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| 3.89
| 23,854
| 1936
| Oct 26, 2000
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Aug 13, 2024
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| 3.91
| 26,792
| 1937
| Apr 26, 2001
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really liked it
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George Orwell, my all-time favorite author, could arguably be the most renowned writer for his biting satire of totalitarianism. But why would a Briton George Orwell, my all-time favorite author, could arguably be the most renowned writer for his biting satire of totalitarianism. But why would a Briton harbor such deep resentment towards totalitarianism? This question has always puzzled me. I once read some analytical articles stating that he participated in the international communist movement and witnessed the shortcomings of communism in Madrid - namely, its inevitable tendency towards totalitarianism, which led him to a negative view of the future of communism. Other articles suggest that his writings were essentially aimed at capitalism itself but were crafted into an ideological weapon against communism by British intelligence officers. What did George Orwell himself think? As a loyal fan, I am very curious. The Road to Wigan Pier is divided into 2 parts. The first part involves Orwell conducting fieldwork, depicting the real lives of miners in northern England from various angles. He likely aimed to show the middle-class and mainstream society in Britain the harsh realities of miners' lives, as most people were unaware of the miners' dire conditions. Many had only imagined or speculated, detached from reality, much like the modern detachment seen in certain intellectuals criticized by Orwell. They simplify complex societal problems with their limited knowledge and hearsay, and even add their biases, creating significant misunderstandings between different social classes. A striking example in the first part is the depiction of miners' meager incomes and their spending on lotteries, tea, and sugar. This goes against the typical sociologist's view that family expenses should be entirely health - oriented with sufficient calorie intake. It reminded me of the 2019 Nobel laureates Abhijit Banerjee, Esther Duflo, and Michael Kremer, who were awarded for their experimental approach to alleviating global poverty. Their research showed that the poor remain poor due to inadequate risk management, short-term focus without long-term planning, and limited cognition with many prejudices about the unknown. This aligns with Orwell’s viewpoint in his book, as he believed that when life is challenging, most people would seize any opportunity for enjoyment. It is not that they are content with poverty, but rather that society has not provided "fair" and "just" opportunities. Although these economists reached their conclusions through rigorous experimental design and theoretical analysis, I want to emphasize the necessity of fieldwork. The second part of the book sees Orwell seriously exploring the challenges faced by the communist movement in Britain during his time - particularly the failure to capture the core of communism in their propaganda. He believed that the core of communism lies in justice and fairness, rather than merely improving production and creating wealth. This was an eye-opening realization for me, as I had often unconsciously focused on aspects like GDP growth and government governance when comparing the advantages of the US and China, neglecting the core issue of wealth distribution in communism. While we often talk about "liberating productivity," Orwell foresaw the potential for machines and automation to exacerbate unemployment rather than creating more jobs, predicting that even creative work could eventually be replaced. He argued that the true advantage of communism lies in ensuring fair distribution of wealth, addressing a fundamental flaw of market economies. Although I once read Milton Friedman’s Free to Choose and found it didn't adequately solve this problem, or rather used a circular argument implying the market would inherently solve it (a somewhat misleading idea), I don't want to delve too deeply into this here. Orwell also highlighted the shortcomings of communist propaganda during his time, aligning with the strategy of creating a united front and using plain language to reach the masses. He cautioned against alienating potential allies through overly elaborate literary embellishments in propaganda, emphasizing the importance of connecting with the people rather than pushing them towards the opposition, which in his context was fascism. Today, it might seem odd to us that communism and fascism were once seen as comparable choices for addressing societal issues. However, many in Britain during Orwell’s time were pro - German or pro - fascism. He raised an important question: if fascist leaders are inherently bad, why do so many support them? This was a challenge to socialists - if bad people can gain support, why can't good people? It's not just about blaming the people's ignorance; political leaders must solve such problems. After finishing this book, I finally understood what "independent thinking" truly means. To understand a person, you should think from their works and achievements, rather than relying on secondary information that might be biased or distorted. This includes my own book reviews; I encourage everyone to read the original works themselves for a deeper understanding. 5 / 5 stars ...more |
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Aug 13, 2024
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Paperback
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| 0143036351
| 9780143036357
| 0143036351
| 4.01
| 13,857
| 1946
| Sep 06, 2005
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it was amazing
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In this book Why I Write, Orwell doesn't discuss the creation of his brilliant works like 1984 & Animal Farm but rather the soul of the works - the 4
