Reader reviews: "1984" (George Orwell). Summary, plot, meaning

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

2 adaptations, publications in 60 languages of the world, 8th place in the list of the best two hundred books according to the BBC - all this is the book "1984". George Orwell is the author of the best dystopian novel, taking pride of place among Zamyatin's "We" and Bradbury's "Fahrenheit 451" which have already become classics.

A little about the history of the creation of the book

Born in India, former colonial army officer George Orwell moved to Europe to become a writer. His creative activity became noticeable after the publication of the provocative book Animal Farm (or Animal Farm). Describing the caste inequality of the population, fighting for freedom of thought and condemning any enslavement of the freedoms of the common man, the writer expands on the theme in the novel "1984". The book reveals the author's desire to show what a totalitarian regime is, how destructive it is for a person and the system as a whole.

Naturally, such a progressive view is unlikely to please the representatives of the rulingauthoritarian power. "Animal Farm" in the Soviet Union was called a "vile" parody of the social way of life, and Orwell himself became an opponent of communism and socialism.

The denial of any kind of enslavement of a person - physical and moral, the condemnation of denunciations and infringement of a person's right to free self-expression - this is all the basis for the book "1984". George Orwell completed the novel in 1948, and it was already published in 1949.

Strong reaction to the publication of the work was not long in coming. Among the applause, the start of filming the film, the translation of the book into other languages, there was also an accusation of plagiarism!

The fact is that the novel "1984" by George Orwell was published after the publication of Yevgeny Zamyatin's work "We", which is based on a similar idea of a totalitarian society and the pressure of politics on a person's personal life. The accusation of plagiarism was dropped after the researchers managed to explain that Orwell read "Us" after the birth of his own idea to create a dystopia.

Such processes, when different authors undertake to express similar ideas almost at the same time, are logically connected with global political and social changes in the life of society. The historical processes in Europe at the beginning of the 20th century, the emergence of a new state of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics are proof of this.

Storylines of the novel

In the novel "1984" it is possible to conditionally distinguish 2 main areas in which the plot develops -socio-political and moral-psychological. These two directions are so intertwined that it becomes impossible to imagine one without the other. The description of the foreign policy situation is shown through the prism of the experiences and thoughts of the protagonist. Relations between people are also a manifestation of the social structure of the state, which George Orwell describes in "1984". Analysis of the work is impossible without both directions.

The actions described in the book take place in Oceania - a superpower that was formed as a result of the split of the world into 3 main parts after the Third World War. Oceania personifies the union of American states, Africa and Australia, headed by the center - Great Britain. The other two parts of the world are named Eurasia (the Soviet Union, the rest of Europe, Turkey) and Eastasia (the current countries of Asia).

In each of these states there is a clear hierarchical system of power and, accordingly, a caste division of society. The top of the government in Oceania is the Inner Party. She is also called the Big (Elder) Brother, who tirelessly "watches you." Simply put, the entire life of society is under the total control of the rules of the Party in the name of the "common good". Big Brother controls everything - a person's work, personal life, as well as his thoughts, feelings and emotions. The one who becomes a "thought-criminal" (thinking differently than the Party "permits") will face severe punishment…

By the way, love and affection for loved ones is the same thought crime. Someone who is a fan of the love theme inliterature, will find another storyline for itself. The line of relationship between the main character and his beloved. Certainly unique. Love under the relentless gaze of Big Brother…

Facecrime, thought police and telescreen

In "1984" author Orwell George shows how much ideology penetrates a person's personal life. Control over all areas is carried out not only in the workplace, in the canteen, shop or street event. The party also looks after the dinner table in the circle of relatives, day and night.

This is done with the help of the so-called telescreen - a device similar to a TV, placed on the streets and in the homes of party members. Its purpose is twofold. First, around the clock to broadcast false news about the victories of Oceania in the war, about how much better life has become in the state, to glorify the party. And secondly, to be a surveillance camera for a person's personal life. The telescreen could be turned off for only half an hour a day, but this did not guarantee that it did not continue to monitor all the actions of a citizen.

Control over compliance with the "norms" of life in society was carried out by the Thought Police. In case of disobedience, she was obliged to immediately seize the thought-criminal and do everything possible to make the person realize his wrong. For a more complete understanding: even an expression of a person’s face that is objectionable to Big Brother is a kind of thought-crime, face-crime.

Doublethink, Newspeak and Ministries

"War is peace", "black iswhite", "ignorance is strength". No, this is not a list of antonyms. These are slogans existing in Oceania that show the essence of the ruling ideology. "Doublethink" is the name of this phenomenon.

The essence of it lies in the belief that the same thing can be described in opposite terms. These characteristics can exist simultaneously. In Oceania, there is even a term for "black and white".

An example of doublethink can be the state of war in which the state lives. Despite the fact that hostilities are going on, the state of the country can still be called peace. After all, the development of society does not stand still in wartime.

