Nineteen Eighty-Four (1984) is one of the most chilling novels of our times, portraying a dystopian world that bears a greater resemblance to our s... (show more)
1984
Nineteen Eighty-Four, by George Orwell (the pen name of Eric Arthur Blair), is a 1949 English novel about life under a futuristic authoritarian regime in the year 1984. It tells the story of Winston Smith, a functionary at the Ministry of Truth, whose work consists of editing historical accounts to fit the government's policies. Smith is degraded and tortured after he is arrested by the Thought Police under the instruction of the totalitarian government of Oceania.
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Reviews (See all 15,792) Write a reviewfor this
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I had to read this "gem" for high school. And i have to say, this is one of the books that made me lose interest in literature for 2 years. This wa... (show more)
I had to read this "gem" for high school. And i have to say, this is one of the books that made me lose interest in literature for 2 years. This was one of the most depressing, unneccesary pieces of "high brow" garbage i have had the misfortune to waste my time on. For the entire book you are rooting for the underdog to make a comeback and defeat the evil "big brother" but instead of a heroic stance, we are treated to him giving up and dying. I know that this is supposed to be a "symbolic" story about how government and propaganda and blah blah blah i couldn't care less if you paid me. When i read i wish to be taken away to a world not my own and be enveloped in a story where i care about the characters and something wondrous happens. i do NOT wish to be taken to a place where people get rat helmets and get shot in the head with no happy ending supposedly making a "statement about government". books like these make children not only not wish to read, but to run away screaming at the prospect of a trip to the library. This supposed classic needs to rest at the bottom of a pile of dung alongside "lord of the flies" and "of mice and men". This travesty receives a .5 out of 5, only because i can't give it a 0. Don't read this book if you value literature (show less)
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This is, without a doubt, the most bleak and terrifying book I have ever read. I suppose my biggest fear is that George Orwell's vision for the future will some day come true, and I can't help but think that every day that passes brings us closer to living in a society much like this one. I found this book very hard to get through, not because it was hard to understand or because I didn't like it or anything like that, but because it was so bleak and disheartening that it caused me to lose an... (show more)
This is, without a doubt, the most bleak and terrifying book I have ever read. I suppose my biggest fear is that George Orwell's vision for the future will some day come true, and I can't help but think that every day that passes brings us closer to living in a society much like this one. I found this book very hard to get through, not because it was hard to understand or because I didn't like it or anything like that, but because it was so bleak and disheartening that it caused me to lose any hope I had for humanity. I have to say my only "problem" with this book is the 30+ page section where Winston was reading from THE BOOK. Even though I found it to be quite interesting, I think it could be condensed just a little bit. Other than that, this book is perfect. Even though I like Animal Farm better, this book is still incredible and brilliant. (show less)
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One of the best English dystopian novels I have ever read in my life. It tells a tale of technogical development which doesn't serve men anymore, and really messes everything up. Nineteen Eighty-Four really tells a story of technology which can be used against us. I think that anybody can benefit a great deal from reading this classic.
And by the all means, it still has the shock value as well as the real literature value after all these years gone by. :-)
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About the rapeing of Orwells message. . .
I love how people think that 1984 is a warning. I also love how people say it is SSSOOOO relevent today. If you really read the book you would realize that it is an observation of humanity. Orwell was not a prophet or a preacher. He only wrote down what he observed. His books do not pass judgement. The masses, or majority are the villains in 1984, not the government. People allow the government to stay in control. They want "Big Brother" because it makes them feel safe. The governmet just gives the people what they want.
Grant Johansen about 1 year ago
Everything that you say is happening that makes 1984 relevant was allowed by you. I suggest before people start trying to tell people what Orwell was trying to say, they should probably pick up some of his other books. More importantly these people should probably read a little about the man himself.
I know I'm asking far to much from the masses who suffer from the dissorder of being a cognative miser. We need to bring accountability back so people will actually use their brains and realize that they are the government. Freedom is the only true form of safety, not asking the government to shield us so we don't have to think or worry. All we want is our MTV and our prozac. The joke is the government doesn't doll the stuff out or make it illegal until we ask. The masses wanted their victory gin. -
Of course Orwell himself had a middle-class distaste for the Proletariat & Informed to the British secret service on friends who were real socialists.
