Final Post

Well I anticipated my previous post to be my final post but after being informed about this post, I come to you today to address  my opinion on the ending and the novel as a whole, rather than the overall meaning of the work which was the topic of my earlier post. The ending of my book remained true to my initial prediction. I attempted to remain optimistic that Winston could somehow overthrow the government, but my realistic inclination held true. Orwell needed to show the demise of Winston's character in order to convey the meaning of the dangers of a totalitarian system. He used a similar tactic in Animal Farm to show the corruption of absolute power.

Also, relating to my first blog post about a stereotypical dystopian beginning, 1984 seems to have come full circle with a stereotypical dystopian ending as well. Not including Handmaid's Tale, with its ending being slightly different, the other dystopian novels I have read held this theme as well. But at the same time I think it's a necessary element to convey the many possibilities. Because of this, my realist side seems to appreciate the ending but at the same time my idealist self craves a dramatic counter rebellion.

Overall, I thought the book was slow and quite predictable. It was inevitable that Winston, and any person with memory of past life, was to be convicted of thoughtcrime as their language was too permitting to even the slightest of rebellion. It was obvious that Julia and Winston would be separated, and that in the end, Winston would crack under physical and mental manipulation. For this, I did not like it very much. Probably the only aspects I liked were the ironic sentiments which provided some humor and the message about the dangers of totalitarian government and its tactics.

After reading this, I feel thankful for the basic rights I take for granted that are guaranteed to me just for being born in this country. It is hard for me to believe that other people around the world can actually be killed for speaking out against their government. Although Winston's story is a fictional one, it resembles earlier totalitarian states of the past and poses as a warning to the future.

It has been a pleasure blogging this past month and I thank those who took the time to read my posts. Until next time...

-KL