Is it possible for civilization to become so advanced, that instead
of advancing forward, society would have to backtrack? George
Orwell certainly believed so. At the end of the 1940s, Orwell could
see this conundrum taking place in the very near future; in fact,
in 1984. That is exactly what he wrote the book Nineteen
Eighty-Four about.
In a world where thought is a crime and everyone's every move is
being scrutinized, our protagonist, Winston Smith, is slowly coming
to terms with society's lack of freedom. One's every move must be
done with care, as the smallest deviation from the norm could
result in death by torture. With the advance of technology and the
power of The Party, Orwell's imagined world of 1984 is frightening
yet revealing at the same time.
In this futuristic society of Oceania where everyone desires equal
wealth and freedom, The Party feels obliged to control the
hierarchy of the nation. Through stunning and impressive logic,
Orwell explains the three basic principles that The Party is
justified to base society on: war is peace, freedom is slavery, and
ignorance is strength.
Orwell's remarkable masterpiece of a tale raises and exposes some
stunning ethical issues that the world faces today. He cleverly
questions the nature of man, love, and the individual, and the
right to power in modern society. Although he portrays a world that
may seem far-fetched and unrealistic, it is shocking and unnerving
at the number of resemblances the terrifying world of Nineteen
Eighty-Four bears to our society.
A must read for any mature teen over the age of 14, Nineteen
Eighty-Four offers some fresh and realistic insights into the
complex world of international politics today.