Author: George
Orwell
Title: 1984
Genre: Literary Fiction
Publication Date: June 8, 1949
Number of Pages: 328
Time Period: 1984?
Series (If applicable): N/A
Plot Summary:
1984
follows the trials and tribulations of Winston Smith. Winston lives in Oceania.
Oceania is controlled by the Party whose leader is called Big Brother. It’s
unclear whether Big Brother is an actual person or just a fabrication of the
Party. The Patry controls everything, including thought, the present, and the
past. The people of Oceania are under constant surveillance, even at home.
Microphones are planted everywhere outside in order to catch any traitors. The
exception to this surveillance is the Proles, the working-class masses with all
the menial jobs. The Party considers them too ignorant and lazy to pose a viable
threat. In addition to constant surveillance, the Party is ceaselessly editing
the past and controlling information flow. If someone is arrested as a thought
criminal their entire existence is erased. If Oceania changes who they are at
war with, the entire history is amended to make it look like they have always
been at war with that particular entity. The Party is never wrong and can never
be perceived as having made a mistake.
Winston is part of what is known as
the Outer Party, situated above the Proles, but below the Inner Party
(High-level members). He works rewriting articles and such to make them line up
with the current Party line. Winston starts to suspect that the Party is lying
about almost everything. This is considered a thought crime so he knows it’s
only a matter of time before he’s arrested. He starts seeing a young woman
secretly, rents a secret room above an antique store, and even joins the Brotherhood
(a supposed resistance group no one is sure actually exists). But in a country
where no one can be trusted, did Winston put his trust in the right people?
Will he survive the consequences awaiting him? Can the Party be brought down?
Subject Headings: Dystopia, Science Fiction, Classics, Politics
Appeal
Language/style: According to Wyatt and Saricks, “Literary fiction
readers appreciate complex language and interesting style.” (2019) 1984 certainly
hits both of these appeals with ease. In creating
the fictionalized world of 1984, Orwell uses words such as proles (presumably
short for proletariats) without explanation and even creates a language called “Newspeak.”
1984 has an interesting style in that it is fully written from the main character's
point of view, so the reader only ever knows as much as the main character. The
main character is often fuzzy on details, like what year it is exactly, which
leaves the reader equally unsure.
Characterization: “Characters in Literary Fiction are distinct and
memorable; they are richly realized, specific, and “of themselves.” These
characters have rich interior worlds that readers are invited to enter and
explore.” (Wyatt & Saricks, 2019) The main character in 1984 is Winston
Smith. Winston is the filter through which the reader experiences the story. Because
the story is told from his point of view, he is a richly described character. The
reader learns all about where he lives, where he works, and his daily routine.
Additionally, as Winston is the narrator the reader spends a lot of time in his
head as he tries to figure out what is going on in his country and how he
should respond. This is especially true when he is in prison and much of what
is going on is his internal monologue.
Story line: In Literary Fiction “story lines are thought-provoking.
Endings are often open or ambiguous.” (Wyatt & Saricks, 2019) 1984 is
nothing if not thought-provoking. It’s a cautionary tale of the kind of society
fascism and an ignorant populace can lead to. It also very much has an
ambiguous ending. The reader is left with more questions than answers. And it
is by no means a happy ending, which according to Wyatt and Saricks is also not
an uncommon feature of Literary Fiction.
Pacing: “Literary Fiction is almost never fast-paced.
Authors pride themselves on the layers of meaning in their works, which take
time to discover and savor.” 1984 is definitely slow paced. Orwell takes his
time letting the story unfold and introducing the reader to the many facets of
Oceania, Winston’s life, and the places in which they intersect.
Tone: The tone of Literary Fiction according to Wyatt &
Saricks, “may be dark because of the seriousness of the issues considered.”
1984 definitely falls into this category. Extreme fascism, oppression, and
torture do not make for a happy read.
3 terms that best describe
this book: ominous, intense, prophetic
Similar Authors and Works
(why are they similar?):
3 Relevant Non-Fiction Works and Authors
Churchill and Orwell: The fight
for freedom by Thomas E. Ricks
This is a dual biography of Churchill
and Orwell and their roles in preserving democracy against the dual threats of communism
and fascism. It is a relevant read because it is about the author of 1984,
Orwell, and it even touches on 1984 itself.
The Devil and Karl Marx: Communism’s
long march of death, deception, and infiltration by Paul Kengor
I chose this book as a relevant read
because it’s about Karl Marx, the man behind the Communist Manifesto. 1984
definitely has some elements of communism. Some even consider it a critique of
the communist society in then USSR. Thus, a book about the creator of communism
seems apropos.
Fascism: a warning by
Madeleine Korbel Albright with Bob Woodward
In this book former U.S. Secretary
of State, Madeleine Albright discusses fascism and the dangers in continues to pose
even today. This is relevant because 1984 is also a caution against fascism, a
society controlled, often violently, by the ideology of one or few.
3 Relevant Fiction Works and Authors
Brave New World by Aldous
Huxley
This is a good read-a-like for 1984
because they both have a bleak and though-provoking tone. They are also both
about dystopian futures. Lastly, they are both considered classics. Novelist
also suggest this as a read-a-like for 1984.
Hunger Games by Suzanne
Collins
I chose this as a read-a-like
because it is another story of a dystopian future. Other things that make it a
good read-a-like are that it is a character-driven story line like 1984 and it
also shares a bleak tone with 1984.
Ready Player One by Ernest
Cline
This may seem like an odd choice,
but it is another dystopian future story line. I would also qualify it as a
character-driven plot. Like 1984 it is told exclusively from the point of view
of the main character. While Ready Player One might have a slightly more
playful tone it’s still set in a troubled and dark world.
Handmaids Tale by Margaret
Atwood
Handmaids Tale is a good
read-a-like for 1984 because they share multiple appeal factors. They both have
character driven storylines. They both have complex, introspective characters
and a leisurely pace. Lastly, they share a disturbing, bleak, and thought-provoking
tone. In addition to the shared appeal factors they are both dystopian future
novels. They are both prophetic and all too realistic visons of where humanity
could be headed.
References:
“Novelist: EBSCO.” Novelist,
https://www.ebsco.com/novelist.
Wyatt, N.,
& Saricks, J. G. (2019). The readers' advisory guide to genre fiction
(Third). ALA Editions.
