George Orwell's 1984

Bloom's Guides

by Harold Bloom (Editor), George Orwell (Contributor)

-- Presents the most important 20th-century criticism on major works from The Odyssey through modern literature
-- The critical essays reflect a variety of schools of criticism
-- Contains critical biographies, notes on the contributing critics, a chronology of the author's life, and an index

Genres: Classics, Literary Criticism, Essays, Nonfiction, Criticism, British Literature

135 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 1988

About the author

Harold Bloom was an American literary critic and the Sterling Professor of Humanities at Yale University. In 2017, Bloom was called "probably the most famous literary critic in the English-speaking world." After publishing his first book in 1959, Bloom wrote more than 50 books, including over 40 books of literary criticism, several books discussing religion, and one novel. He edited hundreds of anthologies concerning numerous literary and philosophical figures for the Chelsea House publishing firm. Bloom's books have been translated into more than 40 languages. He was elected to the American Philosophical Society in 1995.
Bloom was a defender of the traditional Western canon at a time when literature departments were focusing on what he derided as the "school of resentment" (multiculturalists, feminists, Marxists, and others). He was educated at Yale University, the University of Cambridge, and Cornell University.

Reviews

[Joana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having read 1984 some time ago, I felt that some of its deepest ideas might have eluded me while I was reading the book. I guess most people become focused on the nightmare environment of the book and the destiny of its characters (I know I did).

So, in general, I found this book to be good complementary reading to 1984, since it provided me new perspective on many aspects of the book. Without wanting to go in too much detail, here are some of those aspects: similarities between the protagonist (Smith) and Orwell himself, relationship between Smith and Julia and its several interpretations, and perhaps more surprisingly the optimism latent in 1984.

These are, obviously, ideas taken from other critics/authors, so their accuracy might be questionable, we will never know Orwell's complete thoughts and intents on his novel. The comparisons made with other dystopias, like We from Yevgeny Zamyatin and Brave New World from Aldous Huxley, are also very interesting and help to understand 1984 more as a satire rather than a prediction of the future, which is claimed to have been Orwell’s intention for the novel.

Most readers become a bit haunted by 1984, its environment is so deprived of hope, decency and humanity that we may be led to think, on a first impression, that it actually provides a possible and plausible near future. Well...this book might help you understand why that's very unlikely to happen and by doing so, also help eliminate that haunted feeling.

[Sajjad thaier · Rating 2 out of 5]

الكتاب عبارة عن عدة مقالات نقدية عن رواية جورج أوريل1984.
الكتاب يحوي مسحة من الملل وكما أن قراءة متأنية للرواية ذاتها ستغنيك عن أغلب هذه المقالات.

[Art]

This slender volume interprets “Nineteen Eighty-Four” from a dozen contributors.

— “Nineteen Eighty-Four” serves as a grand period piece, a parody of Stalin, explains the introduction. The story is a product of Orwell’s time and the defeat of totalitarianism in the late forties.

— The whole point of “Nineteen Eighty-Four” is the inner repudiation of the totalitarian system by Winston and Julia, writes one essayist here.

— Orwell took to their logical conclusions totalitarian ideas that resulted in his creation of the two-way spy television, the memory hole and Newspeak, a language that constricted thought while contradicting itself, according to one interpreter of the story. Orwell’s understanding of propaganda survived through this warning of a totalitarian state. Orwell’s inventions — such as Big Brother is watching you, and ignorance is strength — became clichés.

— Newspeak is part of the satire, writes another scholar here. Orwell’s parody includes the ideas of speech/Newspeak which comes from a speaker devoid of thought or truth. Sadly and suddenly, in our new world reality, fact becomes stranger than fiction as truth and thought become assaulted frequently.

— Part one of the story, almost half of the book, builds the system of organized lying, how it’s done and the nightmare caused by the disappearance of objective truth.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aside from Bloom's petty introductory essay, which lacks any substantial argument on the merits of the novel, this book contains the best literary criticism I have read.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Worthwhile guide to this great work. The excerpts from various essays whet my appetite to pursue further critical works about "Nineteen Eighty Four" and George Orwell. I also recommend "Finding George Orwell in Burma"; it is more than just a travelogue.

[Malfoys girl]

to-read

[Denise Alcaraz]

I didn't actually read THIS book but I listened to Audible's "George Orwell's 1984" dramatization. It was ok, production was good, but it's not as good as Impact Winter by Audible.

[Robert C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read for the 3rd time. Beyond prescient.

[Bajzát Zsuzsanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book about double thinking...A book about oppression and searching an exit from it...A book about criminals and delusion...
The plot takes place in 1984, when the familiar world is destroyed due to the war between Oceania and Eurasia. Everybody is suspicious, everybody is monitored and everybody believes he or she can never escape. However, there's a man, Winston Smith, the protagonist, who is looking for the survival and escape. He writes a diary, makes love with a woman and always thinking about living a life as different human beings without the oppression of the governing party. One leader of the party, called INGSOC, almost directly subordinated to Big Brother, will give him a book, with which he will be trapped. He could not do anything according to his free will, as cameras and telescreens are observing everybody and their every moves. From this point neither Winston nor the woman could run away, they are bounded by the armed forces of MiniLuv, the Minitry of Love and they were forced to go with them.
What will happen to the secret love? Will they be able to escape from the party's will? Is the survival probable for them, in such a world? In my opinion this novel is a bit shocking, but most of the time we will find hints for past events. If we just think about the Cold War between the United States (Oceania) and the Soviet Union (Eurasia), or the social and political background of the member states of the Soviet Union, these also appears in a hidden way in this book as well. It is a perfect example for fighting for one's own human rights and individuality. This fiction can make people think over the worth of their individuality and singularity. It can also make people think over their safety and the different ways to maintain it.

QWKVQZ

[Alexander Bradley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Certainly an interesting concept that had very believable ideas that have flourished in modern society. Who knows, maybe something like this could still happen. I like to believe mankind is smart enough to think more individually but humans can be pretty dumb in groups sometimes.

Overall I thought it was well written, a little unusual being more a third person book but worked well. I did think the end dragged a little too much but it all made sense, sort of, which is better then most complex stories can say.

I think its a book that everybody of all generations should read, not necessarily for enjoyment but for the meaning and context of human life it portrays along with its story.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I clicked on the wrong button when ordering from the library. I was trying to get 1984. I thought this was like my copy of Frankenstein, which contains the novel and several literary critiques. Anyhoo, stupidity aside, I did enjoy reading the essays. The latest one was written in 1985. There was a feminist critique, Freudian, game theory, others. I didn't agree with some analyses, obviously. Who agrees with every theory they read about a novel?

[Fidel Azazi · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best of the best novels.... no wonder why Time magazine listed Orwell as one of the top contributors of the English Literature in the 20th century

[Reece Frith]

Strong literary analysis from multiple differing perspectives.

Enjoyed to the extent that subjectivity of this nature would allow.

[Vikram · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gloomy, painful but lovely.