*, Having My Say Archive

1984 Revisited

I have decided to take on another “special project” here at RJsCorner and that is to re-read George Orwell’s novel 1984 and write some posts about the similarity to what is happening today. So much of what is coming out of the executive branch of our government seems to originate from Orwell’s novel.

I was fascinated by the book the first time I read it as an early teenager in the early 1960s. The book was written in 1944 but was not published until 1948. Here are some slightly edited words from Wikipedia to jog your memory and entice you to read this special series:

In the year 1984, civilization has been damaged by war, civil conflict, and revolution. Airstrip One (formerly Britain) is a province of Oceania, one of the three totalitarian super-states that rule the world. It is ruled by the “Party” under the ideology of “Ingsoc” and the mysterious leader Big Brother, who has an intense cult of personality. The Party stamps out anyone who does not fully conform to their regime using the Thought Police and constant surveillance through devices such as Telescreens (two-way televisions).

It is amazing how forward-looking this novel was considering when it was written. I can certainly forgive Orwell for not realizing that it would take 75 years, instead 40, for it to become virtual reality.

I look forward in trying to relate Orwell’s world to what is going on today, and I hope you do too.

6 thoughts on “1984 Revisited”

  1. We read this as a family- 68,60,36,33,32,30- in our own homes. The discussion has been so interesting. I look forward to your ideas.

    Like

    Reply

  2. I’d suggest adding Ayn Rand to this list. I think much of the thought on the right is influenced by this author. I have a friend on the right (who is not really a Trump fan) and thinks the federal government has no responsibility to help anyone who is not making it on their own. Even if their problems are caused by the changes due to the way jobs are changing due to technology. “They should have been smart enough to see it coming and got themselves retrained for the new economy.

    Right out of Ayn Rand.

    Like

    Reply

    1. Second only to the current Oval Office occupant in my most despised list is Ayn Rand. She basically said empathy is the scourge of mankind. I read more about her when I saw that she was Paul Ryans number 1 author. Like Trump, I don’t care to even think about her.

      My hero of that era was Will Rogers. His most famous quote was “I never met a fella I didn’t like”. But of course he didn’t know about Trump. If he did I’m sure he would have added a “but” to the comment.

      Like

      Reply

  3. I read this about the same time and the same age. I read Rand then, also. They helped shape my view of the world. About the same time I became aware of the unashamed hypocrisy of many Good Churchgoers and the enabling behavior of the rest. Needless to say, I was not surprised to learn that Ayn Rand , later in her life, learned on the very system she despised. Somehow, I have kept my belief in the innate goodness of the majority of humanity, but I also recognize their cowardice. Sad to say, I’ve seen both these traits in myself. 😏

    Like

    Reply

    1. I don’t put all churchgoers in that category, but I know they do exist. Hypocrisy is there as well as many other places. I too have kept my belief in innate goodness, with exceptions of course…

      Like

      Reply

Share Your Thoughts..