Follow-Up

Just to provide some closure with the book, as well as some interesting lingering thoughts, I decide to compile a "follow-up" post. This will contain a few miscellaneous categories such as a few of my favorite quotes, links to articles that make connections between 1984 and today's society, and a letter from George Orwell himself. I hope you have enjoyed the vicarious reading experience through my blog and are eager to read the book for yourself now!


Quotes

"Who controls the past controls the future: who controls the present controls the past"

"Stupidity was as necessary as intelligence and as difficult to attain"

"If he thinks he floats off the floor, and if I simultaneously think I see him do it, then the thing happens."

"Perhaps one did not want to be loved so much as to be understood"

"Perhaps a lunatic was simply a minority of one"


Connections to 2015

This article from CNN, titled, "We're living 1984 today," is worth taking a read. It draws parallels between the National Security Agency and the lack of privacy in the book. Additionally, it pulls key symbols such as telescreens and Newspeak and shows how they are prominent today, but under a different name of course.


George Orwell on 1984

George Orwell wrote this letter before publishing his book. It explains his reasoning for writing as well as gives insights into his predictions for the future. I find it worthwhile to learn the background behind a book, because the context often gives me a new perspective and mindset when revisiting it.