1984 question

As an adult, I agree with the comments that say, as a teen you will get a lot out of it, clearly you have, and should nevertheless re-read it as an adult, and I don't really mean 18...
Posters aren't saying that because we think you are dumb, for from it. It is just that as you age you experience so many things, that you can relate directly into the book.
For example, for me, my teen years were in the 90s, a relatively peaceful time, and kinda understood that Oceania, Eurasia and Eastasia were refering to the World War 2 world, but didn't really relate. I watched the western world floundering without an enemy, trying to draw up enemies, South America, China, then watched when the boundaries of Oceania, Eurasia and Eastasia were redrawn along the line of middle eastern countries...
Although perhaps you can see that far clearer than I (as my teen years were peaceful) there will undoubtedly be numerous examples you will be able to relate throughout your life.
I'm glad you read and understood it at such an early age, you will not be as easily sucked in as others, obviously it is not the only political education you need in your life but an excellent beginning, better than most.

I disagree, I find both Rachel and Melissa's comments and observations impressive given their stage in life. Both their comment reflect thoughtful inquiry well beyond what I had at that age. But I do agree that revisting this book many years down the road in their lives is a worthwhile experience as well.

Learn to think for yourself and do not be afraid to ask questions of those who pretend to know more than you or think their position prevents scrutiny. If someone gets annoyed by your observation you have undoubtedly got somewhere close to the truth.

Agree with the above, it's brilliant that you guys have read it at your age.

A teenager can surely learn loads from 1984, including not always to blindly agree with whatever everyone else says. 2 + 2 does not equal 5.

So impressed you guys are reading Orwell. It's always good to re-read down the line but there's certainly no harm in starting early.

Good luck!

I'm 16 and just finished reading this a few hours ago. As well as some of the things already listed here, I believe that 1984 teaches us a lot about human nature and society, and I think Orwell's use of psychology and his understanding of how such a government would conceivably function is just excellent :) His portrayal of Winston as just an 'average human' really worked because he was not, as it was correctly stated, a martyr, and shows how most people would have acted under similar circumstances (torture, oppression, etc.) although I disagree with his opinion (as stated in my review) that everyone - or, indeed, most people - would shirk the pain of Room 101 onto someone else (in his case, Julia) if they were truly in love. That said, as O'Brien says, love cannot exist in such a society. I really think 1984 is a remarkable book in the way of human psychology and sociology, which I wasn't really expecting when I picked it up. It also has a lot of interesting theories on how war etc. controls not only the economy but the people.

Hello. I'm 17 and read this book a couple of years ago, and I pretty much agree with all of the above.
It served as a warning sign of a dangerous scenario possible in the absence of critical thinking.
As a result of this thread, I feel motivated to re-read it. Thanks.

I am 50 and have read 1984 quite a few times. My recommendation is to read it again and again. Who knows what is coming in the future but I'd be willing to bet that things will get more Orwell as we go along.

Do what you're told if you know what's good for you, laddy.

The absolute horror of a society built on forced conformity. Everyone, but especialy young people should rail against the machine. Don't let other people rule your mind; have your own ideas. Protest against those that want to control you. And protest is not "whatever!" while you are plugged in or walking around texting. Technology is great, but use it, don't let it use you. Don't let Facebook, Twitter and all the rest tell you what you should do, form your ideas, or control you.

Because of technology information is much more available and that is great, but it is up to young people to manage what they accept and don't accept as fact. Be independent, look for yourself before you pass judgment.

When I was younger, we feared that our society would look like 1984 when it arrived. That time is past, but the ability for mass media to influence has only increased.

When you read this book (and everyone should), don't think "well this can't happen to us; that is for the old folks. That 1984 stuff is so 80's!!!"

Very impressed that people have read it at such a young age, i was certainly not mature enough to even come across such a book.

Read it in my early twenties (almost 15 years ago) and it is still by far my favourite book and one I think of often.

One of only 2 books I have read more than once (Day Of The Jackal being the other)

I was 15 or 16 when I read 1984. My thoughts at the time were "well, that's about the Soviet Union, It can't happen here." Forty years later I read Dean Koontz's novel Dark Rivers of the Heart. Guess what?
It is happening here. The book should send chills down your spine. I pass the torch of freedom to the younger generation.

I am thrilled to see that teenagers have read it. I read it first when I was 11, intrigued by the cover. As an adult I'd have to say there was a great deal of it I probably did not get at that age, but I understood the important part about government control. I hope more kids will read it.

You can learn that all government is suspect; you can learn that no human organization or social system can ultimately be trusted; you can learn that power corrupts everything it touches; you can learn that history moves in predictable cycles and patterns; you can learn the insidiousness of conformity, the value of the individual; you can learn the urgency of protecting your individuality..finally, you can learn that everyone has a breaking point and that most of the things we believe and say about ourselves can be overturned under the right pressure.

