“They had seized power unwillingly and for a limited time, and that just around the corner there lay a paradise where human beings would be free and equal. We are not like that. We know that no one ever seizes power with the intention of relinquishing it. Power is not a means; it is an end. One does not establish a dictatorship in order to safeguard a revolution; one makes the revolution in order to establish the dictatorship. The object of persecution is persecution. The object of torture is torture. The object of power is power. Now you begin to understand me.”
In a world in which everything you do is watched, your very thoughts are subject to review, a man decides to circumvent the norms despite the threat of death. Winston Smith, a very typical man had become fed up with the Party, the threat of “Big Brother” and decides to commit treason. How does he begin? He writes a journal. Following his initial act of rebellion, watch as Winston’s life changes in the face of free will.
1984 is the kind of book I believe everyone should read at least once in their life. For the most part, I believe Orwell’s books in general are important to read, not just for the sake of literature, but for the content. Books like 1984 remind people to remain vigilant, to not allow our liberties to be taken away, to actively fight against fascism. I especially admire his dystopias written in the fashion where the majority of people believe themselves to be within a utopia. While Winston as a character annoys me, especially his very outdated view on women, I remind myself that this book was written during time in which the year 1984 was considered the far future. Despite its occasionally outdates themes, I think the book’s main moral is important enough that it should be analyzed in every English literature class. A classic for a reason, 5 out of 5 stars.