Nineteen Eighty-Four [Full Review]

Nineteen Eighty-Four [Full Review]

This novel is one of the novels that make you stare at its last line and just, think. How on earth am I going to write a review about this? How am I going to pen the right words to describe a masterpiece when masterpieces cannot be put in words?

1984 is by far atop the list of the most depressing novels of all-time. Do not read this novel if you are confused or mentally unprepared for a true and honest mind-fuck. You have to be prepared that you will suffer along with the protagonist, basically because you are technically living in that world Orwell described.

Orwell's style didn't strike me as much as his ideas did. The things he came up with could only come from the mind of someone who knew exactly how this world is ruled and how it will always be ruled.

“If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face—for ever.”

It's a political dictionary, especially when it comes to Part II. The explanation of the slogan of Big Brother was what struck me the most as genius. Especially with the 'War is peace' slogan.

The words of Newspeak; doublethink, crimethink, and all the words Orwell came up with actually made so much sense and do fit in this world.

The power of stupidity in a mass could never be underestimated, the power of Big Brother to do anything to you in order to make you obey, to make you a faithful citizen (or comrade, as they said it) is just about too close to be brought to real life.

This novel made me thing of prisons, real prisons, and how prisoners are treated there, could what was described in the novel ever be close to reality? I wouldn't say no because that would be sinking in denial. Yet saying yes is a complete calamity.

Don't read this novel if you're not ready to be depressed, and sometimes insane even for a speck of a second. Don't. Just don't. However, make sure you read it, because sooner or later you will realize it is not unreal words you're reading.

You're reading us. You're reading the present.

Quotes:

"Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make four. If that is granted, all else follows."

“He who controls the past controls the future. He who controls the present controls the past.”

“Doublethink means the power of holding two contradictory beliefs in one's mind simultaneously, and accepting both of them.”

“If you want to keep a secret, you must also hide it from yourself.”

"If there is hope, it lies in the proles"

"We shall meet again in the place where there is no darkness"

"To die hating them, that was freedom".