1984

Rating:
Summary: Ironically assigned reading in many public schools
Review: 1984 is extremely influential on the way we as a society label each other and our government with names such as "Big Brother" Orwellian and such. These names like calling someone a Nazi allow us to appear to argue but actually allow us to dodge the real issues. This is fairly ironic considering the origin of such terms. Basically 1984 is set in London in the distopian future. Orwell wrote it in response to Stalin's corrupting the ideals of Socialism. He was a socialist and so was really bothered by that failure.

The plot to 1984 isn't so important as the setting. Basically the story follows Winston Smith. Smith harbors less than perfect views of his environment, for which he will one day be arrested regardless of his actions. Not loving the government (thought crime) is the only crime that is recognized. Hidden cameras and microphones are omnipresent in the city, included mandatory TVs which can't be turned off, only show a single government station and contain hidden cameras through which "thought police" may monitor what is in front of the TV at any time. Social interaction doesn't exist, since that would be considered weird and therefore criminal.

There are three classes of people in London: Inner Party members, Party members like Winston and the proletariate, who aren't watched so closely because they aren't considered human. In this world Winston goes from merely not liking the government to engaging in unusual behavior. He starts by buying decorative antiques at a proletariate shop and progresses to having a girl friend, who he can only meet with in remote country side settings on account of social interaction is not allowed by the government. It is obvious to him that he will one day be taken to the Ministry of Love, a windowless building which handles law enforcement, and never fails at getting thought criminals to love the government.

The novel is always dark. No happy beginning, no happy middle and no happy ending. Still it is important to read it before throwing around terms like "Orwellian" It has been so influential on society that it is required reading - if you want to pass your tenth grade English. Failing to read is a sign of insurgence against the government.

Rating:
Summary: 1984
Review: I have just finished reading 1984 by George Orwell. On the surface it seems to be an interesting glance at the "future" that our grandparents envisioned. This however could not be farther from the truth. 1984 is in fact a lame, boring, and novel that attempts to be philosophical. I say "attempts" because any useful words of philosophy are lost or choked by the presence of Winston, the lame, spine-less main character who seems intent on boring the reader to death. Orwell attempts to make Winston likable but his acts of stupidity (i.e. trusting in a world where trust really should be earned) and lack or actions, other than sexual, make the reader hate him.
However, even in the face of utter boredom and disgust, there are a few good things about this book. Number one would have to be the setting. The book is set in a "future" London. It is filled with small, aging apartments where Party members live, dark slums and alleyways for nonparty members, and large, imposing government buildings. You can almost visualize this London and replace it with the London of today. Number two would have to be that this book allows Westerners to get a feel for life under a dictatorship, such as life in Russia under Stalin and Germany under Hitler. This makes it a great book to read to understand such a life and appreciate the freedoms of democracy.
In short, 1984 is nothing more than a second rate book attempting to develop profound, intelligent themes. However, these themes are lost in the monotony of the book and the reader gains only a better understanding for life under a dictatorship and appreciation for the freedoms of democracy. On a scale of 5 stars, I give this book 1 star for its attempts at philosophical content and its insights into dictatorships. It also makes a great substitute for a sleeping pill because it'll put you out like a light and is not habit forming.