1984 Review: A novel ahead of its time
Introduction
1984 is a famous novel written by George Orwell. He finished the novel with great difficulty in 1948 while living in Scotland despite severe physical illness. He died the following year. He could not see the success of the book and the impact it had on the world. In this novel written in 1949, Orwell imagined the world of 1984, where there is no place for freedom of speech, and all human activities are monitored and controlled by the government. George Orwell realized in his own time that the future world would be different.
Plot and structure of the novel
The novel is divided into three chapters. For example:
• Part 1 (A Cold Day in April)
• Part 2 (Winston's Adventure Love Story)
• Part 3 (The Ministry of Love)
From a structural point of view, this novel can be called a modern novel. In this novel, George Orwell imagines an Oceania where everyone is kept under strict surveillance and there is no room for dissent. The ruling class keeps a close eye on everyone and they define crime.
No one can speak against the ruling class and if someone does something, they have to face severe punishment. Fear and panic surround people and no one trusts anyone. People are brainwashed and forced to follow a certain system of their choice.
In that imaginary state, the ruling class wants everyone to be loyal citizens. In the name of peace, a state of war is always maintained. This is the reality of many countries in the world today. What George Orwell thought in 1944 is 100% relevant in many countries today.
He highlights the terrible conditions that people have to go through to survive in power. Here, the state has a lot of control over the beliefs and behavior of its citizens. In his book, he mentioned talking to the telescreen as a means of surveillance. This can be compared to various surveillance technologies today.
Notable characters of 1984
Winston Smith: The novel's main character, a private official who works for the Ministry of Truth. Winston tries to rebel against government control and propaganda.
Julia: Winston's colleague and lover. Although initially loyal to the government, she becomes rebellious after falling in love with Winston.
O'Brien: A member of the Inner Party, who initially appears as Winston's friend and helper. It is later revealed that he actually works for the government and betrays Winston.
Big Brother: One of the main symbols of the novel, referring to the totalitarian leader of the Party. Although his actual existence is questionable, he is the symbol of the Party and the embodiment of total control over the people.
Sime: Winston's colleague, who works on the Newspeak dictionary. Although he is very talented, he is ultimately 'vanished' (vanished) due to his excessive intelligence.
Mr. Charrington: An elderly antique shopkeeper who arranges a secret meeting place for Winston and Julia. It is later revealed that he is actually a spy for the Thought Police.
The Parsons family: Winston's neighbors, Tom Parsons and his wife. Their children assist the Thought Police and believe in government propaganda.
Impact of 1984
George Orwell's novel "1984" has had a profound impact on literature, politics, and society since its publication. Some of its notable impacts include:
Raising political awareness:
The novel served as a powerful warning against authoritarian governments and their oppressive policies. It made readers aware of the dangers of excessive state surveillance and the loss of personal freedom.
Idioms:
Concepts and phrases such as "Big Brother", "doublethink", "thoughtcrime", "Room 101" and "newspeak" have entered popular culture and are used in contemporary politics and society.
Social and political movements:
Various freedom and human rights movements around the world have been inspired by the novel. It has served as an important reference in the fight against authoritarian rule.
Controversy over technological surveillance:
The novel has become an important context in the debate over technological surveillance and privacy in modern society. It raises the issue of how governments and large corporations can misuse personal information.
Educational impact:
The novel "1984" has been included in school and university curricula worldwide. It encourages students to think about issues of human rights, freedom, and morality.
Influence on literature and culture:
The novel has played an important role in the development of the dystopian genre in literature. Various writers, filmmakers, and artists have been inspired by "1984" to create their works.
Research and discussion topics:
The novel "1984" is being used as an important subject in sociology, political science, and psychology research. It has created a field of research and discussion on the relationship between the individual and the state, the abuse of power, and the effects of propaganda.
In short, the novel "1984" acts as a powerful reflection in modern society and its influence on various fields still exists today.
Analysis of the novel 1984:
The novel 1984 is called a dystopian novel. By dystopian novels, we mean that the author presents the story of a future human society in his writing, and the characteristics of these societies are terrible. Not at all happy for people, but full of sadness. The exact opposite of utopia or a happy society. This writing is about the stories of some such novels. The novel 1984 is the most famous in this genre. Apart from this, other novels in this genre are Brave New World (1932), Fahrenheit 451 (1953), Handmaid's Tale (1985) etc.
A famous dialogue of this novel was-
"Big Brother is watching you"
Here Big Brother is used as a metaphor for the ruler. In that case, the line means that the ruler is keeping an eye on you. It was shown in the novel that there is a mechanical telescreen on the wall of every house, through which the government can keep an eye on the residents of the house. Through this dialogue, the word Big Brother became a symbol of government surveillance in the English media.
