Top 30 Modern Classics - IV

1984

By George Orwell

Published in 1949, this novel, a political fiction, is written by George Orwell, an English author. 

The novel is set in Air Strip One, a province of the superstate Oceania, in a world of perpetual war, government surveillance and public manipulation. The state is ruled by a minority Inner Party who comprise of 2% of the population. The Inner Party is supported by an Outer party who comprise of 13 % of the population, the rest 85% being lower working and uneducated class.

The tyranny is epitomised by Big Brother, the Party leader who enjoys an intense personality cult. As the government, the Party controls the population via four ministries aptly named as Ministry of Peace which deals with war and defence, Ministry of Plenty which deals with economic affairs, Ministry of Love which deals with law and order and Ministry of Truth which deals with entertainment, education, news and art.

The Party seeks power entirely for its own sake. The protagonist of the novel, Winston Smith, is a member of the Outer party, who works for the Ministry of Truth, which is responsible for propaganda and revising history to suit the ruling government. His job is to rewrite past newspaper articles, so that the historical record always supports the party line. A large part of the ministry also actively destroys all documents detrimental to the interest of the Government. Smith is a diligent and skillful worker but secretly hates the Party and dreams of rebellion against Big Brother. Orwell based the character of the heroine of the novel, Julia, on his second wife. Winston and Julia start a love affair after they realise that both of the loathe the party.

As the plot unfolds, the Thought Police (Secret police) capture Winston along with Julia in their rented room. The two are interrogated at the Ministry of Love for interrogation. At one stage of interrogation, Winston betrays Julia.

After being put back into Oceania society, Winston meets Julia in a park. She admits that she was also tortured, and each reveals betraying the other.

The reader will know the rest when he reads.

It is a classic from every angle, be it the content, plot or style.

Namaste

Prabir