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I cannot yet compile a large scale opinion, because I have not finished the novel. As of right now, my judgment is clouded by misunderstanding. Are the thought police real, or are they a rumor started to scare people into submission? What is the purpose of morning exercises? Is big brother one person, or rather multiple government officials? While my many questions may seem to make me out as one who cannot grasp the underlying meanings of the novel, I am only trying to understand the facts behind the these messages from Orwell.
Thankyou
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The thought police are real. There is no real point of the morning exercises, except to point out that the screens are two-way, and that the citizens can be monitored in their homes. It also shows that the citizens are required to follow orders even in their free time. Taking part in early morning exercises should be discretionary, you would think. It is not certain whether Big Brother is a person, or an idea controlled by a group of inner party officials. He may once have been a real person who has since died. He may have been the supreme leader of the revolution, or just it's most charismatic leader.
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I am struggling with becoming interested in this novel because there are not many exciting parts so far. With that being said, I see 1984 as a really good way to view the world differently. In 1984 George Orwell gives us a chance to think about our government and the way it is run from a completely different perspective. We as the citizens see how we are sometimes "brainwashed" by the government like the citizens in 1984 are. Propoganda goes on every day in our government and we are under surveillance much like the examples in 1984. Therefore, I can not say I enjoy reading 1984, but I do believe that the ideas portrayed by the novel will have a lasting impact on my way of thinking.
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My impression of the book, only being part way through, is wavering. I am personally not sure what parts of the book are of importance due to the overwhelming amount of information thrown at you in the first 100 pages. It is hard to understand where Orwell is going with the novel during the first part of the book. To me just the concept of Orwell predicting life in 1984 from a 1948 veiwpoint and being semi- accurate is astonishing. I do have to say, Winston's constant battle of man vs. himself has been the only part that has grabbed me during the first portion of the novel. All in all, I am not sure as to where I stand on the book. At times I am enjoying the book and other times it just sems to drag on with confusing details. Hopefully I will begin to understand the novel as I read on, or hey, I may understand it 5-10 years down the road.
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Interesting comments, and I agree that you should read it again in the future. I have long said that high-schoolers are too politically naive to understand what the book is about.
Even so, the basic story is easy to understand; you just need to read it to the end.
(then read the threads around here!)
