Courtney answers “Why do people rate this book so high? ...”

Wilma asked this question about 1984:

Why do people rate this book so high? Surely I am missing something.

Courtney Because it's an amazing look into a Big Brother future with Orwellian controls over personal freedoms, where history is written and constantly changed…moreBecause it's an amazing look into a Big Brother future with Orwellian controls over personal freedoms, where history is written and constantly changed by the present in order to keep and maintain control. The 'dull' characters show how in this strictly controlled society individuality was essentially forbidden, a cheerful tone would be very out of place in the book. The linguistic implications- doublespeak, newspeak etc alone are quite chilling. As language is manipulated so are our abilities to formulate coherent and challenging thoughts and ideas. It gives you a pale hope- with the hope lying with the proles, but that's it, a pale and surely unattainable hope. This 'hope' leaves you feeling bereft and deflated. Making it one of the greatest if not thee greatest dystopian novel ever. (less)

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