In the classic 1984, writer George Orwell invents a frightening world in which a totalitarian government, otherwise known as “the Party,” rules its citizens through extreme oppression. Within this highly imaginative society, the Party controls every aspect of an individual’s life, down to their very own thoughts. Any sign of rebellion would result in extreme torture till the point of death. Now, I could go on and on listing every aspect of living in such a society, but the Party’s main goal, one in which they try to engrave into the minds of all citizens, can be summarized perfectly into one sentence: “War is Peace, Freedom is Slavery, Ignorance is Strength.”

Now describing what this dystopian world is actually about, I would say that my favorite aspect of this extremely compelling read would have to be the perspective in which it’s told. 1984 is written through the life of a low-ranking Party member named Winston Smith, who disagrees with the views of the Party and secretly takes part in acts of rebellion. Given his rank, I feel as though Winston perfectly illustrates the experiences of a “common man” in such a society, causing people to sympathize for him as he battles against those “above him.” His philosophical views on life and politics also causes readers to better relate to and connect with his character.

Additionally, despite being a perfect example of Orwell’s brilliant creativity, 1984 also reflects the political climate in which it was written. The novel was originally released in 1949, a time when communism, the Cold War, and nuclear weapons were seen as a global threat to citizens across the world. Learning about this history caused me to appreciate and contemplate the novel even more, as it can also be seen as Orwell’s warning to future readers on a society that can very-possibly come to life if our political landscape isn’t dealt with carefully.

Overall, I found 1984 to be an enticing and eye-opening novel that exposed me to a world I could have never imagined. I truly believe it deserves to be known as one of the best classics ever made, and I can find myself recommending it to all readers.

-Aysha H.

1984 by George Orwell is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.