Facebook User 15 days ago -
Orwell's masterpeice!
One of the best political novel of all the time with the element of dystopia woven brilliantly in the tale. You can even relate it with the old totalitarian governments & the modern huge Corporates...but beware...'BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU'...
Santosh Kashyap about 1 month ago -
Do you love Big Brother?
By the end of the novel, Winston Smith did. Deep down, do you have at least a tolerance for authority that will lie to you, saying it's there to protect your interests,but actually is only there to perpetuate its own power. As O'Brien tells Winston, the purpose of the Party is to hold power-forever! He gives Winston the image of the boot trampling on a human face, forever. Do you have a secret craving to be the boot, or the face?
Kevin McCarthy about 1 year ago -
Video Screen anyone??? DistrusTV
Conspiracy Theorem
Maybe it is an inbred distrust of the government, or my disestablishmentarian attitude on all things mandatory but it has started as a flea sized doubt in the back of my mind but now it is pushing further and further to the forefront of a usually placid mind.
Why is it mandatory that we switch to digital tuners on all televisions in February 2009?
Date for ending the digital TV transition is now enshrined into law making it something that MUST happen but again WHY?
If current stances on why this change is so rigid what benefits can we hope to reap from this?
"A format that promises higher picture definition, more programming streams and efficient use of scarce spectrum"
Is the reason for the entire ruckus?
Because there is a finite amount of spectrum and a growing demand for it, effectively managing the available spectrum is a strategic issue for the FCC and the NTIA. It is helpful first to address a common misconception: that spectrum is a concrete and finite resource. Not so. Radio waves do not pass through some ethereal medium called "spectrum"; they are the medium.
Well then what is the nefarious reason behind this change?
If we have all the room we need to run Wifi, cell phones, wireless phones, ECT.
My mind moves to a more worrisome idea, because the digital tuners are going to be in every television set around the country I worry about two way broadcasting.
It would be so easy to conceal something inside that can transmit information about not only our television watching habits but possibly everything about our lives, our electricity usage, and our phone calls. Maybe it could go both ways, imagine that as you watch your TV it is watching you, because of technology it is possible to hide a full video system within a tube of lip-gloss. Lens, transmitter everything in something no bigger than a tube of chapstick.
The percentage of households that possess at least one television: 99, the average American family has 2.24 TV in the house, Percentage of U.S. homes with three or more TV sets 66
Would in theory be possible to have eyes on almost every one in America. The average time that the television is on in the home is 6 hours, 47 minutes.
(As many times as I have fallen asleep, or turned the TV on for company I think that is a low estimation)
I would like to believe that the government would give me the privacy that we have been guaranteed however I'm not a sucker. DistrusT.V.
Eshall Baukman about 1 year ago -
Orwell's diaries being posted as a blog
The Orwell Prize, Britain’s pre-eminent prize for political writing, is publishing George Orwell’s diaries as a blog. From 9th August 2008, Orwell’s domestic and political diaries (from 9th August 1938 until October 1942) will be posted in real-time, exactly 70 years after the entries were written.
Michael Keller about 1 year ago
http://orwelldiaries.wordpress.com/about/ -
1984/Farenheit 451 --See the connection?
In both future-set novels, people have become completely uninformed. Whats the difference?
1984 brings ignorance from the top: the government doesnt want ppl to know things; (Paraphrased) "Big Brother is watching. Don't worry about it, he's got your back. Just work for us. Just hate because we tell you to hate."
Bradbury says the people love it too though. Paraphrased again: (from Beatty) 'the people didnt want the books. the books made them think, made them feel dumb. so out with the books.'ignorance is bliss, no? and our society seems to agree with these 2 men
PS can someone help me out with some quotes?
Jonathon Meinema about 1 year ago -
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out-datedness
I read "1984" as a child and am now wondering whether to re-read it. It bothers me that it is now long past the actual 1984: does it seem silly reading it when it clearly hasn't happened or take the date as immaterial, random?
Alison Wilson about 1 year ago -
creepy!
Can you imagine? It would suck to have someone watching your every move!!
Anonymous User about 1 year ago
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