Orwell's "1984".

My favorite book.

Freedom is to say Two and Two makes Four


Their comes a time when through all of lifes many struggles and tasks, we should take a look back on the happy moments, and moments that made us question life, ourselves, and the world. For many of us, that medium could have came in the form of a book, and for me, it came in Orwells novel "1984".

Books are one of mankind's greatest achievements. They have lasted through the years, and stories told centuries ago are still told today. With countless novels to choose from, it may be very difficult for a person to choose a favorite. Some may never be able to decide, while some may not even have to think to recall there favorite book. One of the greatest books ever written that should be on the top of everyone's picking is "1984" by George Orwell. The novel plays a lot on symbolism and character development, and situations that may raise questions in the reader about real life government, and what similarities the world, and the story, may have with each other.

Symbolism is one of the main things I enjoyed about this book. In the book, the Government is extremely oppressive and controlling of the people in Oceania. Orwell gives the reader few key points of information, and subtle messages that strengthen the theme that human emotion can triumph over oppressiveness and it cannot all be annihilated. In "1984", the Proles are the poor of the country, and trash to The Party, only sought to do hard labor. Though they are looked down upon, certain things go by. Because they live in the area that is poor, they have fewer screens watching them, and few policemen patrolling. They are able to collect artifacts that are banned by The Party, artifacts that members of The Party, the "upper class", cannot have. Winston, the main character in the novel, is a rebel, and wants to put a stop to what Big Brother and The Party is doing, he wants to fight for his freedom. What he fights for, which he ultimately fails at achieving, the Proles, in part, already have. The Proles can sing songs, songs that they can sing themselves without the Party being involved. A simple act of singing, at there own choosing, can symbolize freedom. Things like that are things that some readers may over look, but if analyzed, can make the plot much more enthralling.

In the novel, Winston is but through an evolution of sorts. His character development is inspirational to me, and it takes the readers imagination on a carpet ride. Many of us wish we were apart of a bigger picture. As if we were chosen for something, or have a destiny. Winston saw and realized the many things that The Party was doing to manipulate its people. He knew many things, and the punishments that could follow if he disobeyed them. Yet Winston wanted to rebel, wanted to make things happen.

When O'Brien first came into contact with him, Winston was easily won over because he was hoping that he was special, could be part of the rebellion. Winston made me think of a fantasy we all might secretly hope will happen in our lives. The feeling in the pit of your soul that you have apart in something big, something that will change the world, is a fantasy we all might wish to come true, hoping that we are the key in a plan, impatiently waiting for the day the pieces are finally going to fall together in our life. This interested me, and personally I feel that this was a motivator in what fueled Winston's bravery, because I know it would have been mine.

We all have our own favorite books for many different reasons, each book represents something that is deep down inside of us, in our personalities and mind. George Orwell wrote an amazing book that could capture the minds and hearts of many readers if given the chance. For many reasons it captured mine, and remains on the top of my list of favorite books of all time.


-jd