In connection with this ideology, the names of the Ministries in which members of the Outer Party (the middle link in the hierarchy of Oceanian society) work seem not so absurd. So, the Ministry of Truth de alt with the dissemination of information among the population (by rewriting the old and embellishing it), the Ministry of Plenty with economic issues (for example, the supply of products that were always in short supply), the Ministry of Love (the only windowless building in which, apparently,, torture was carried out) - by policing, the Ministry of Education - by leisure and entertainment, and the Ministry of Peace - of course, by matters of war.

The abbreviated names of these Ministries were used among the population. For example, the Ministry of Truth was more often referred to as the Ministry of Rights. And all because a new language was developing in Oceania - newspeak, which meant the exclusion of all words objectionable to the Party and the maximum reduction of phrases. It was believed that everything that does not have its own term cannot exist at all. For example, there is no word "revolution" - there are no processes corresponding to it.

Summary of the novel

The action takes place in the capital of Great Britain - London - and its environs, as George Orwell writes in "1984". The summary of the novel must begin with an acquaintance with the main character.

From the very beginning of reading it becomes clear that the main character - Smith Winston - works in the already known Ministry of Truth just to those who "edited" the news. The protagonist's whole life is reduced to a visit to the workplace, lunch in the ministerial canteen and return home, where he is waiting for the relentless telescreen and the rainbow news of Oceania.

It would seem that a typical representative of the middle class, an inhabitant, of which there are millions. Even his name is ordinary, unremarkable. But in fact, Winston is the one who has not come to terms with the existing social system, who is oppressed by totalitarianism, who still notices the boredom and hunger in which London lives, sees how the news is being replaced, and who is tormented by what ordinary people are turning into. He is a dissenter. He is the one who hides his true desires and intentions from the Thought Police under the guise of a happy ordinary citizen.

In George Orwell's "1984" the plot unfolds just from the moment when the main character can't stand the pressure of his oppressive thoughts. He buys in the area of \u200b\u200bresidence the proles (proletarians, the lowest caste living in Oceania)notebook and begins to write a diary. Not only is writing in itself a crime, but the essence of what is written is hatred for the Party. For such behavior, only the highest degree of punishment can await. And this is far from imprisonment.

At first, Smith doesn't know what to record. But then he begins to take notes on everything that comes to mind, even snippets of the news that he has to deal with at work. All this is accompanied by the fear of being caught. But to keep your thoughts in the only safe place - your own mind - no longer has the strength.

After some time, Winston begins to notice that someone is following him. This is his colleague, a young girl named Julia. The hero's first natural thought was that she was watching him at the behest of the Party. Therefore, he begins to experience mixed feelings of hatred, fear and … attraction for her.

However, an accidental encounter with her and a secret note handed to him put everything in its place. Julia is in love with Winston. And admitted it.

The girl turns out to be the one who shares Smith's views on the status quo in society. Secret meetings, walks in the crowd, where it was necessary not to show that they knew each other, bring the characters even closer. Now it's a mutual feeling. Mutual taboo feeling. Therefore, Winston is forced to secretly rent a meeting room with his beloved and pray not to be caught.

The secret affair eventually becomes known to Big Brother. Lovers are placed in the Ministrylove (now this name sounds even more ironic), and then they will face a difficult retribution for their relationship.

How the novel ends, George Orwell will tell in "1984". No matter how many pages of volume this book is, it is worth spending time on it.

Relationships between people in the novel

If you know how feelings are treated in Oceania, a logical question arises: "Then how do families exist there at all? How does 1984 talk about it?" The book elaborates on all these points.

The party "educated" the denial of love and freedom of man since youth. Young people in Oceania entered into an anti-sex union, in which the party and virginity were honored, and everything free, including the manifestation of feelings, was considered unacceptable for a real citizen.

Marriage relations were built only on the consent of the Party. There should not have been any hint of sympathy between the partners. Sexual life was limited to the birth of children. Winston himself was also married. His wife, who supported the Party, was disgusted by physical intimacy and left her husband after unsuccessful attempts to have a child.

As for the children, they were a reflection of the relationship between the parents. Rather, the complete indifference of family members to each other. From an early age, children were instilled with fanatical devotion to the ideals of the party. Each of them was set up in such a way that he could be ready to inform on any person if he commits a thought crime. Even if their mother or father turns out to be a dissident.

Book"1984", George Orwell: character descriptions

About the main character Winston Smith, we can add that he is 39 years old, he is a native of London in the early 40s. The family in which he grew up consisted of his mother and sister and was poor. However, like most inhabitants of Oceania, the middle and lower class. As an adult, Winston was often visited by guilt associated with the fact that he took away the most delicious foods from his younger sister who was ill. The secret disappearance of his female relatives once in childhood, Smith associated with the work of the Party.

Winston's lover Julia is younger than him in the story - she is 26 years old. She is an attractive brown-haired woman who also hates Big Brother, but has to hide it carefully. So is the relationship with Smith. Her rebellious disposition and courage, unusual for any of Winston's acquaintances, allows her to break all the rules adopted in the state.

Another important character that hasn't been mentioned yet is O'Brien, an official who knew Winston. This is a typical representative of the ruling elite, who, despite his awkward plump figure, has refined manners and even a good mind. Winston at some point begins to take O'Brien for "his", not even suspecting that he is from the Thought Police. In the future, this will play a cruel joke with the main character.

