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Of the dozens of themes - minor and major - Orwell has for us, I continue to find one of the most intriguing for us is how fragile the truth can be.

And if we look around at the climate of our...

This week's admission by President Trump that he is indeed a "Nationalist" is chilling on several different levels. And of course is a stark reminder of what Orwell was forecasting and warning.
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Every dictator needs a scapegoat...someone who can take the fall and become the focus of distraction from the truth or the reality of a situation.

I would caution against referring to Orwell as a fortune teller. He does use historical fact and the events of his day to make educated judgement about those things we should worry about. In that...

It is the threat they pose that is the real control.

You don't know who they are. Where they are. When they may show up.

This fear ends up controlling them.

Orwell's novel has been one of the most scrutinized in all of literature.

It is also one of the prominent works of literature featured on banned book lists in the United States.

The novel is...

Orwell's novel has been one of the most scrutinized in all of literature.

It is also one of the prominent works of literature featured on banned book lists in the United States.

The novel is...

One of the more interesting points Orwell makes in the course of the novel deals with history and how easily manipulated it is. Winston spends much of his time early on searching for the fundamental...

Mutatis-Mutandis...As an "Orwellian expert", I would have hoped you would be happy to see that young people are excited about studying this important work.

You can't discount the fact that O'Brien also represents the concept of "hope". This is the hope government often offers but never fulfills. It's also an aspect of the novel where we see Orwell most...

The fact that nearly 70% of Americans didn't bother to vote in my county (NY), speaks volumes to one of the important forecasts Orwell has for us.

Simply, put our own apathy ultimately will keep...

Each time I re-read Orwell's depiction of the Prole women arguing and fighting over pots and pans, I can't help but think what a significant warning this is in our culture.

We spend so much time...

The Outer Party members have no ability to rebel. And as far as the Inner Party, why would they want to change things.

"The only hope for the future, lies with the Proles." They make up the...

There is no reference to religion other than the fact that the poet is vaporized for leaving the word "God" in a poem.

That alone suggests strongly that any kind of faith has been "bled" out of...

Orwell is clearly showing us that there is little to no class movement. Again, he's right on the mark if we look back at the last 70 years.

Children generally remained locked into the class in...

My interpretation is rather simple but accurate - there is no war. The Party's scripting on one satisfies one of the three tenets: War is Peace.

An American movie, I believe the title is, "Wag the...

With regard to the party's view on sex, the quickest and easiest interpretation is their desire to control every aspect of the people's lives.

Additionally, the party is also seeking to remove all...

I do see that Orwell is portraying a reversal of stereotypical roles of men and women. And it's surely one more area where he was most accurate in his depiction of what the future holds.

One good...

It is more the concept or threat of being watched than the actual surveillance.

Big Brother has created such an atmosphere of fear that "his people" are ruled by it.

One could make the argument that a fabricated enemy is more dangerous. Without sounding too political, a good example would be the rhetoric that comes from extremists throughout the world - eg. Al...

Agreed. Safe bet is Huxley's novel.

It is important to understand that the Proles are not representative of an age group.

The question posed is interesting, however.

There are cetainly some comparisons that make sense.

The...

As a teacher and 1984 fan, I'm interested in your take on the novel and its relevence in a modern day high school classroom.

Orwell takes to task those who would be governed. Certainly the Proles fall into that category.

Look at the passage where Winston observes the "Prole women" fighting over pots and pans.

There...

Let's look closely at one of the key perspectives that Orwell offers: He is certainly (and obviously) critical of the dictator. That's easy.

But to truly get the most from his work you need to...