During the inauguration of Donald Trump in the United States and the Russia-Ukraine war, the sales of the book suddenly increased manifold. Because the book has many similarities with the events that took place at that time.
The most interesting thing is that this book has been banned in many countries. Such as Belarus and the then Soviet Union. However, these books have been sold and translated a lot in the banned countries. Rebellions, movies, television, debates, wars have influenced everything.
People have gone to jail just because of reading this book. The book is quite relevant to the present time. It is possible to understand perfectly how the distortion of truth in the political arena occurs by reading this book.
George Orwell has used many metaphors in the novel 1984. He has satirized by using some new names and using the type of work.
For example, in this novel, we see that he wrote-
'Ministry of Truth. Its abbreviation in Newspeak is Minitru (the official language of Newspeak Oceania). It is different from any other object in the vicinity. The 300-foot-high building, made of shiny white concrete in a pyramidal structure. From where Winston was standing right now, the three slogans written in glowing letters in front of the building could be clearly read -
War is Peace
Freedom is Slavery
Ignorance is Strength
The Ministry of Truth has three thousand rooms above the ground floor, it is said. And there are an equal number of rooms below. There are three other buildings in the whole of London with the same structure and shape. When you look from the roof of Victory Mansions, the surrounding structures are reduced to a miniature. Four ministries in four buildings. And the entire government is divided into these four main parts. News, entertainment, education and fine arts under the Ministry of Truth. Only war under the Ministry of Peace. Law and order under the Ministry of Love. And the Ministry of Plenty deals with money. In Newspeak, these are known as Minitru, Minipeace, Minilove, and Miniplenty.
The Ministry of Love is a terrifying place to visit. There is not a single window in this ministry building. Winston has never entered this ministry, not even within half a kilometer of its perimeter. Of course, you can't enter it without official work. And if you have to go, you have to go through a narrow path surrounded by barbed wire and enter through a steel door with a hidden machine gun barrel. Even on the road that you have to face so many obstacles, you will see gorilla-faced guards in black clothes, armed with thick canes.'
Here it is clear that George Orwell has satirized the irrational activities of state institutions established for the welfare of the people. They are completely opposite to the work with which these institutions were established. Although established for the welfare of the people, these institutions work to oppress and control the people. Rather, innumerable information is produced by these institutions to ensure control. Which we see even today. For example, George Orwell wrote in one place-
'Your ears will ache with the statistics on the television screens day and night. As if to prove that the people are now getting more food, clothing, housing, and entertainment - they live longer, work less, are bigger, healthier, stronger, happier, more intelligent, more educated than people fifty years ago. Not a single word of these words can ever be proven, nor can it be disproven.’
In this world full of data, not even a fraction of the attention and devotion that is given to producing information is given to the actual work. Only comparisons and differences between the past and the present come before us. Perhaps George Orwell wanted to tell us that we should doubt all the information that comes before us.
But today, creating the reality around us; the conflicts in the world where people are divided into various groups like slices of pizza, only strengthens the hands of those rulers; in the world where people are happily and eagerly pulling people along by showing their love for technology, they themselves are nothing more important than a number of identity cards. Because technology basically facilitates surveillance over people. The technology that was supposed to be used for the welfare of people is used to control people. Peeking into people's personal lives. Basically, the novel 1984 says these things.
Everyone loves this book and agrees with its content! But the funny thing is that despite knowing the details about this book, people are almost literally entering the world of this book. In a world where they are never more important than a number. Which has no importance. Even if they are human, they cannot live with human dignity. All that can be said is that the more people love technology and development, the more they will enter the world of '1984'. The more control-seeking and systematic people become, the more '1984' will become true.
George Orwell has painted a world that he had never seen! He was so wise that he was able to see the future beyond his time. However, many of us, even though we live in a world like that 1984, cannot understand it.
But what is the magic that a writer uses to bring out the narrative of the future through his pen? I think that when a writer is free from all kinds of ideals and focuses only on humanity; When words have honesty, compassion for the oppressed class; who gives more importance to arranging words than becoming great himself; when words are arranged with utmost sincerity to provoke people's thoughtfulness, then perhaps the future comes into the writer's eyes. Then perhaps the writer crosses the boundaries of country, time and nation.
The novel '1984' may be more than a novel in the end, rather this book carries some warning messages, messages that we usually want to avoid. We want to forget. However, it can be assumed that the way the current world is arranging itself, this book will soon be on the list of banned books in the future world.
Conclusion
1984 is very important not only for the form of the story but also for the real context, the metaphorical presentation and the clear picture of the ruling class's attempt to impose various controls on people in its greed for power. Every conscious person should read this novel.