One cannot simply review 1984. But heck, take it as it comes.
Brain dump:
Big Brother. Telescreens. INGSOC.
WAR IS PEACE. FREEDOM IS SLAVERY. IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH.
Doublethink. Newspeak. Thoughtcrime. Facecrime.
YOU ARE THE DEAD. YOU DO NOT EXIST.
Winston Smith is by all means what you can call: average. He lives under the totalitarian reign of the Big Brother Party in the land of Oceania. A place where individualism is a crime, where pleasure is forbidden and where the tought police watches your every move 24/7. Any hint of unusual behaviour makes you a traitor of the party.
Four ministries are at work: The ministry of Truth (dealing with CENSORSHIP) - The ministry of Love (where the BRAINWASHING happens) - The ministry of Peace (handling WAR against either Eurasia or Eastasia (depends)) - The ministry of Plenty (overlooking the economical welfare (decline is the word)). Ironic? Ha. Yet the philosophy behind each title is laid bare to us throughout the pages thus introducing the notion of DOUBLETHINK. The root of all evil or the solution to all our troubles? You tell me!
The year 1984, or is it 1982? Who knows! Who cares? Time is an illusion. The past is alterable. The present is unquestionable. TWO PLUS TWO MAKES FIVE. Believing this while knowing all the counter arguments to it. Doublethink. Big Brother is the Truth. Don't pretend, believe. Worship the party. Loathe the enemy. Eat. Sleep. Repeat.
Scary s•••, isn't it? I can't help but shudder at the thought that this was/is a prophetic book. My mind is fried. We are the prolls. We are the ones carrying out our lives invariably. We are inextricably bound to our narrowminded view of the world. We're living under a tacit dictatorship and creeping towards this haunting future. These thought strinking pages shake both the human consciousness and unconsciousness فمّاش ما الواحد يفيق شويّة!
All along, I was encompassed in Winston's sphere of existence. At times, I, the reader, felt as if I were part of the Thought Police, prying on his innermost reflections. Then I soon shifted to his side. I was watching and being watched alltogether. I shared his stolen moments with Julia and took part of his long sessions with O'Brien..
This book is doubleplusgood. It's the kind of book that tortures you, lacerates you, shoves your face in a pool of water and leaves gasping for air, ties you to a chair and sends out electrical shocks down your spine.
1984 is Goldstein's "the book". To handle with care.
Keep in mind: BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU.