Anyone kno anythingg bout the book "1984" by George Orwell??

Question

I just don't understand?! Like what is the "telescreen"?? Are people watching Winston? And what is the "Two Minute Hate"? and who is "O'Brein & Goldstein"?? If anyone can answer ANY of those questions i'd rly appreciate it! THANX!!

Answer 1

1984 is a political novel by the English writer George Orwell, published in 1949. The book tells the story of Winston Smith and his degradation by the totalitarian state in which he lives. Orwell based many aspects of Oceanian society on the Stalin-era Soviet Union, era during which he wrote the book. It is one of the most renown books on the possible consequences of humanity's will to govern in a totalitarian state. It was considered science-fiction yet, many details are drawn from real life in Communist Soviet Union from 1922 until 1953.

Answer 2

Most of the inventions found in the book did not exist at the time it was written. You just have to imagine that Orwell was imagining what the future would be like in 1984 (title was chosen because the book was written in 1948 but published in '49). The telescreen would be what we now call 'surveillance cameras' , 'the idea of exercising in your own room following an instructor on screen is also surprisingly amazing as the concept wasn't really used until recently in those exercise videos. So the best way to look at the inventions in the book would be to imagine yourself living in the 1940's whilst thinking what the future would be like.

In my opinion Winston was watched the day he started making those corrections at work. He might have attracted some suspicion.

The 2 minute hate is similar to cinema propaganda used during the WW2 in USA, Britain and Germany. They show images of war, violence and the antagonist of each faction.

O'Brian & Goldstein are actually derived from historical figures embedded in the history of the Soviet Union. Can't remmebr who they are exactly at the moment, but they are similar to the pigs in Animal Farm, 2 leaders, one revolutionary, the other just power hungry.

Answer 3

Strange the plot isn't that complicated. Ehh.. I guess it can be considered as an intellectually high brow novel, but it just didn't strike me as that complicated at all.

To answer your questions in relitive simplicity:

The telescreens are basically TVs, but the shows are Big Brother orented and they are also used as a way to spy on citizens (Kinda like a 2-way mirror).

The Two Minutes Hate utilize the psychological aspect of mob mentality, when your with a group of people that are highly energetic and hateful you will have that feeling too, when a bunch of people are calm you will be too. In the Two Minutes Hate they show

O'Brien-- Not much I can say without giving alot away but pay close attention to him.

Goldstien-- Is opposed to Big Brother, and therefore EVIL!!! To the fullest extent of the law.




This isn't my favorite book of all time, but it was alright. I prefer A Brave New World as a catastrophic futuristic society a lot more.
Please, Please, Please, read the book, don't flake out you'll be a better person if you just read a book every once and a while. It's sad the lack of intrest in good literature my peers, graduating high school seniors of '07 show.


P.S.
2+2=5

Answer 4

1984 is about life in an ultimate dictatorship, loosely modeled on the Soviet Union under Stalin. It takes place in a state called Oceania, which is a union of the Americas and England ruled over by an all-powerful Party led by Big Brother. Although the state of Oceania is based on the Soviet Union, it has various technologies that didn't exist in the Soviet Union, or anywhere else, when the book was written. In the book, the Thought Police are constantly watching for any deviation from accepted ideas and behavior, known as thoughtcrime.

The telescreen is like a tv, but is two ways. Yes, Winston is being watched - the essence of Oceania is that everybody is under surveillance all the time, or at least is afraid they might be.

The two minute hate is a mandatory public propaganda meeting where people are expected to show their patriotism by displaying hatred for the enemies of Big Brother. (In America, this is called talk radio and runs all day rather than two minutes.)

O'Brien is a senior member of the Party. I haven't read the book in a while, but I believe he is a boss at the Ministry of Truth (propaganda) where Winston works. He also oversees Winston's interrogation after he is arrested. He hints to Winston that he may be sympathetic to Winston's doubts about the Party, but in fact is working for the Party all the time.

Goldstein is the ultimate, perhaps imaginary internal enemy in Oceania. The whole book is a satire of Stalinism, and Goldstein is based on Stalin's rival Leon Trotsky, whose real name was Bronstein. After Lenin died, Trotsky and Stalin fought for power in the Soviet Union. Stalin won, forced Trotsky into exile, and later had him assassinated in Mexico. Many, many people during the Stalin dictatorship were imprisoned or executed as supposed Trotskyites, but almost all were innocent and there is no evidence that there really was a serious network of underground Trotskyites in the Soviet Union.

Answer 5

There are pretty good suggestions here. I would like to add "The Handmaid's Tale." Here is a bit of a summary I found in Wikipedia: A revolution has taken place and the United States has become a Christian dystopia. The Constitution has been abrogated, and a new order has been established: the Republic of Gilead. Gilead is ruled through biblical fundamentalism and rigid enforcement of social roles. Most citizens have been stripped of their freedoms. All religions, except the official state religion, have been suppressed. Those who do not conform to the new norms are pressed into service as handmaids and personal servants or deported to "the colonies" (regions where pollution has reached toxic levels) — if they are lucky. Political and religious dissidents, abortionists, and homosexuals are executed and hung at "The Wall" for public display. The government has proclaimed martial law owing to the destabilizing effect of "hordes of guerrillas" roaming the countryside, although the actual threat from the "guerrillas" may be greatly exaggerated. There is more to this book that this mini-summary tells you. Visit the Wikipedia link if you're interested.

Answer 6

1984. Is a book about a different kind of world, hence the use of different kinds of inventions and different words for ordinary objects. The best way to understand the text is pretend you are reading about a different culture with a different language. Then you can understand more of the book, after doing it this way you should begin to understand where the author was coming from and compare it to things that happen in our world.

Answer 7

O no sorry i dont know, but the book sounds pretty good lol. i guess =P anyways how are u. Baseball is really stressful, my arm is killing me, i'm always pitching, its killing my arm:(((

Answer 8

The clock struck thirteen...

Answer 9

either read the book OR use cliff notes

Answer 10

That is my favorite book of all time!!! If you have any questions, just email me!!!