George Orwell, 1984 Review

Overall Rating

Plot has potential in real life, ending fit perfectly with novel, great description

A couple of slow chapters

1984 by George Orwell is a highly antagonistic book of a totalitarianism government in a time of instability. The protagonist and narrator of the story is a man named Winston who believes that the government has been corrupting it's people into believe certain people or events never occured.

Parts of the novel seem to be able to link to everyday life governments and their actions within their countries, and more and more nations are using their own form of doublespeak to make deep or embarrassing mistakes, or jobs seem less so by re-arranging the words. (ie: local Garbageman= negative connotation, Regional Trash Collector= important/respectful connotation)

The description of the location in the novel was written excellently. While engrossed in the book, I felt as though I was there, with Winston, standing under what felt like a very dirty sky. Everything around us seemed dirty and over used. The chapter with everyone in the auditorium for the meeting with Big Brother emitted a strong sense of togetherness (even during the yelling and fighting as it was a group feeling) and naivity (no one knew the true identity of Big Brother and only few cared to find out)

The ending of the book was by far the best part. Like most books, I was expecting a happy ending, with Winston exposing the governments secrets and the civilians over-throwing it. However, it was refreshing to read that the government was consistent in their seeking and punishment of those committing Thoughtcrime and Winston's transformation into a government praiser made sense although we all, as readers, felt a sense of loss that our character had the evidence to destroy the government but not the time, nor people to assist him.

My only critism is the chapters containing the book of the brotherhood. Although this chapter contained information about how the government came to be, it was very dull to read.

Overall, 1984 is an excellent book to read and the curriculum in my school is very right in including it as a mandatory read.

Members' Comments ondgirl123's Review

• jonathan kelly on 4th Aug 2006

  George Orwell in 1984 a version of the world we live in seen from the worst point of view possible. Two ways TV tells what we do as well as what we watch. As it is obvious that people crack up when watched all the time and become cartoons of themselves is that what has the future has in store for us?