For those that missed the last post, every Wednesday we will step into a time machine and explore a post from my original blog, Buffalo Solider: An American Solider.
In this post we will explore a review on one of the greatest books ever, 1984. Most people have read the classic with the government slogans:
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
IGNORE IS STRENGTH
REWIND!!
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Sunday, March 20, 2005
Book Review: 1984
The book 1984 is quite simply one of the best books that I have read, period. The book was written by George Orwell (real name Eric Arthur Blair) short after World War 2. Similar to myself, Orwell fought in a war as a Sergeant for the British Army. According to Orwell that purpose of the book was to “to alter other people’s idea of the kind of society they should strive after.” With that goal in mind, I believe that Orwell did a wonderful job in constructing a society that would definately alter any idea about a totalitarian society.The reader is introduced to Winston Smith who is a citizen in the imaginary super-state of Oceania (present-day Great Britian and the Americas). Under the strict totalitrian rule of Big Brother (the “ruler” of Oceania) Smith becomes increasingly anxious about “being a human being.” The novel follows his journey to overthrow life (and government) as he knows it, in his quest to become a human being.
In the book, Orwell does a wonderful job of introducing his character and creating the surrealistic world of 1984. One would guess that is characters came from real life experiences as a working class individual under British Imperialism in his homeland of India. Orwell’s ability to develop his characters leads the reader to sympathize with (or maybe hate) those in the novel. The characters are nicely placed under the all-seeing “Big Brother” and the reader does feel this tension throughout the story.
The theme of is straight forward, as stated eariler Orwell want to paint a picture of what he believed might become of the different political and social organizations of his day. While the way Orwell presents his thoughts might seem outlandish at first, a through reading of the book does give the reader a erie feeling of the current political situation of America. For example, Orwell discusses the need for war to maintain society:
“The essential act of war is destruction, not necessarily of human lives, but of the products of humna labor. War is a way of shattering to pieces, or pouring into the stratosphere, or sinking in the depths of the sea, materials which might otherwise be used to make the masses too comfortable, and hence, in the long run, too intelligent.”
While the reader may disagree, Orwell understood all to well the function of “war” in our society. In addition, Orwell discusses “classism” and other relatively socio-political aspects of government formation in this novel. Within all of the different discussion of these things, Orwell still manages to produce a wonderfully entertaining story.
While we have not (in America) reached a totalitarian state, the novel does present an erie allusion to the current state of the world. Nonetheless, I believe that this book is a must read for anyone who loves books. You definitely will not be disappointed! Orwell’s style makes this book an easy read and a highly intellectual lesson.
Posted by James Seay 