You can really get to hate Thursdays :)

1984 and Brave New World. Read them. They were meant for your generations.

It's your world. Make it better. :}

After reading the book, Rachel, I recommend you read the New Year's strip of "Peanuts". Why would some Americans want to joke about George Orwell in 1984? Because they think that ain't gonna happen? Make us think.

i feel that 1984 is trying to show us that technology is taking over and that we are always being watched whether it is our texts, Facebook posts, cctv, online sites, online games no matter what we do we will always be watched

I'm in College and this was a assigned read in a class. I think the book overall is a slow way for any young person to learn very basic principles of communism. It shows how power can be used to manipulate people and deceive the masses into conformity. But im not sure out of most of the comments on this page people say that this book is a good re read when you are older and have experienced more. I think this book is a long boring drug out book that basically summed up is trust no one, no thing, and never tell anyone your true feelings. I don't see any genuine connections between the book and real life. Other than the basic broad ideas that power has the ability to corrupt, the possibility that someone is always listening or watching you, and that being forced into beliefs is not good.

The nature of power relationships, how authority deliberately obscures fact and truth in order to serve its own purposes, how propaganda appeals to the lowest and basest instincts and overpowers reason, how totalitarianism has worked throughout the ages... what can't it teach them? Teenagers are at a crucial age when they are on the verge of entering the world of adults. They already believe that their seniors are intent on controlling them, this ought to help prepare them on how they seek to do so.

I'm 19, and I read 1984 like 1 year ago, I learned a lot from it, and felt identified, since I live in Venezuela I see there's a lot of similar political stuff with the story; even if we are the "minority" we gotta keep fighting, we don't know how many people are with us if we don't try.

I agree with Rachel. Although I am not a teen, I was a teen when I read this book and I too took alot from this book. The entire time I was reading The Hunger Games I was reminded of this book. As a Youth Librarian I have been recently thinking about using current popular books such as The Hunger Games to encourage Youth to read classics with similar content like 1984. Do Teens think this would be a good way to encourage reading?

Thank you everyone for commenting.I read animal farm a couple of years ago and really enjoyed it as a story about animals taking over a farm.This was the one of the reasons for reading 1984.When I finished animal farm my dad explained its other meaning.I look forward to re-reading it once I cover the Russian revolution in school.I did find 1984 a bleak story but one I wanted to finish .I think it has given me a healthy attidude to authority and I fully agree that the govement should be here to serve the people and not the other way round as comented above.Im sure I havent grasped everything in the book but this single book has caused me to think more then any other.I do plan to read it again when I am older.

Freedom is slavery!

1984 can show teens how without their input; their world as adults will become less than they imagined. It had a huge impact on me, to the point that I have voted in every election starting when I turned 18 (46 now) and when my children read it; they realized what could happen to them and began voting also.
A vote may not do much but rally enough people to your vision and your vote and theirs can bring down a harsh government.

I read this book in my senior year last year and I was 17, now I'm 18 and a freshman in college. I'd already known pretty much how governments could be already manipulating their citizens but it's a good book. A lot of teens might associate 1984 with the government of China right now but I think more so of the US especially with how they try to impose certain ideas or thoughts onto others. I think it's good for any teenager to learn more about the world and how sometimes things can run along if common folks cannot think critically. After all if your leaders said 2 + 2 = 5 and held a gun to your head would you correct them?

Well, when I read the book in my 10th grade, I thought like all the good things like hope and happiness - have been cast out of the window. It gave me a bleak prospect of the world....!!! Imagine, during the same time I was reading Atlas Shrugged!! So all that reading helped me creating few of my own anti-regime stories which no one wanted to read!!!!!!
But though, I might say, Rachel, if you liked 1984, you would definitely love Animal Farm.

I read the book as a teenager, and it gave me a healthy distrust of authority that has served me very well to this day, and I am pushing 50 now. Put not your faith in princes and always remember......the government is supposed to exist to serve the people, not the other way around

I'm a 15-year-old who read the book last year. I completely agree with what you said about democratic governments using similar methods.

What's even more scary is that some of the non-democratic governments use similar strategies as well - with arguably equal extremity. Note the level of censorship in some countries.

I understand that many adults think that my age means I won't get much from reading this book. This isn't true. Yes, I havn't lived as long, but being this age doesn't mean I'm incredibly sheltered, either. I do agree, though, with anyone who reccomends re-reading. More can be gotten from books each time they're read.

I agree with Kevin! I was too busy playing my Mega Drive at 13, but it's great you've read it already and are showing such an evaluative and critical eye.

It's good that you read books, however, I do not believe that people of your age could learn from this book as much as adults. I suggest reading it again several years later.