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The negative Utopia "1984\" was written and published in 1949. In that imaginary year 1984 the world is divided between three superstates with similar political systems that have been waring with each other for the last 20 years. Nevertheless these states form allies from time to time it is impossible to overthrow one of them due to their natural boundaries. Not only the world but also the population of the state this novel is set in is divided into three group: The lowest and largest group are the proles who are treated like animals. The second group is some kind of "middle class" called the "Outer Party" which members are rather poor and have to be completely obedient. The control lies in the "Inner Party" which comprises only few members with special rights.
On the top of the state is the imaginary "Big Brother" who is some kind of substitute god. The Inner Party uses the never ending war to control its people: Even tough the fighting is in some remote part of China people are deluded into believing to be in constant danger so that they are ready to hand power to a small ruling class. Furthermore the war effects a shortage of goods that does not allow the establishment of a powerful middle class that might long for power. A very powerful menace to keep control is the thought police: everywhere are "telescreens!" which transmit propaganda but also receive what is going on in their field of vision. People cannot even get a bit of privacy at home but the party despites any feelings that are not related to the their fame or the hate of the enemy ,anyway. So they even cut the link between parents and child since children are used to spy if their parents, neighbours and friends might act against the will of the party.
The unlucky ones who get caught vanish forever. Even worse: they have never existed as the party destroys or changes all records mentioning them. Thanks to the principle of "doublethink" most people don?t have any problems in putting up with that. "Doublethink" simply means that you believe anything the party says and forget what was fact one moment earlier. The main character Winston Smith is one of the people that see the truth as his work in the Record Department is to chance newspaper articles to make them match the new facts An other thing that makes Winston different are his feelings: He does not share any interest in the matters of the party but longs for human affection instead which he gets from a woman working in the same building. They have to take great risks to see each other as deep friendship or passion is not wanted in their society.
The two hate the party for different reasons: Winstons hastes it for its betrayal Julia for not being able to do what she feels. Winston is not as much effected by propaganda as most other people even though he always joins in shouting during the "Two minutes hate". The two minutes hate is a daily occasion to refresh people?s feelings for the party. During these two minutes they are shown a very emotive film about the enemy threatening their lives. Everyone goes frenzy till the picture of their saviour - Big Brother - is shown. Winston always tries to keep calm but even though he hates the Party he always joins the crowd.
One time he catches the eyes of the Inner Party member O?Brien and seems to read understanding. Till that moment he was always afraid of being the only person able to see what is happening but now he hopes to have found and allay. And really: some time later O?Brien gives him a secret sign to visit him in his flat which is a very unusual behaviour. O?Brien pretends to be member of an underground organisation undermining the Party. Winston and Julia do not hesitate to join but get to know quite soon that they were betrayed. As the party only kills people who truly believe in Big Brother they burn out every belief in Winston by torturing him.
In the end he even betrays his lover when he faces to his greatest fear. "1984\" is certainly one of my favourite books as this nightmarish vision is absolutely disturbing. It is quite obvious that the author found a lot of inspiration in the happenings of the Third Reich. The telescreen for example corresponds to the "Volksempfänger", the Nazis also alienated children from their parents and the Thought Police resembles very much of the Gestapo but of course the conditions in Orwell?s novel are even worse as you can hide absolutely nothing from eyes of the party - not even your most secret thoughts. Winston Smith is one of the few people able to remember the time before the Party came into power. That is probably one reason for realizing what is going on as the other people have no comparison especially if they use doublethink automatically.
Even though I suppose Gerorge Orwell chose the common name "Smith" to show that he is not the only person opposing this total system. Julia for example hates it for not being allowed to live her life the way she wants. On the other hand she feel not the slightest anger for the alternation of the past as it does not really effect her life. But no matter how many people there are wishing to fight against the party they have no possibility to meet or even get to now who is on their side due to the constant fear of spies. In my opinion this makes the book very depressing as no matter what you do it is impossible to change anything and as Winston says: You are already dead when you commit "thoughcrime". One other thing that struck me is the lack of compassion caused by the party replacing all human feelings against hatred and political triumph.
This point is very well highlighted at the point when Winston writes about going to the cinema: " Audience much amused by shots of a great huge fat man trying to swim wallowing along in the water like a porpoise, then you saw him through the helicopter gunsights, then he was full of holes and the sea round him turned pink and he sank as suddenly as though the holes had let in the water. audience shouting with laughter when he sank." (P.11) There is only one thing I am not a 100 per cent content with: the title. In a way it is really good as by choosing a date only about 35 years in the future he indicates that his novel in not just Science Fiction and totally unlikely to happen. He probably saw some development that might lead to such a state.
On the other hand I would have preferred a title that shows that totalism is something that is always a possible danger as there are always people longing for power.
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