WAR IS PEACE
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH
On June 8th 1949, sixty years ago George Orwell published his last novel, Nineteen Eight-Four. While sick with tuberculosis Orwell wrote this book not as a criticism of socialism as most people think. Indeed Orwell himself was a proud member of British Labour Party. Instead, Orwell creates a society of a totalitarian regime ruled by a shady government as a criticism of Communism and Fascism.
As with all his other novels, Orwell creates a picture of society that for some is disturbing and others find prophetic. In a futuristic London, lives Winston Smith a civil servant who works for "BIG BROTHER". It is Winston's job to falisify records and poltical literature but as his life slowly unravels, Winston joins the resistance movement in a hopeless but idealistic plot to take down his invasive and corrupt government.
Now I know most of us read this book when we were in high school but has anyone read it recently? It's amazing how much of the language Orwell uses in Nineteen Eight-Four such as "Big Brother" and "double think" has endured and has become part of daily lives. Orwell visions of what could be possible with a government that is not held in check and of disinterested masses is a fear we all face today as much as ever.
Perhaps moreso now than in the fast because of all the technology we have today it is easy to believe that the truth is so accessable. But how much do we really know? Perhaps Orwell's real legacy to us is that he encouraged everyone to think and question. So in honor of Orwell's memory, let's continue to not only appreciate Nineteen Eighty-Four as a masterpiece of literature but also remember the lesson behind the novel: To continue to be aware and to think critically.
Reviewed by Rainey
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