with his climactic storyline while his eerie vision of the future remains applicable to our lives 74 years later.