In this book Why I Write, Orwell doesn't discuss the creation of his brilliant works like 1984 & Animal Farm but rather the soul of the works - the 4 main motives for writing. He analyzes 4 motives: sheer egoism, aesthetic enthusiasm, historical impulse, and political purpose. So, he says: ”I write a book because I have a lie to expose, a fact to draw attention to, my initial concern is to have a chance to talk to people. But if this is not also an aesthetic experience, I wouldn't write a book, nor even a long magazine article." Perhaps it is this requirement that led him to write his immortal works 1984 and Animal Farm, which inspired Haruki Murakami to pay tribute to him with a book like 1Q84. Reading this book, savoring his childhood at Eton, his various experiences of war, displacement, and death threats, and following him into his writing career, you will find the embodiment of the 4 main writing motives he analyzed. Then, when he begins to defend novels, you will see his research in literary theory, understand his analysis of the complex relationship between literature, art, and politics, see his love for books, literature, and art, and feel more deeply his pursuit of truth and desire for honesty. You will marvel at his brilliant way of expressing his thoughts - the highly imaginative 1984 and the fairy-tale-like Animal Farm. As Simon Leys wrote in Orwell,: �He began his literary career as a craftsman of insight and integrity, and ended as one of the great prophets of our century. And of course reading Why I Write is easier than reading 1984 and Animal Farm, because Orwell straightforwardly reveals his heart without a hint of sarcasm or obscurity. However, the mood is equally heavy due to his unjust treatment at Eton, his various ordeals in the military, during World War II, and the Spanish Civil War. Finally, you understand why he consistently opposed totalitarianism, just as he said - ”I cannot, and will not, completely abandon the worldview formed during my childhood." Since then, he had already been forced into the meat grinder of totalitarianism, and he experienced deep pain long before any of us felt anything. Through this book, you will also discover that Orwell was not only a political prophet, novelist, literary critic, and book reviewer but also a stylistic critic. He held many roles, closely related to his life experiences. His experiences allowed him to see dangers that most people could not. ”Looking back through my work, I see that when I lack a political purpose, my work invariably becomes lifeless, resulting in hollow, pretentious articles filled with meaningless sentences and phrases, and entire pieces of nonsense."This is precisely what Simon Leys mentioned: ”Ultimately, his exceptional achievement was not due to his literary talents but rather his courage, dedication, and clear - sightedness, enabling him to see and denounce the unprecedented threat of totalitarianism to humanity." Indeed, many famous writers of his time also experienced the Spanish Civil War, such as the eminent Hemingway and Gide.a But today, Orwell’s name resonates more loudly among English writers, undeniably due to his courage, dedication, and clear vision. After closing the book, I’m quite compelled to reread 1984 and Animal Farm because Why I Write reveals how they were conceived. As usual, after understanding the hen that laid the egg, we continue to enjoy the egg. 4.5 / 5 stars My other review of Orwell's Work: Animal Farm 1984 The Road to Wigan Pier Down and Out in Paris and London Why I Write Coming up for Air ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Feb 25, 2022
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Feb 27, 2022
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Aug 13, 2024
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| 0156196255
| 9780156196253
| 0156196255
| 3.78
| 20,110
| 1939
| Oct 22, 1969
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really liked it
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The George Orwell who wrote Coming Up for Air seems a bit different from the one who penned 1984 and Animal Farm. In this book, we see an Orwell who c
The George Orwell who wrote Coming Up for Air seems a bit different from the one who penned 1984 and Animal Farm. In this book, we see an Orwell who can be humorous, lighthearted, and self - amusing, rather than the grim, world - weary intellectual we imagine when reading 1984. This novel tells a simple story: a middle-aged, overweight man named George Bowling, tired of his monotonous insurance sales job and boring married life, reminisces about his early life in his hometown and embarks on a nostalgic journey back to his hometown after 20 years away. I particularly enjoyed the second part of the book where Bowling reminisces about his early life. This enjoyment is largely due to the fact that I read about a completely different childhood, one that belonged entirely to the countryside, a childhood belonging to a time before cities and many industries had developed. In this part, you can see how Bowling meticulously lists various types of hedgerow berries and when they should be eaten; you can also see how he introduces his favorite sport - fishing, and how he explains in detail various fishing tools, fishing techniques, and bait combinations, and narrates his fishing experiences in different ponds. These details are described so vividly that you can easily visualize various scenes, as if you were experiencing his childhood with Bowling. Nostalgia is a theme that has been continuously expressed by many writers, but few have done it as genuinely and honestly as Orwell does in Coming Up for Air. Through Bowling, Orwell says that the past was not necessarily better than the present, and in terms of living conditions, the past was certainly incomparable to the present. Therefore, Bowling is not recalling the past with the hope of returning to it, like many nostalgic people. He is simply triggered by seeing a poster on the street. In his memories, the sanitary conditions at that time were extremely poor, and few families could afford a separate toilet. It was common for maggots to crawl in the dirty corners of houses, and Bowling even often went to other people's shops to