Resumo de Nineteen Eighty-four

BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU. He can hear you and see you all the time. Every minute you are under the watchful gaze of the Telescreens. There is no escaping Big Brother.
From the first page of 1984, you are captivated. George Orwell?s bleak vision of the latter half of the twentieth century sees the world in the perpetual grip of war and famine. There will be one singular and autocratic leader, Big Brother. The novel is a true modern classic but it is certainly not light reading. It is a dark story of the human struggle against oppression and mind control. The personal war against Big brother rages in the mind of Winston Smith.
Winston Smith is an employee of the Ministry of Truth, a factory that churns out lies, misquotes and corrections to the daily newspapers. His job is to modify from old English into Newspeak articles for printing in The Times. Progressively Winston senses that certain, if not all, aspects of history as he remembers them have changed. With such heavy modification of the newspapers, no semblance of the truth remains. What was true yesterday is now no longer provable or disprovable because no tangible evidence exists. The historical record has changed. Although expressly forbidden by the party, Winston secretly purchases a diary from Mr. Charrington, a local shopkeeper. A terrible mistake Winston lives to regret.
While working at the Ministry of Truth, Winston notices a woman from another cubicle, looking at him. Her name is Julia and soon her real intention becomes clear, she is infatuated with him. One morning, she walks past Winston?s cubicle, she pretends to stumble and hurt her arm, Winston assists her and she secretly places a note into his hand. Out of the way of the Telescreens, Winston unfolds the handwritten note. The note simply reads, ?I Love You?.
After a few snippets of secretive conversation, Winston and Julia agree to meet at a hidden location in the country. It is here that they begin an unsanctioned passionate love affair, known as Sexcrime.
About the same time a man, named O?Brien approaches Winston. He seems to share Winston?s hatred for Big brother. He compliments Winston on his work and offers to show him the new version of the dictionary of Newspeak. O?Brien seems friendly, however, can he be trusted?
Orwell writes with such detail, that the tension seems to grow with each successive turn of the page and the constant reminder that Big Brother is watching. In the houses, factories and the streets of the city, large Telescreens simultaneously watch and broadcast to the masses, transmitting a never-ending stream of propaganda. Telescreens can be turned down, but never off. Even when idle, the screens show the moustachioed likeness of Big Brother.
Thoughtcrime is the act of thinking contrary to the doctrine of the party or the teachings of Big Brother. The Thought Police watch the citizens of Oceania, for any evidence of thoughtcrime. When apprehended, Thought criminals suffer terrible consequences, in Room 101 in the Ministry of Love.
Everyone is afraid of being falsely accused. Any nervous tic, erratic movement or unusual speech inflection is enough to rouse suspicion. Innocent discussion amongst peers, Doctors against patients, children against parents, anything could result in your demise. Informants are everywhere. Even the most insignificant shred of concocted evidence could put you away, guilty or otherwise.
Winston rents out a vacant room above Mr. Charrington?s shop-a room that he says does not have a Telescreen installed. He lies and informs on the couple. Winston and Julia are sent to the Ministry of Love. It is here that the story takes a nasty turn. What happens next? Well, you are going to have to read the book to find out.
Throughout the book, Orwell uses Newspeak, an oxymoronic, heavily sanitised version of English. Deleted from basic English are all subjective and emotive words. The use of Newspeak only adds to the cold and emotionless landscape of 1984. Asa fascinating appendix to the novel at the back of my copy of the book, there is an essay with a full description and history of the language.
Although it is quite brutal in parts, the book is thought provoking on so many levels. Nineteen eighty-four was written more than fifty years ago, however, a recent poll by Angus and Robertson booksellers placed the novel at number twenty-six of the one-hundred most popular books of all time.
It appears that this reviewer is not alone in singing its praises. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in history, humanity and politics, as there are enough aspects to this book to keep anyone interested. It is DoublePlus Good!

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