EPT![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/a5QK0.jpg)
Introduction
Hello, I think I've mentioned in one of my previous blogs that I would allow myself to indulge in the (dis)pleasure in reading 1984. I hope that it will serve as an excellent prelude to Brave New World by Huxley. Throughout this blog, I intend to share my thoughts and interpretations of the book. I don't think I'll talk too much on the political ideologies because any attempt to do so on my part would ultimately result in me making a fool of myself.
Entry 1 Tuesday, Nov 06 5:56am GMT (GMT+00:00)
I've read up to chapter six thus far, and I think I've managed to understand exactly what kind of dystopia Oceania is and isn't. The presence of Big Brother is mentioned constantly through, and how it's done is similar to how Sauron's Eye was in the Lord of the Rings film trilogy - mentioned enough so you don't forget the true evil.
Throughout the time I've spent on Reddit, I've seen my fair share of the hivemind circle-jerking over North Korea being the living representation of Oceania, and that Orwell knew there'd be a country like North Korea today, and wrote 1984 as an allegory for NK. Personally I think they're all wrong, and yet right at the same time. Sure, certain aspects are similar like the lack of basic civil liberties and the overwhelming amount of propaganda, but come on, saying that NK is Oceania is just misguided hyperbole.
There isn't much to comment on, and especially since it was so hyped up, I was surprised that 1984 wasn't as horrifying as I thought it'd be. Nevertheless, there were parts that made me uncomfortable when I thought about it. I feel that it's unfortunate that the whole thing on vaporising people and erasing them from history didn't hit me as hard because of Stalin's purges that I learned in History class.
Anyway, moving on to the literary part of the book, it seems to me that Orwell was trying to portray the society as one giant machine where everybody are but faceless cogs. I first thought about this in Chapter five, the part where Winston is in the cramped canteen with low-ceilings. If I'm not over-analysing things, the canteen is crowded because cogs do not have much space to do anything else than their intended purpose in a machine. The sentence "The queue gave another jerk forward" reminds me of the workings of a giant clock tower. I also like how Orwell drains the life out of the meal - "Onto each [tray] was dumped the regulation lunch - a metal pannikin of pinkish-grey stew, a hunk of bread, a cube of cheese, a mug of milk-less Victory Coffee, and one saccharine tablet.". Words like hunk, cube, and mug are pretty boring and lifeless words to me, so it adds to the gloom. I enjoyed how "saccharine tablet" was used in place of "candy" or "sweet". That's a delicious use of words.
Entry 2 Wednesday, Nov 07 6:15am GMT (GMT+00:00)
Just finished reading the next chapter, chapter 7. So far Orwell has done a magnificent job with trying to get the reader to empathize with Winston. I like how he explains language can restrict a person's conscience and narrow down reality. Nothing short of stunning, really.
Entry 3 Sunday, Nov 11 9:40am GMT (GMT+00:00)
Finally had the time to get a good chunk of reading in my day. I've read up to Chapter 4 of Part 2. I think the storyline is progressing rather nicely. However, this is feeling more and more like Dictatorship 101 to me. It's interesting how Orwell mentions that something like lust - a "baser" sense, can be the downfall of a dictatorship. I feel that Orwell is trying to explain how civil unrest can essentially topple a totalitarian government. It's actually a rather neat idea to focus the most of your brain-washing efforts on the children rather than the adults. If you deny the children the facts and the actual circumstances of the world, you can create your own reality as time passes.
Also, I wish Orwell had expanded on how art was altered or destroyed. Just imagine all the things you can attribute to your glorious nation if you could re-write the past. Patriotic music like Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture could be said to be the work of a retired army general to invoke military pride. Beethoven's Symphony No.6 could be used to exemplify the supposed peace and tranquil Oceania has, Symphony No.9 could be used to promote camaraderie amongst comrades and such.
The dark-haired girl whose name I've forgotten seems to be the stereotypical apathetic citizen I've noticed here in Singapore. "To heck with politics unless it affects me first-hand!" People like her cannot necessarily overthrow an oppressive government, but they surely can spur on and fuel people like Winston, people who actually want to do something. I share the same suspicions as the girl in that I think the rocket strikes are all part of Big Brothers' plan.
Predictions: Winston approaches O`Brien after dark-haired girl is vaporized by the thought police.
Entry 4 Monday, Nov 19 10:37am GMT (GMT+00:00)
Alright, I've managed to reap up to Chapter 9 of part 2 and I can just feel (physically) that the climax is about to come. Julia and Winston just concluded their meeting with O`Brien, and there's a part of me that thinks Julia will break soon. She'll report to Big Brother, the Thought Police, or whatever beast in hopes that she'll be excused for her wrongdoings. The chances of this happening is very slim though. I also suspect that O`Brien isn't really on their side. Maybe everything will just end with O`Brien throwing Julia and Winston in a re-education centre or make them confess and vaporise them. I'm quite happy with how the storyline is progressing so far.
I cannot state this enough - Orwell has succeeded in creating a vivid distopia in my mind. I can imagine the intricacies of it without him telling. He's given me the general view of Oceania, and given me sufficient information to build it on my own.
Entry 5
This update is way overdue. I finished the book 2 months ago and I kept procrastinating until I forgot all about it. Anyway, here's what I think of what I remember:
I can't say that I was surprised at how the book ended, but I enjoyed how the book was ending. Winston being tortured until he loved Big Brother and loved the part all made sense. It's genius, really. Orwell is a genius.