catch "superior" maggots for bait. These are undoubtedly unbelievable things to think about now, but it is precisely these descriptions that enhance the book's sense of authenticity, setting it apart from works that infinitely beautify the past. After following Bowling through his not-so-good-but-not-so-bad old days, we follow him on a whim - driven journey to his hometown of Binfield with 17 pounds won from horse racing. This nostalgic journey turns out to be a disappointing one. 20 years later, Binfield has become another typical British industrial town, and almost all the people and places that Bowling's childhood memories were attached to have disappea as deep pond where he used to fish has become a landfill for a so - called nature - friendly community. Orwell’s treatment of the disillusionment of this nostalgic journey may be telling us why we are nostalgic. Bowling originally thought that this trip would allow him to "come up for air" from his current life and work, but he returned disappointed, only to discover that "that breath" had already been "exhaled" in his nostalgic memories. This nostalgic sentiment is precisely where Bowling places all his fantasies about another life, to support him in returning to his "underwater" life. Orwell’s initial intention in writing this book was probably to reflect the widespread fear of war at that time (the story's background and writing time were both before World War II) and the disillusionment with development. Such a theme is not only not outdated today, but also has a new meaning when I read it today. As I said earlier, what attracted me most about this book was his description of childhood, and the reason for this attraction is precisely because I lack such memories. In today's rapidly developing cities, how many of us will be able to recall such a vivid and interesting childhood like Bowling's? A more pessimistic prediction is that we will not have such memories that contrast sharply with our current lives, because we grew up in cities and will continue to live in cities. Of course, this argument denies the fact that society is still constantly developing, and even cities are constantly changing. However, this change brings a sense of uncertainty, because we don't know whether this change is good or bad, we only know that it is changing. This uncertainty and even pessimism about the future enveloped people in his time and also envelops us today. This seems to be a sadness that humanity can never escape, because we can never be certain about the future. In comparison, we tend to recall the past that is already certain, even the most trivial old things, after being washed by time, seem to have a different kind of luster, worth savoring. So why are we nostalgic? Because we need to get a sense of stability from this fast-paced world. 3.8 / 4 stars My other review of Orwell's Work: Animal Farm 1984 The Road to Wigan Pier Down and Out in Paris and London Why I Write Coming up for Air ...more |
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Apr 27, 2018
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Apr 30, 2018
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Aug 13, 2024
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Paperback
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| 1421808307
| 9781421808307
| 1421808307
| 3.87
| 30,711
| 1934
| Jul 01, 2005
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it was amazing
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1
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not set
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not set
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Aug 13, 2024
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Hardcover
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| 0156421178
| 9780156421171
| 0156421178
| 4.09
| 66,916
| Apr 25, 1938
| Oct 22, 1980
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really liked it
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Many of my friends who formally study literature often say that Orwell might not be considered a top-tier literary figure. They argue that his works a
Many of my friends who formally study literature often say that Orwell might not be considered a top-tier literary figure. They argue that his works are too politically charged, overly serious, not entertaining, and often unsettling. The scenes in 1984 and the tragedies in Animal Farm seem to have obvious allegories. Recently, I even discovered some translations of Animal Farm that explicitly highlight its reference to the Soviet Union. However, I found that people without a literary background often appreciate his works. Political science and sociology students frequently recommend Orwell, and his works are undoubtedly classic examples of dystopian literature and valuable for understanding totalitarian regimes. Personally, I particularly enjoy this type of writer. When it comes to the gravity of literature, I undoubtedly prefer the weighty. While I can appreciate the lightness of Calvino’s style, it doesn't resonate with me on a deeper level. I remember Orwell once said, ”Looking back through my work, I see that when I lacked a political purpose, I wrote lifeless books, flowery prose, meaningless sentences, ornamental adjectives, and generally deceptive works". - Orwell: Why I Write.. Orwell might not be a conventional literary figure; more accurately, he was a journalist (as was Hemingway). Homage to Catalonia resembles journalistic writing more than literary fiction, but the magic of literature lies in the ability of nonfiction works to also present poetic qualities. The content of this book is straightforward, recounting Orwell’s memories of fighting against Franco's regime on the Spanish battlefield. There are no grand war scenes or heroic figures; instead, the narrative centers on the intricate internal conflicts within Spain - the clashes between the Spanish Communist Party and anarchist factions, the suppression by "Stalinists" against "Trotskyites." Within the anti-fascist camp, internal contradictions and irreconcilable conflicts abound. Several parts of the book left a deep impression on me: 1. Orwell's hatred for war correspondents: ”One of the most horrible features of war is that all the propaganda, shouting, and lies come invariably from people who are not fighting." "The people who write pamphlets against us, and those who slander us in newspapers, are often hundreds of miles from the front lines, living comfortably at home or, at most, in the safety of a newsroom in Valencia." "One of the dark aspects of this war is the realization that left-wing media, in every way, are as deceitful and hypocritical as the right-wing media." 