1984 George Oswell - Reading to Challenge

The novel that I have selected to challenge myself is George Orwell’s ‘1984’.
The reason why I chose ‘1984’ as it deemed as a popular book toward the
audience for decades. The history-inspired book challenged me as it drew
attention to the idea of a totalitarian government as well as the lack of
freedom displayed throughout the book, especially when the main character
John Winston can barely develop his identity.

Totalitarian government centralises around the idea of controlling its citizens

psychologically and physically. Totalitarianism had been implemented in the
Soviet Union and what Orwell has done is achieved this in a fictional, dismal
and foreign London. John, who is under surveillance is reminded that one
wrong move will bring great harm. We see this harm come toward the middle
of the story as the government is interrogating him, and they go to great
lengths to torture the man to simply get answers. This idea was a challenging
concept to grasp, as it is unfamiliar to the current society, especially to
western countries.

With this control comes a lack of freedom, especially in terms of having the
ability to have an identity. John doesn’t even know how old he is, or even his
marital status, all he knows is that he exists. This lack of freedom in this world
is unknown to the current society, but people from the past have been
suppressed underneath this pressure. It shows how we’ve progressed
throughout history. This theme had challenged me as it presented freedom
and identity as things that cannot be possessed by anyone in the world that
Orwell had created.

Orwell’s book explores unique themes placed in a different time. It challenged

me as a reader to comprehend these ideas, therefore, making it gratifying
when I understood them. ‘1984’ has reminded me that the world has
progressed and that things like our identity shouldn’t be taken for granted.
1984 George Oswell - Reading to Challenge