This book and also Brave New World should be on every school curriculum.
I’m very divided with 1984. It’s context is so massively anti-communist, yet it ironically portrayed much of the authoritarianism we see today in capitalist countries. So much so that when I first read it in my teens, it didn’t cross my mind that he was taking shots at old Russia! I find it to be one of those few things that are better when you interpret it wrong.
You should look out for Orwell’s Homage to Catalonia. His anti-communism stems from his experiences there. Or this general explainer is pretty good.
ironically portrayed much of the authoritarianism we see today in capitalist countries.
Which “capitalist countries” do you mean? I’d agree there is dangerously growing surveillance in Western Europe and the US, but this surveillance is much worse in self proclaimed anti-capitalist and “anti-western” countries like China or Russia or Iran.
I’d say 1984 is anti-totalitarian, and that has nothing to do with a particular political ideology.
Given Orwell’s negative experiences with communism, I don’t think its innaccurate to say it was a reflection of the biggest communist country at the time–the USSR. That being said, it can be interpreted however anyone wants, and it being interpreted as solely anti-totalitarian works better in my humble opinion.
I fully agree.