2. Lice: ”The parasites on you now resemble tiny lobsters and mainly thrive in your trousers. The only way to get rid of them is to burn all your clothes. They lay clusters of shiny, milky-white eggs along the seams of your pants, resembling tiny grains of millet, which hatch and breed at a terrifying speed. I believe that peace advocates could be more effective by including enlarged photos of lice in their anti-war pamphlets... Those who have fought have lice everywhere, even on their scrotum. We would usually toast their eggs and wash as much as possible whenever conditions allowed, trying to keep their numbers as low as possible. Nothing forces me to jump into cold water like lice do." 3. Spain: ”I have a poor opinion of the country of Spain but no bad impression of the Spaniards. I recall being angry at a Spaniard only twice, and every time I think about it, I believe it was entirely my fault. Undoubtedly, they are generous and noble, but these qualities do not truly belong to the 20th century. Because of this, one might expect even fascism in Spain to adopt a relatively loose and acceptable form of governance. Few people in Spain possess the qualities needed for a modern totalitarian state: terrifying efficiency and a high degree of uniformity.� Indeed, the distance of Spain from modernity was mentioned by the philosopher José Ortega y Gasset. I deeply relate to this through football. In recent years, my interest in football has waned, partly due to lack of energy but mainly because the passion and magic of football have nearly vanished under the waves of global commercialization. Utilitarian football dominates, and finding an exciting match is challenging (excitement shouldn't be measured by the number of goals). The only team that still moves me is Barcelona, adhering to their unique style. Initially, I only knew Barcelona, but through Barça, I learned about Catalonia's independence movement. Reading Orwell’s books gave me a deeper understanding of the Catalan people. I'm irresistibly drawn to their unrestrained personality, touched by their sincere unity, and can't help but pay homage to Catalonia. 4.4 / 5 stars My other review of Orwell's Work: Animal Farm 1984 The Road to Wigan Pier Down and Out in Paris and London Why I Write Coming up for Air ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Sep 18, 2018
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Sep 25, 2018
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Aug 13, 2024
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Paperback
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| 015626224X
| 9780156262248
| 015626224X
| 4.09
| 95,710
| 1933
| Mar 15, 1972
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really liked it
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This book tells the story of a destitute British writer - Mr George Orwell himself, experiencing and witnessing the harsh lives of Europe's lower - cl
This book tells the story of a destitute British writer - Mr George Orwell himself, experiencing and witnessing the harsh lives of Europe's lower - class people in Paris and London. The entire novel lacks a continuous, extraordinary storyline, instead using a first - person perspective to describe everything he goes through, making it captivating. In Paris, working as a dishwasher who is constantly ordered around by managers, chefs, and waiters, and working 15 hours a day, he uses unique insights and vivid details to describe the dirty, exhausting, and inhumane realities beneath the glamorous facade of French hotels and restaurants. In London, due to the "absurd" law - a homeless person can only stay 1 night at a shelter before being kicked out the next day - he joins the masses of homeless people, either squatting in shelters or constantly walking from one shelter to another, never daring to rest or beg. His deep experience and sharp senses describe the mental torment brought by cruel laws and cold shelters. All of this is based on his real experiences among the lower class, making it extremely believable and authentic. Orwell's exhaustive depiction of the extreme poverty of Paris and London's lower - class people is damn suffocating. Hard work yields only meager pay, with no guarantee of the next meal; endless hunger shadows them; crowded and filthy living conditions, harsh working environments, and stingy, greedy hotel managers... This is beyond "down and out" and verges on "destitute" and "dying!" Yet, Orwell’s black humor allows me to thoroughly enjoy the book despite the suffering it describes. Starving in bed, he still observes "a pair of S - shaped bugs crawling leisurely across the wall above the bed," and during the grueling work as a dishwasher, he humorously notes, "Generally, the more expensive the dish you order, the more likely it is that you are eating sweat and spit." Stories about pawning clothes and deceiving landlords are equally engaging. This sensitive writer, even in extreme poverty, displays the unique sensitivity and pride of an intellectual. He was honest to the point of nearly quitting his dishwashing job, which he depended on, to keep a promise to a swindling boss. And when forced to stay in a cheap, crowded, and dirty hotel, seeing the black foam in the wash water, he "never wanted to wash again," which made me "love and hate" this pedantic yet endearing writer. While Orwell’s narrative sometimes seems long and dull due to the lack of a central plot, his subtle touches still move me. For example, in Chapter 25, he describes an argument between a seventy-year-old man living on welfare and a young, strong