tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8330129568760171075.post5142603471281149914..comments2023-05-26T11:47:35.495+02:00Comments on A tale of three cities: The Classics Club: Nineteen Eighty-Four (1984)Pattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16118488336055805591noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8330129568760171075.post-86290179127837722322012-07-12T06:08:33.629+02:002012-07-12T06:08:33.629+02:00Indeed, the wealth of points to be raised is a goo...Indeed, the wealth of points to be raised is a good indicator of the depth of a book - thank you for your kind wordsPattyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16118488336055805591noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8330129568760171075.post-62825580264707886502012-07-12T05:41:39.990+02:002012-07-12T05:41:39.990+02:00With respect to language and expression, I believe...With respect to language and expression, I believe 1984 is also close to Animal Farm - where the animals already know that something is wrong with the pigs, but cannot come to express their fears. Result - they say nothing and suffer. That's how I see this issue here as well: if we can no longer express our ideas, fears, hopes we end up saying nothing and we will either become emotionless or suffer...Pattyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16118488336055805591noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8330129568760171075.post-35120759668900333032012-07-12T03:06:41.816+02:002012-07-12T03:06:41.816+02:00Interesting question - if we'd know what freed...Interesting question - if we'd know what freedom is if we didn't have a word for it. I suspect we would know it at least as a certain feeling, but we'd also want to put a word to such a feeling. Also without the word it's so much more difficult to discuss the concept or feeling with others and develop it further.HKatzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17653570160517335758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8330129568760171075.post-13994367806130638082012-07-12T03:03:43.502+02:002012-07-12T03:03:43.502+02:00I found I had to stop several times because the pl...<i>I found I had to stop several times because the plot was becoming so heavy, I felt I was getting out of breath. I had to recollect my thoughts and analyse bits before I could proceed to the next part.</i><br /><br />I've experienced the same thing with a recent book I've read, <i>Custom of the Country</i> by Edith Wharton; also reading it for the Classics Club Challenge. A beautifully written book but the main character is infuriating - a monster without realizing she's a monster.<br /><br />The rewriting of history, and doublespeak struck me most from 1984 I remember. Ministry of Peace for Ministry of War - distorting words to minimize the impact of what they refer to and muddle people's thinking about them.<br /><br />I enjoyed reading your thoughts.HKatzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17653570160517335758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8330129568760171075.post-2278090107478412772012-07-11T19:43:43.435+02:002012-07-11T19:43:43.435+02:00I remember when I read 1984, the thing that got to...I remember when I read 1984, the thing that got to me was newspeak: reducing the language reduces thought reduces reality. Would we know what freedom was if there wasn't a word for it?<br /><br />And good point about double-think and school curricula - it ties into my point the other day. We should get together and talk about this further. Form all the nationalities I've met while in Brussels, I think the Greeks are some of the other that have to deal more with this reality readjustment.Alex (The Sleepless Reader)https://www.blogger.com/profile/03083761152675156469noreply@blogger.com