1984
The Book in 3 Sentences:
1. 1984 is a dystopian novel that describes what life could have looked like after World War Two.
2. It describes a society where objective reality is irradiated, replaced by the ever-changing subjective truths dictated by Big Brother.
3. This book challenges our understanding of objective reality by drawing subjectivism and moral relativism to its logical extremes.
Top 3 Quotes:
1. “‘Who controls the past,’ ran the Party slogan, ‘controls the future: who controls the present controls the past.’”
2. “Orthodoxy means not thinking - not needing to think. Orthodoxy is unconsciousness.”
3. “Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make four. If that is granted, all else follows.”
Who Should Read it?
1984 is for anyone 16 or older. There is a decent amount of profanity, as it relates to the context of the environment in which the book takes place. The love story between two of the main characters is described in detail, including their personal sex lives. Violence is tied directly into the plot, through torture, war, and death.
That being said, the book was an excellent short read. Some may complain about the limited development of the main characters. To me, the pace was fast, which is a good thing. To others, they may see it as too fast.
If you’re looking for a short read similar to the likes of the Hunger Games or Divergent, then this is a great novel to consider.
How the Book Changed Me:
Before I read this book, I had no idea what to expect, as I have never read any of George Orwell’s books prior to this. From the beginning to the end, I was captivated by how personal the main character felt. I was able to relate with his feeling of loneliness in a world that thinks entirely different than himself. As an American living in the 21st century, objective reality seems to be slowly slipping away through cultural and activist movements to accept that women can be men and men can be women. Objective moral standards are being diminished in our educational institutions. Even at my high school graduation, a student said during their speech, “Tell your truth.” What about the actual truth? Does that not matter more than someones subjective truth?
Nevertheless, it wasn’t until Whinston endured political torture that he understood what 2+2=5 meant. It means that if the party says something is true, they are willing to torture you to the point where your consciousness looses the ability to distinguish 4 from 5, or 8, or 10. As his spine was being ripped in half, his vision faded. Once he was unable to see the objective truth, subjectivism took hold.
This book changed my perception of the importance of objective truth. Without it, there is no definition by which we can hold our society accountable. I fear for the future, when we will inevitably lose our ability to distinguish fact from fiction, and truth from lies.