dockworker. The argument is sudden and fierce, with neither side giving in, but it ends unexpectedly when the old man "suddenly collapses onto a chair, covers his face with his hands, and starts to cry." My heart ached for a moment; the old man's anger, shame, and despair are vividly conveyed in just a few words. He also captures the complex emotions of homeless people deceiving churches for food and drink, using commotion as "revenge against being shamed in the name of feeding" to regain some dignity. We don’t need to overstate that this early work is Orwell’s depiction of Europe's lower - class people and a precursor to dissecting totalitarianism. This is hard to discern from the text. But one thing is undeniable: his black humor narrative is supported by profound wisdom and insight, clearly revealing his strong desire to reform society and change the tragic fate of the lower class. In Chapters 22, 31, 36, and 37, he can't help but step out of the story to express his views on the roots of inequality imposed on the lower class. He questions the meaning of the hard work of dishwashers supporting luxurious dining, believes that beggars are looked down upon because society always treats money as a "moral test," and that homeless people are not lazy - "On the contrary, an uneducated person would have a more profound desire to work due to an inherent work instinct, a desire stronger than the wish to be rewarded" - but are forced to wander by law. Such insights are scattered throughout the book. Orwell is meticulous, sensitive, humorous, but also profound and upright. At the novel's end, he even proposes government measures to let the homeless support themselves. At that moment, he might seem more like a journalist, and his writing more like a blood-written social investigation report. This impacts the character portrayal, plot description, and overall structure, even if aiming for the public's heart yet missing the mark. Nevertheless, it reveals an Orwell of extraordinary imagination and foresight, a meticulous, sensitive, humorous, profound, and upright writer. I salute you, Mr. George Orwell. 4.6 / 5 stars My other review of Orwell's Work: Animal Farm 1984 The Road to Wigan Pier Down and Out in Paris and London Why I Write Coming up for Air ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Sep 2019
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Sep 03, 2019
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Aug 13, 2024
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Paperback
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| 0451526341
| 9780451526342
| B0D7LQMF4N
| 4.00
| 4,264,163
| Aug 17, 1945
| Apr 1996
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it was amazing
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Animal Farm is a political allegory penned by the brilliant British author George Orwell back in the 1940s. He wrote it to push back against totalitar
Animal Farm is a political allegory penned by the brilliant British author George Orwell back in the 1940s. He wrote it to push back against totalitarianism and poke fun at the Soviet Union’s idea of a perfect society. But the wild part is that, whether on purpose or not, Orwell ended up predicting a bunch of major events in China over the next 60 years - from the Liberation War and the Cold War to the Great Leap Forward, the Anti-Rightist Movement, and even the Cultural Revolution. Honestly, reading it still gives me chills, like waking from a bad nightmare. The story kicks off at Manor Farm in England, where animals have been oppressed by humans for generations, living in constant pain and fear. They never really knew why things were so awful or how to change their fate. Then along comes Old Major, a remarkable pig, who gathers everyone and drops this truth bomb: "Animal life is misery and slavery, not because the land is bad - England’s soil is rich and the climate is great - but because humans steal our labor. Our real enemy is Man. Get rid of Man, and we’ll finally be free from hunger and endless work." Inspired by Old Major’s words, the animals decide to rebel. After his death, they launch an unexpected uprising and, against all odds, kick Mr. and Mrs. Jones (and the other humans) off the farm. Suddenly, every animal is in charge, and life feels totally different - food is theirs, made just for them, and every meal is a delight. To mark their new freedom, the animals rename the place Animal Farm. They kick off a weekly Sunday ritual: first comes flag-raising. Their “flag� is actually an old green tablecloth from Mrs. Jones, painted with a white hoof and horn. The pigs say the green stands for England’s fields and the white for the future Republic of the Animals—a new society without humans. But even without humans, someone’s got to run the show. Naturally, the pigs step in, using their smarts to take charge. They handle all the complicated stuff like filling out “files,� “reports,� and “memoranda� (basically big piles of paper that get burned afterward). Meanwhile, they don’t even lift a hoof when it comes to food production, even though they’re known for having big appetites. Every Sunday after flag-raising, the animals meet in the big barn to plan their week. The pigs always propose the plans, while the others just vote along, unable to come up with ideas on their own. A few months later, the pigs nail down the �7 Commandments� of Animalism—rules meant to govern all animals forever: 1. Whatever goes on two legs is an enemy. 2. Whatever goes on four legs, or has wings, is a friend. 3. No animal shall wear clothes. 4. No animal shall sleep in a bed. 5. No animal shall drink alcohol. 6. No animal shall kill any other animal. 7. All animals are equal. They even simplify it to one catchy slogan: “Four legs good, two legs bad.