By George Orwell
Winston Smith is little more than a cog in a wheel, obligated to perform his drudge job of revising the truth and eliminating facts of which "Big Brother" disapproves. Winston, like all residents of Oceania, must pay homage to Big Brother, and show the proper degree of enthusiasm. The thought police have not yet been able to penetrate what's on his mind, but he must keep his face unreadable. If not, he will be subjected to questioning and possible torture and death. And there is no escape when he goes home; he can be seen by a "tele screen" or a helicopter that hovers at people's windows.
The meaningless and tedium of work, lack of passion, and lack of faith - along with the date of this novel - point to a warning against the horrors of communism and/or fascism. But many would draw parallels to the current political climate, where truth is ignored or denied by the US president who likewise demands loyalty, not to the country, but to him. This is a very depressing story, all the more because parts of it have come true in modern America. God help us!
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