the book only not the movie!!thanx
2006-11-03 08:19:34 · 9 answers · asked by allie 2 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Books & Authors
The book 1984 is a dystopian story. Which is to say it is peripherally about an anti-utopia... a hypothetical society that instead of being perfectly wonderful is perfectly horrible.
We learn about this world through the actions of the main character Winston Smith, who is a fairly sympathetic if not particularly heroic character who becomes swept up in events quite beyond the scope of his ability to control. But let's first go roughly over the world before we get too involved in the plot.
The world in 1984 is dominated by three totalitarian governments who are supposedly enemies but are really allies in their efforts to completely dominate every aspect of their citizens' lives. Technology has allowed them to monitor almost everything that everyone does and the governments even go so far as to change the language so it is more difficult for citizens to even THINK inappropriate thoughts.
Winston is not happy. Nobody is really happy, but because of the nature of the government they have to SEEM so. He manages to get seduced into a plot against the government, and in typical dystopian fashion the story is a tragedy rather than a comedy, so as you might expect he comes to a bad end.
The book is very influential and you will undoubtedly encounter many terms that have been adopted from it. 'Orwellian' is used to describe the kind of secret, dominating, malignant government in 1984. 'Thoughtcrime' describes crimes like those in the book that don't involve DOING anything wrong, but just having the wrong opinions. (I heard both of these words in a debate about free speech last week) You may hear others used too like NewSpeak (the Orwellian language), Big Brother (what the Orwellian government liked to call itself), and Thought Police (self-explanatory, I hope).
The book can be rough going because of the NewSpeak and other literary devices, but I highly recommend it. Keep plowing through and it will pay off!
2006-11-03 08:22:31 · answer #1 · answered by Doctor Why 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is a futuristic description (futuristic for the year it was written) about what society would be like in the eyes of the author. It is a totalitarian society where BIG BROTHER is constantly watching you and the masses are deprived of freedom because the media and everything else is controlled by an almighty state-government. The main character (Winston) tries to break the rules he has always followed in this new utopia, and he even tries to find love... I will not spoil the plot, but the plot is not the best thing in this book, because you will love the way the human self is described when it is pushed to the verge of becoming a mere animal, and the way the author creates a suffocating atmosphere... If you need any more info, just let me know. Hit me back whe you've read it. You won't regret reading it.
2006-11-03 08:28:30 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
It's about a man's rebellion against a totalitarian government. It also details the ways in which such Governments control their people. It's really good. You should read it.
Just to clarify a few things. The Government don't call themselves Big Brother. They call themselves 'The Party'. Big Brother is the leader (real or figurative).
It's not true to say that no one is happy. Winston isn't happy. But most people are happy because they don't really care who governs them and the Party manages to change facts to make them think life is improving.
The whole point of the book is that most people are apathetic and that is how Governments such as Big Brother's government can come to power.
And the idea of Newspeak is not to make it difficult but to make it impossible to think inappropriate thoughts (Thought-Crime or crimethink) because the words do not exist to express them.
It's not that difficult to read.
2006-11-03 08:23:40 · answer #3 · answered by thievesstolemypolicecar 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Read the whole summary on Litsum:
http://litsum.com/1984/
2006-11-03 08:29:50 · answer #4 · answered by Marcia H 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Why don't you read it? Its very good and not that long. Its about not being able to have your own thoughts and or ideas.Living while Big Brother watches your every move. Thought police are every where and its sad too. They make you believe what they teach you or else....
2006-11-03 10:11:26 · answer #5 · answered by calieyecandy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It´s about a world ruled and controlled by the power of tv (big brother).
2006-11-03 08:30:57 · answer #6 · answered by josé luis crespo 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The book is about this family traveling across the country to California so they can find riches. Then things don't work out very good.
Maybe you should read it to find out what it's about....
2006-11-03 08:23:08 · answer #7 · answered by G 3 · 0⤊ 3⤋
about elves dressed as tigers eating the livers of fish.
2006-11-03 08:21:58 · answer #8 · answered by Sara S 4 · 1⤊ 3⤋