� According to the pigs, if you truly get this, you’re safe from human influence. News of the rebellion freaks out other farm owners, who desperately try to keep their animals from catching on. At first, they laugh at the idea of animals running a farm, predicting the whole thing would collapse in a couple of weeks. They spread rumors that Manor Farm (they couldn’t accept the new name) was in constant chaos and would soon starve. But when the animals didn’t starve, critics like Frederick and Pilkington switched their tune - claiming Animal Farm had become a den of wickedness, with animals fighting, torturing each other, and even sharing mates. They argued this was the inevitable result of a revolution gone wrong. Within Animal Farm, the 2 main pig leaders, Napoleon and Snowball, are constantly at odds. The ruthless Napoleon starts believing that educating the young is more important than the work of the adults. By chance, two dogs give birth to nine puppies, and once they’re old enough, Napoleon takes them away to “educate� them in isolation. Soon, these puppies grow up to be as fierce as wolves, always sticking close to Napoleon. They start acting just like the dogs once loyal to Mr. Jones. After using these dogs to drive out the practical-minded Snowball, Napoleon takes over completely, scrapping the Sunday meetings and shifting all decisions to a secret pig committee led by him. With power in his hands, he begins crushing any dissent—ordering the dogs to kill any animal who dares disagree, leaving behind grim scenes that remind everyone of the brutality they escaped from. To boost his image, Napoleon orders the construction of a massive windmill. For a whole year, the animals work like slaves - initially excited because all food is theirs, but soon realizing they’re working harder than ever under a new, tougher regime. They slog away 60 hours a week in the spring and summer, and even Sunday afternoons get thrown into the mix. Missing work means your rations get slashed, and despite all their hard work, not everything gets done. Harvests suffer, and with winter looming, hope begins to fade. The pigs, however, keep the animals motivated with rousing speeches about the glory of labor and hard work - even though the extra hours don’t really translate into better living conditions. To keep control, the farm kicks off a full-on “cult of personality� around Napoleon. No one can just call him Napoleon anymore - they must say “Our Leader, Comrade Napoleon.� The pigs even pile on fancy titles like “Father of Animals� and “Protector of Humanity.� Every time Squealer speaks, he’s practically in tears, praising Napoleon’s wisdom and love for all animals, especially those still suffering under human rule. Every little success on the farm is credited to him, with animals chattering about how under his guidance, even the simplest things - like laying eggs or tasting water - are miracles. Back in the early days, Animal Farm set retirement ages for different animals and promised decent benefits - like extra food rations. There were even plans to set aside a special pasture for retired animals. But in reality, no one ever really got to retire, and the idea was eventually dropped. Years of brutal rule left the farm in ruins. Out of sheer necessity, the pigs decide to open up the farm to human investors. They invite a delegation of neighboring farm owners to tour the place, and the visitors are particularly impressed with the windmill. As the animals toil away in the turnip fields, they can’t help but wonder whether they fear the pigs more or these visiting humans. Mr. Pilkington from Foxwood Farm even praises Animal Farm’s modern methods and strict discipline, noting that the animals work harder and eat less than anywhere else. He and his team plan to borrow many of these practices for their own farms. By then, the line between pigs and humans becomes so blurred that no one can tell who’s really in charge. For me, the smartest animal in this novel has to be the old donkey, Benjamin. He sees right through the pigs� tricks and isn’t swayed by their propaganda. But under Napoleon’s harsh rule, even his best move is to keep his head down. If the wise have to be so careful, what hope is there for the others? Boxer, the hardworking horse, is the perfect example of a brainwashed animal - constantly believing “Comrade Napoleon is always right.� Even when political turmoil and brutal purges happen, all he can think is, “I must work harder.� And when he finally gets injured and old, Napoleon shows no mercy by selling him to the slaughterhouse for a case of whiskey. This heartbreaking outcome of blind obedience to authority is a powerful lesson. If I could help Orwell continue the story, I’d add something like this: After the so-called reforms and opening up, Animal Farm sees a brief revival. But the pigs never really give up power—they keep stifling the animals� freedom of thought and making them believe they can’t control their own lives. They even bring in other “elite� animals and give them special privileges, making life even tougher for everyone else. Now, instead of ten animals supporting one pig, just three have to do it. To keep things in check, the pigs use two strategies: First, they dull the animals� minds by pushing them toward mindless pleasure and the so-called ‘dream of success.� These days, the animals are forced to work nonstop just to survive, leaving no time to learn or think about their future. Second, the pigs welcome human investors back onto the farm, which means even lower wages and worse working conditions. This setup boosts the pigs� economic stats while humans get cheap labor, and soon enough, both pigs and humans are smiling at the new order. Haha. As Descartes famously said, “I think, therefore I am.� If you stop thinking for yourself, you become part of the “silent majority”—letting others control your destiny, leading you to be exploited, enslaved, or even worse. The tragedy of the animals in Animal Farm is their inability (or refusal) to think independently, blindly following the crowd. Orwell, with his calm and insightful style, keeps challenging us with deep questions: Do you really think? How do you protect your rights? How do you pursue your own happiness? Each of us has to answer these questions for ourselves. Even if life is confusing, at least go out knowing you tried to understand. 5 / 5 stars My other review of Orwell's Work: Animal Farm 1984 The Road to Wigan Pier Down and Out in Paris and London Why I Write Coming up for Air ...more |
Notes are private!
