"G" is for: George Orwell's 1984

"In America you watch television. In Soviet Russia television watches you!" - Yakov Smirnoff

George Orwell's book "1984" is one of those classics that I turn to every couple of years or so. It is too easy to take the book originally written in 1949 and then see how it applies to modern times. People have been doing it since, well, 1984 for sure!

The book introduced the idea of "telescreens" that were located practically everywhere including inside your own home. The screens could not be turned off and would spout off an endless supply of propaganda. In today's society it would seem you cannot go anywhere without some kind of screen being present whether it is a restaurant or even the food court at the mall, there is a television there. The rest of your time is spent looking at small screens on your computer or mobile device. I guess the only difference between us and Winston Smith is that our screens are not watching us (at least I don't think so!).

The one thing I do not get, much like Winston Smith, is why the ruling elite has created this totalitarian world. As my earlier post on needing a philosophy if your dictatorship is going to survive pointed out, I cannot fathom "absolute power" as the motive for seizing control. I wish that in the book we were given insight as to who the real leaders are. O'Brien, Winston's interrogator, gives the reasons the world is the way it is, but then O'Brien is only a member of the Inner Party. We know that he does live a life of privilege as compared to what members of the Outer Party lead, for example Winston. His luxuries however are restricted to things like drinking wine and being able to turn off his telescreen. But even there he points out that it would raise suspicion if he left it off longer than 30 minutes. It would seem that there is another level that he must report to as well. I get the feeling that O'Brien may be just as much in danger of falling out of favor with the party and he too will be "disappeared" at some point.

Is there a caste somewhere within the London of 1984 that we just do not get to see? What are their motives and rewards? I suppose these are the questions that keep coming back and what drives me to pick up the book every once in a while and read it again.

1984 is a true classic. If you have not read it I highly encourage it. It is a fairly easy read and you can feel the decay and dirtiness of London coming from the pages. In my mind the sky was constantly cloudy and the plaster fell from every wall the heroes walked by. Orwell has indeed created a dismal view of the future! It may be tempting to skip the section of "the book", the resistance's manuscript on the reason's behind "Ingsoc" and "Big Brother" but I would encourage you to read it. It goes a long way in explaining why things are the way they are.

Incidentally I found the film version is available for free online.

There is supposedly another movie version being planned.