Readers' comments: "1948" by George Orwell

More often than not, 1984 is described by readers as a terrible, excellent book that warns against such events. The plausibility with which the author describes the logical ending of alltotalitarian systems. A true textbook of democracy. Everything is so carefully thought out in the plot that when you try to imagine a different ending to Winston's story, you fail. This novel cannot be considered simply a literary work. It would be short-sighted and, in truth, simply stupid. Even for supporters of Stalinism and other authoritarian systems of government, this story is able to show the other side of the coin. The most inveterate ideological followers of totalitarianism are able to sense something was wrong. This is another strength of the work - the strongest psychologism. Like Dostoevsky. The mental anguish of Winston Smith is similar to the experiences of Raskolnikov, driven into the grip of the system. Recommend "1984" to all those who are fans of the work of Fyodor Mikhailovich.

Many readers do not agree that George Orwell wrote only about communism and the USSR in "1984". Criticism often calls the writer a hater of Soviet power, and the work itself is a "stone in the garden" of the then system of government. Readers believe that there is a clear denial of any enslavement of man by the system. Sometimes exaggerated, but no one has yet canceled exaggeration in literary work. The fact is that many countries are now following a similar path of development. And this sooner or later ends with the collapse of both the entire system and the personal tragedy of an individual, which George Orwell shows in "1984". The point is to take a broader look at the idea of this work, not to be limited to one bright example of the Soviet Union.

Emotional reviews say that it just freezes the blood in the veins when you read. An excellent symbolism that can be traced in the everyday world is the correspondence of history, the substitution of concepts, adjusting the opinion and way of life of a person to the requirements of the system. After reading - eyes wide open and feeling like taking a cold shower.

There are more critical remarks. They basically say that the book is obviously overrated in that it changes consciousness. They disagree because a strange feeling arises - either the reader is an unrestrained pessimist who does not need to read the book to see the imperfections of the world, or the book was created for those who live in rose-colored glasses.

A common opinion is also the following: the book can rightfully be considered historical. And very modern. Who changed the world? Someone who wasn't afraid to die for an idea. The one who was more afraid to live in such an unhappy society. Not the majority of the townsfolk who just want to survive, but only individuals.

Often controversial, but always alive were and are reader reviews. "1984", George Orwell as a writer never caused one thing - indifference. And no wonder - in this book everyone can find something for themselves. But not a single book lover will be able to pass by and not even ask what caused such a stir around this work.

Screenings of the work

A large number of laudatory reviews was the impetus for directors to film the novel "1984". George Orwell did not live 6 years beforerelease on the big screen of his offspring. The first film was released in 1956.

It was directed by Michael Anderson, who, together with screenwriter Templeton, focused in the film on the most totalitarian society. The story of the protagonist, played by Edmond O'Brien, fades into the background in the film. This was done in order to simplify, to create a film more accessible to a wide audience. But it backfired. Especially for those who were previously familiar with the phrase "George Orwell," 1984 ". The audience's review was unequivocal - the film falls short of the book in terms of emotional load. The novel in the original is more dynamic and exciting.

An interesting fact is that the last name of the actor (O'Brien) is the same as the last name of the character from the book (a party official who collaborated with the Thought Police). Therefore, it was decided to replace her in the plot with O'Connor.

The next person to venture into a 1984 film was another Michael, only now Radford, a British director. His picture was released in the year that coincided with the events of the book - in 1984. Actor John Hurt played the title role, Susanna Hamilton played his beloved Julia. Also, this picture was the last in the career and in the life of the famous actor Richard Burton, known for "The Taming of the Shrew", "The Longest Day" and others.

This time the film adaptation has become more successful - all the main storylines of the book are transmitted, the images of the characters are fully disclosed. But here, too, audience opinions were divided. "1984", George Orwell himself as an author fell in love with readersso much so that they could not feel with the film adaptation of that emotional tension, intensity, which the book conveys.

Today it is known that another, third film adaptation of the dystopian novel is planned. Directed by Paul Greengrass. He became famous thanks to his work on the paintings "The Bourne Supremacy", "Bloody Sunday". So far, nothing is known about the cast, the date of the start of filming and the release of the film. But Sony Pictures and producer Scott Rudin will be involved in the birth of the picture, which is already fueling interest in the future film based on "1984" (George Orwell). The film adaptation promises to be more modern and of high quality.

Overall reading experience

Of course, the most honest, unbiased characteristics of a work are real reviews. "1984", George Orwell and the whole world he created, resonated with millions of readers. Sometimes touching and sincere, sometimes tough, uncompromising and frightening - this book is like life itself. Maybe that's why she seems so real.

"Freedom is the ability to say that two and two make four," says George Orwell in 1984. Quotes from this book are known even to those who have not read it. It's really worth getting to know her. And not only because it is praised by reviews. "1984", by George Orwell, may be the book and author that will find its place of honor on the bookshelf and in the heart next to other masterpieces of literature.