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Jan 08, 2015
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Jan 25, 2015
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Jul 08, 2024
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Mass Market Paperback
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| 0452284236
| 9780452284234
| B00A2MTYAI
| 4.20
| 5,111,617
| Jun 08, 1949
| Jul 2022
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it was amazing
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I absolutely love this book. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that it's the most thought-provoking book I've ever read. It's also my favorite of
I absolutely love this book. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that it's the most thought-provoking book I've ever read. It's also my favorite of the dystopian trilogies. 1984 is George Orwell’s magnum opus, an anti-utopian, anti-totalitarian political satire that is arguably the pinnacle of this genre. The book depicts a totalitarian nation, Oceania, under the complete control of Big Brother and the Party. In this society, the omnipresent and intangible Big Brother is watching over everyone. People live under constant surveillance, with every move monitored by the telescreens. Life is incredibly impoverished, sex is reduced to a procreation task, reading and writing are banned, and only obedience to the Party remains. Anyone who expresses the slightest dissent will be denounced, arrested by the Thought Police, and even simply vaporised.The ruling party, through its pervasive political and technological means, has enveloped the entire nation's political organization, social life, propaganda tools, historical records, and even personal privacy in an invisible net. In this world, freedom is abolished, thought is controlled, humanity is stifled, and history is falsified. People live their days in political terror and hypocritical lies, yet they must still feign loyalty and faith in the Party. Orwell's masterful prose creates a horrifying and repulsive image that leaves me disturbed and terrified. Before I could recover from this shock, he further expressed the reasons for the formation and development of totalitarian politics. He argued that rulers could never acquire power for the purpose of abolishing it. Power is not a means but an end. For those who have seized power, equality is not an ideal to be strived for, but a danger to be avoided. Because if wealth can be evenly distributed, how can power be retained in the hands of the privileged class? Therefore, 'the Party,' in order to maintain its long-lasting rule, must deliberately create hierarchies, use lies and alterations to sever the connections between reality and history, use doublethink to make people believe that the Party is always right, and use the Thought Police to eliminate potential dangerous elements with deviant ideas. Orwell, with his astonishing sensitivity to politics and his incredibly insightful understanding of history, coupled with extraordinary imagination and exceptionally calm rational thinking, peeled away the layers of historical disguise and the warm sentimentality of idealism and technological progress, presenting the bloody reality of totalitarianism before us. With his forward-looking vision, he allows us to see that technological advancement does not necessarily lead to human progress and a better future, but can instead be exploited by totalitarianism, becoming a terrifying machine that suppresses thought and harms humanity! The extent of this is far greater than that of any tyrant or dictator in history. While I admire his profound insight and astonishing foresight, I can't help but feel a chill for the future of humanity. Of course, even under the intimidation and oppression of authoritarianism, the human heart will not cease to throb and rebel. Winston's repeated scribbling of Down with Big Brother in his diary is undeniable proof of this. Orwell had no doubt about this, but how to rebel was the intractable knot that he pondered over and over. Winston and Julia's love was a spiritual rebellion against the Party, but it could not pose any real threat to the Party. Joining an underground organization and coming into contact with heretical ideas were probably just traps set by those in power to constantly create enemies and then eliminate them to consolidate their power. Through Winston, Orwell says, ”If there is hope, hope lies with the proletariat," indicating that he recognizes that the working class is the greatest force to overthrow tyranny. However, he is also disappointed by the shortsightedness, ignorance, and willingness to be enslaved of the proletariat, and sadly believes that they cannot achieve self-awakening. This contradiction stems from his own ideological conflict. Orwell, coming from the middle class, sympathized with the proletariat and the lower classes, and tried to connect with them. But there was always an invisible wall, an insurmountable gulf, between him and the proletariat. No matter how much he wanted to approach the lower classes, he could not wash away the middle-class mark on himself, just like Winston's blue uniform that could be recognized by anyone wherever he went. Therefore, even though he firmly believed in the power of the proletariat, he could not truly understand them. This contradiction runs throughout the novel. When Winston was arrested and sent to the Ministry of Love, his confrontation with O'Brien was actually a confrontation between 2 ideas within Orwell himself: 1 part of him remained optimistic about the possibility of overthrowing totalitarianism, while the other part had been defeated and despaired. In this internal struggle, his conscience was repeatedly defeated by the harsh realities of his situation. His body was tortured, his dignity trampled upon, and his thoughts were reformed, leaving only his attachment to emotion