1984
Author: George Orwell
Genre: Political satire
Published in 1949, this book portrays a future dystopia, where cameras watch your every step and troublemakers are quickly disposed of. The main character is a middle aged, middle class citizen. His job is to alter obsolete information in newspapers, but he's got the nagging feeling that something must be amiss.
Genre: Political satire
Published in 1949, this book portrays a future dystopia, where cameras watch your every step and troublemakers are quickly disposed of. The main character is a middle aged, middle class citizen. His job is to alter obsolete information in newspapers, but he's got the nagging feeling that something must be amiss.
It is a harsh, cruel world that is revealed to the reader. Freedom of speech has not existed for a long time - freedom of thought barely does either. Love between family members is an exception to the rule; friends you do not have; constant war rages. The disturbing thing is that you do understand how they got there, and how easily we could end up with a world just like it. Orwell does a very good job, creating a scaringly credible dystopia.
Now, I am a big fan of languages - so if you aren't, please excuse this whole paragraph. One thing Orwell certainly understood is the importance of language. He saw that a totalitarian state can not have the same vocabulary as a country of freedom. The mere fact that the word "freedom" exists would raise too many questions. The invention of a new language in 1984 is a minor detail, but a truly brilliant one. By erasing words that are bothersome to them, the totalitarian state strenghtens its power. A generation later, when nobody remembers those words anymore - how will they express disdain? How can you complain about something that you cannot express? Will you even think of it?
Don't feel like going to the library? Here is a link to the book online:
http://www.george-orwell.org/1984/index.html
Now, I am a big fan of languages - so if you aren't, please excuse this whole paragraph. One thing Orwell certainly understood is the importance of language. He saw that a totalitarian state can not have the same vocabulary as a country of freedom. The mere fact that the word "freedom" exists would raise too many questions. The invention of a new language in 1984 is a minor detail, but a truly brilliant one. By erasing words that are bothersome to them, the totalitarian state strenghtens its power. A generation later, when nobody remembers those words anymore - how will they express disdain? How can you complain about something that you cannot express? Will you even think of it?
Don't feel like going to the library? Here is a link to the book online:
http://www.george-orwell.org/1984/index.html
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