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A review by readingthroughinfinity
1984 by George Orwell
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This is one of those books that I've been meaning to read for ages and have always felt a bit guilty about not having read yet. But we never studied it in school or at university, so I never got round to it. Until now.
Arguably one of the OG dystopian novels, this was as dark and twisting as I expected, but even more sinister. The way the government aims to control people to the smallest degree was disconcerting; their actions down to their very thoughts are monitored and no-one is safe from the Thought Police.
One of the things that stuck with me the most was the idea that by eradicating 'dissenting' language, the Ministry could theoretically wipe out dissent and rebellion itself. At one point, a character says that if they could remove enough words from the dictionary (which include the language everyone is 'allowed' to use), in several generations' time, people wouldn't know the words for 'freedom' or 'knowledge'. Meaning they wouldn't know the concepts and wouldn't question something they'd never had.
Orwell is, in essence, demonstrating how language is power. We use it to voice our thoughts, ideas, and desires; if you take away enough words, we lose the ability to express ourselves, including our ability to challenge social, moral, and hierarchical injustices.
Orwell's narrative is cutting and brilliant, producing an eerie story that's simultaneously surreal and all too plausible. It's a tale that's still resonant today.
Content warnings for violence, murder, dictatorial control, invasions of privacy, human rights violations, torture.
Arguably one of the OG dystopian novels, this was as dark and twisting as I expected, but even more sinister. The way the government aims to control people to the smallest degree was disconcerting; their actions down to their very thoughts are monitored and no-one is safe from the Thought Police.
One of the things that stuck with me the most was the idea that by eradicating 'dissenting' language, the Ministry could theoretically wipe out dissent and rebellion itself. At one point, a character says that if they could remove enough words from the dictionary (which include the language everyone is 'allowed' to use), in several generations' time, people wouldn't know the words for 'freedom' or 'knowledge'. Meaning they wouldn't know the concepts and wouldn't question something they'd never had.
Orwell is, in essence, demonstrating how language is power. We use it to voice our thoughts, ideas, and desires; if you take away enough words, we lose the ability to express ourselves, including our ability to challenge social, moral, and hierarchical injustices.
Orwell's narrative is cutting and brilliant, producing an eerie story that's simultaneously surreal and all too plausible. It's a tale that's still resonant today.
Content warnings for violence, murder, dictatorial control, invasions of privacy, human rights violations, torture.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Torture, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Confinement and Death