The first step to freedom is to accept being enslaved

In this ingenious second chapter of the book 1984 the man Winston Smith really illustrates the world of Oceania(the country of the party) and how terrible it is. The children were taught to go against their parents. In this backwards world where kids are demons and parents have no control over their children. The vagueness of the whole place is so visible. On many occasions Winston second guesses the party and its actions. His diary, which he writes in old pen is a symbol of his defiance towards the party. Though he only knows of the diary this is his way to make sense of his life and the reality of the party. I have great difficulty predicting anything from this chapter. Everything has a great feeling of uncertainty which just seduces you to read more and more, but sadly I am limited to a few pages a day. This world of the party and its hopelessness is intriguing just like the character Winston the witty old man who has lost hope for everything.

What we don't know might kill us?

As I read more of the book 1984 I seriously start feeling the theme of How much power does the government truly have? This idea of a sick government which consciously and subconsciously controlled the people in the book was just so powerful fear started creeping into my thoughts. I began to wonder is our government controlling us in the same way. Though I didn't believe our government was harsh and brutal like the book was (not in the way the book was though the government can be harsh and brutal) I do believe the government hides things from the public. This is a constant tool the government utilizes to control the American people. Even today the staffs disease strain which seems so scary now was a mere whisper a few years ago even though the knowledge of the disease's deadliness was known for about five years. The corruption in the Japanese internment camps. The known destruction of the A-bomb. These are all things that the government has kept from us for many years. Is this just one of those its better if you don't know instances? Who has judge on what the public should and shouldn't know? These questions will make you wonder who is running the government and what means are they taking to make it successfully? I believe that the government needs to reconsider its policy of holding most of their information a secret before the American people end up paying for the government's mistakes.

Victory Gin

A part that realy stood out to me was the fact that he explained how he felt for 30 seconds after a shot of gin. The description was so painful & strong that I felt the gin burning down my throat and the feeling of a rubber hammer smash the back of my head. The descriptions play with my emotions & the fact that the goverment is so controling and the people are such robots that it sickens me!

P.S.:This book is beyond amazing!

How much power does the Government truly have?

Hello everyone this is Raymond. I am still reading more in 1984 (its getting better with each page). However the first chapter of the book really made me think and I finally came to the question. How much power does the government truly have over people. As you can see in the government created in the book 1984 not only does the government have visible methods of control, but also extremely discreet ones that we ourselves really can't notice without deep analyzing. I believe governmental control is a strong theme in the book and was wondering any of your thoughts on the theme of government.

The First Chapter

This is Raymond and I have finally read the first chapter (or what seems to be the first chapter) of the book 1984. The way I could describe the book was breathtaking. The slow beginning patiently painted you a world with a million colors and made sure every single detail was precise to the last etch. It then jumped right into its plot of secrets and quickly illustrated the backwards world the main character (Winston Smith)lived in. Winston Smith I am guessing is the main character is 39 with an ulcer on his right knee. His frustration towards the "Party" is very obvious. As you read through the first chapters you slowly, but surely see many luxuries he doesn't enjoy. Such as intimate relationships and freedom of speech. His party is constantly watching him and he describes things in big terms and little terms. Instead of devoting a whole chapter to factual int formation the book integrates it with the story and has a reference table in the back. It really surprised me when it told me to look to the back of the book to find the meaning of the language Newspeak. I was going to put my predictions in a different post, but I strongly believe Winston is going to create some attention for himself which will get the eye of a rebel group called the "Brotherhood". However the irony of a follower leaving his master explained in the story really gives me high hopes and extreme urge to read on. This first chapter was excellent and I hope everyone else enjoys it as much as I did.

Welcome to 1984 posting

Hello my name is Raymond and my friend Fernando and I have created this 1984 book group for our ap english class. If you want to start this book with us your more than welcomed. We will be posting every chapter and will be having some discussions all the time. We are really excited and hope others will join us on this adventure through this book we know nothing about. We will soon be reading our first chapters. Every chapter will have a post on what the chapter is about and our personal opinions on the chapter and the content of the work. We will also have a prediction post after every chapter to discss what might be coming up in the story. We urge and welcome all those who wish to take this journey with us. If anyone would like to join our book club just email us.