stubbornly persisting. Yes, no matter how strict the thought control is, it cannot control people's love and hate. But even this remaining glimmer of humanity, Orwell still painfully peels it away. After all, people are selfish, and in the face of fear that they cannot overcome, even former love becomes an object of betrayal. Orwell uses an extreme way to dissect his own heart almost mercilessly, and its shocking effect is no less than his exposure of totalitarianism. You can argue that not everyone is like this, but it takes great courage and rationality to face the cowardice and baseness in one's own heart so directly. Unlike Zamyatin's We, Orwell does not provide an optimistic answer until the very end. However, it is precisely this helplessness and bitterness, pain and confusion, and deep concern for the future of humanity behind the unsolvable problems that give me a profound shock and endless contemplation. This is why the book has become the most successful and influential dystopian novel. Orwell did not live to see the great reputation this book brought him, but his name has become immortal with the spread of the book. Its value will never be obliterated with the rise and fall of totalitarianism. Today, we have entered the 24th year of the 21st century. Oceania in 1984 has not become a reality, and the former totalitarian societies have vanished into thin air. But can we really breathe a sigh of relief? Is the shadow of Big Brother really gone? It's not that the prophecies in the book have been completely fulfilled, but why do I feel so familiar with them? Humanity has not yet fallen into the irreversible situation in the book, but the future remains shrouded in mist, and we cannot see clearly. Yes, Orwell's predictions have not been in vain, and they are even being realized continuously. Terrorist politics and totalitarian politics still linger in the world. How should we face such a future? This is a question that everyone who has read 1984 should ponder. Additional thoughts updated on 30th August 2024: My view is that this is an extremely pessimistic work. That kind of desperate pessimism is like hunger, cold, or physical pain. You think you can endure it by being indifferent, but the result is only to prove your own weakness. What creates that pessimism and despair is nothing other than human nature itself. The social system and way of life imagined by Orwell in the book did not scare me, but what terrified me was the revelation of human nature's capacity for cruelty and self-betrayal. The characters in 1984 are trapped in a world where power is an end in itself, and individuals are reduced to mere pawns in a larger political game. The Party's relentless control extends not only to actions but also to thoughts and emotions. Winston's struggle against this oppressive system reveals the human spirit's resilience, but also its vulnerability. Therefore, I think Orwell's observations of human nature are far more insightful than his depictions of political systems. He masterfully explores the ways in which desire, fear, and societal pressures can shape our actions and beliefs. The novel's most disturbing scenes are those that delve into the depths of the human psyche, exposing our capacity for both love and betrayal. I have a long-standing fear: what if sex is really stripped of the joy of life and becomes a tense and disgusting means of reproduction? What if people really were to lose their ability to appreciate the beauty and complexity of life, becoming mindless followers of a single ideology? What if human existence were stripped of creativity and reduced to the basic necessities of survival? Orwell warns that even in such a world, our most basic emotions are not safe. Hatred and fear can erode even our love for those closest to us. Orwell's depiction of Winston Smith's torture at the Ministry of Love is one of the most haunting passages for me. The line, You don't just have to obey, you have to love it from the heart," captures the Party's attempt to control not only our actions but also our innermost thoughts and feelings. I'm fascinated by the way Orwell explores the human capacity for suffering and the lengths to which individuals will go to survive. Winston's ultimate betrayal is a stark reminder of the fragility of human morality in the face of extreme pressure. I think what Orwell means is that despite their social class or level of education, all people share a common humanity. Those who live with simple faith are no less human than those who pursue knowledge. He challenges the notion that intellectuals are superior to other people. He argues that all humans, regardless of their social status or education, are capable of both good and evil. The concept of 'doublethink' reveals the vulnerability of intellectuals to manipulation. Their pursuit of knowledge and truth can make them a target for those who seek to maintain power. Once their critical thinking is suppressed, intellectuals can lose their sense of self and become mere tools of the state. Orwell's 1984 is more than a political prophecy; it's a stark warning about the human capacity for self-destruction. While the novel's dystopian world may seem far-fetched, its themes of surveillance, control, and the erosion of individual freedom are eerily prescient. The greatest value of 1984 lies in its reminder that intellectuals have a responsibility to resist those who seek to limit our choices and shape our lives. As Bertrand Russell once said, "The multiplicity of existence is the source of life." We should embrace that diversity and fight for the freedom to think, love, and create without fear. 5 / 5 stars My other review of Orwell's Work: Animal Farm 1984 The Road to Wigan Pier Down and Out in Paris and London Why I Write Coming up for Air ...more |
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Aug 12, 2024
Feb 06, 2019
Dec 12, 2014
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