👁️ Nineteen Eighty-Four

Author: George Orwell
Fiction?: Fiction
Genres: Philosophy, Politics
Rating: Lifechanging
Date Finished: December 29, 2024

⛰ What It’s About

Nineteen Eighty-Four (1984) is a dystopian novel set in the 20th century, following the story of Winston Smith, likely in the year 1984. The world is divided among three perpetually warring superstates: “Eastasia,” “Eurasia,” and “Oceania,” where Winston resides in London, now known as “Airstrip One.” Oceania is governed by the omnipresent and oppressive Party, led by the infallible Big Brother, who is always watching. The story chronicles Winston’s life as a member of the “Outer Party” and his private, desperate dreams of rebelling against the Party’s totalitarian rule.

🔍 How I Discovered It

It’s a widely renowned book, so I can’t pinpoint exactly when I first heard about it. I initially read it during my teenage years, but after reading Nexus, I felt compelled to revisit it.

🧠 Thoughts

As countless readers have observed, 1984 is a book that inspires endless reflection and analysis. Each conversation between characters distills entire political and philosophical ideologies, warranting essays or even books of their own. I’ll try to keep my thoughts concise. (Spoilers ahead.)

One aspect that struck me upon finishing the book was the way Orwell forces the reader into the role of Big Brother—or more specifically, the Thought Police. By the third part of the novel, we realize that the Party has been watching Winston for seven years, meticulously tracking his every move. But in the final year, as Winston’s thoughtcrimes evolve into action, it is we who take over as the ultimate observers. We don’t just see what Winston does; we see what he thinks, what he feels, and when he believes he is safe or under surveillance. This omniscient perspective mirrors the Party’s absolute power, as chillingly explained by O’Brien in the Ministry of Love:

“We are not content with negative obedience, nor even with the most abject submission. When finally you surrender to us, it must be of your own free will.”

The book’s ending reinforces this dynamic. Once Winston fully submits, once he truly loves Big Brother, we lose interest in him. The Party’s goal is achieved, and so is ours as readers.

This perspective highlights why the Party is seemingly undefeatable. Its power lies not only in its physical control but also in its ability to dominate thought itself. Through “Goldstein’s book,” Orwell lays bare the scale of the Party’s machinery, its goals, and its methods. When O’Brien reveals, “I wrote it,” it underscores the terrifying power of doublethink. O’Brien’s ability to articulate the Party’s contradictions while remaining a fanatical believer demonstrates the mental gymnastics required to sustain such a regime. It’s a chilling reminder of how ideology can warp reality.

Yet Orwell leaves us with a glimmer of hope in the Appendix. The opening sentence offers a subtle but profound clue:

“Newspeak was the official language of Oceania and had been devised to meet the ideological needs of Ingsoc, or English Socialism.”

That small “was” suggests that Oceania no longer exists. Whether it was conquered by Eastasia or collapsed from within is unclear, but the definitive past tense hints at its end. If we interpret the Appendix as part of the narrative, it also suggests that record-keeping has resumed in this future, though it’s uncertain whether historical revisionism persists. Perhaps, in this new world, Oceania is vilified as the ultimate dystopia (Oceania was conquered by Eurasia, it was always conquered by Eurasia), its story twisted to serve a new regime. After all, as Orwell reminds us, “Who controls the past controls the future.”

There are countless other details I could delve into, but I’ll save those for the inevitable next re-read in a few years.

❤️ What I Liked About It

George Orwell’s writing style is remarkably accessible. It strikes a balance between conversational clarity and vivid detail, making the complex themes of the book easy to grasp. In a world where free thought and individuality are suppressed, each character stands out as a unique voice, articulating their own philosophies and beliefs. This contrast between the oppressive setting and the individuality of the characters makes the story all the more poignant.

💔 What I Didn’t Like About It

Primarily, it was the overwhelming weight of the story’s message that I found difficult to endure. My discomfort does not stem from disagreement with the message but from the deeply unsettling experience it evokes. The pervasive oppression, the unrelenting despair, and even the moments that might be considered happy are all inextricably tied to the bleak and hopeless world in which the characters are trapped. This relentless atmosphere made the narrative profoundly uncomfortable, though I recognize that this discomfort is precisely what makes the book so powerful.

🥰 Who Would Like It?

The writing style makes 1984 accessible to a wide audience, and I believe it’s a book that everyone should read. In our post-truth/AI world where truth is increasingly contested, Orwell’s recurring theme of “2 + 2 = 4” serves as a vital reminder of objective reality and as long as people can read the original 1984, its warnings can be used to ensure we keep our own reality flowing.

Brave New World - Aldous Huxley

The Handmaid’s Tale - Margaret Atwood

Fahrenheit 451 - Ray Bradbury

The Trial - Franz Kafka

1984