Book Review: 1984

"But how can you stop people from remembering things? It is involuntary. It is outside oneself. How can you control memory? You have not controlled mine!" --Winston Smith


At first, I was a little bored by the turn of events, but I admired the wordings. It also struck me that I was seeing a whole new world. It was a world where anyone could do nothing without being watched or listened to. It was a world where people can not trust anyone, even their own children! It was a world where the past can be changed, and the government ruled the world.

The story started with Winston Smith, the main character, doing his usual routines: working, working, working and working. During that time, I had learned to become used to his kind of world and become accustomed with the world's ways. It was bizarre, the ways of his world, but I enjoyed it. I had never liked changes; I wanted everyone to stay the same and happy as always, but this book changed my mind about it. I guess change can be positive or negative, depending on the change. But I don't think the last change in this book is positive.

 'theyll shoot me i dont are theyll shoot me in the back of the neck i dont care down with big brother they always shoot you in the back of the neck i dont care down with big brother--' --Winston, writing in his diary.

Winston hated the government, or specifically, someone called 'Big Brother.' He had always hated him, but he knew that if he proclaimed it to the world, he would get arrested. He also knew that he couldn't hide this crime forever ('thought crime' they called it) and he would eventually get caught. But he didn't actually get caught because of that, but because of a girl.

Somewhere around the end, Winston was punished to change his ways. The suffering did not stop when Winston gave up and told them the answer he assumed they wanted. They wanted him to believe in their ridiculous world, not just see it.

I recommend this book. The first parts may be boring, the climax may be too descriptive, but it is good.

Here is one of my favorite dialogues: (Winston is being electrecuted every wrong answer.)

"Do you remember, writing in your diary, 'Freedom is the freedom to say two plus two make four?"
"Yes."
"*holding his left hand, showing four fingers* How many fingers am I holding up, Winston?"
"Four."
"And if the Party says that it is not four but five--then how many?"
"Four."
"How many fingers, Winston?"
"Four."
"How many fingers, Winston?"
"Four! Four! What else can I say? Four!"
"How many fingers, Winston?"
"Four! Stop it, stop it! How can you go on? Four! Four!"
"How many fingers, Winston?"
"Five! Five! Five!"
"No, WInston, that is no used. You are lying. You still think there are four. How many fingers, please?"
"Four! Five! Four! Anything you like. Only stop it, stop the pain!"
"You are a slow leaner, Winston."
"How can I help it? How can I help seeing what is in front of my eyes? Two and two are four."
"Sometimes, Winston. Sometimes, they are five. Sometimes they are three. Sometimes they are all of them at once. You must try harder. It is not easy to become sane."


Read it. :) It is by George Orwell.