Not many writers can have the grace of being top on the bestseller almost 60 years after their death. At the onset of the shock that trailed the election of Donald Trump as the President of the US, George Orwell’s masterpiece 1984 stubbornly stayed topping best seller of all the major best seller charts. Every now and then 1984 always finds its way to relevance and rhymes with realities that compel people to back to it again and again. But 1984 is not the only novel that almost with precision predicted what the world will experience in the future. But it stands out because of its concrete references to one of the biggest questions that plague existence.
Orwell was not all about 1984. He was also the writer of ironic ‘Burmese Days’ (1934) a novel about, among others a judge who takes bride from both sides in cases before him and deliver judgment that is right; making him appear to his employers like an honest man. His “The Road to Wigan Pier” (1937) about life as a worker trying to survive in north London is also a mirror. But for many George Orwell is better known for his allegorical fable “Animal Farm” (1945). Though the novella is regularly linked to events leading to the Russian revolution, but the central message is universal. This iconic work constantly reminds us of the disappointment or even deceit associated with believing in ‘messianic interventions to rescue the society from say, a hopeless, crude and devastating rule of one man (a saviour) or group of people who hide their selfish interest with the cover of public interest. Orwell had a dynamic life that gave him firsthand experience of almost everything; poverty, abuse of power, class, and imperialism.
His literary intervention in form of essays is also rich. His essay “Politics and the English Language” exposes the link between manipulation of language and dishonesty. Citing examples of the violation of language in his time, he also pointed out that all the times clarity can only be possible with honesty. The essay “Shooting an Elephant” (1936) portrays the dilemma of decision making while trapped in a system one cannot do anything to change. Based on his pierce take on crucial issues affecting human society, Orwell is not only a writer, but also a challenge.
Orwell was never oblivious of happenings around him. In fact, his concern with the future might have been the reason behind 1984. He gave us the picture of a future in which the people will or can be at the mercy of powerful people, who control powerful institutions, gradually eliminating peoples liberty and privacy. He told us about the ‘party’ whose doctrines we are all expected to believe. The party that tries to tell people what to think about and how to think about everything. In 1984 we are confronted with a reality that makes concrete sense in this age. Wherever you are, and whatever you do “Big Brother” is always watching you. As a human being you no longer have the privacy that is at the centre of your humanity. You are constantly being watched, monitored and therefore controlled. What about the increasing widening of the gap created by class? Societies clearly divided between the majority living in the squalor of poverty and the minority getting more powerful and wealthier? 1984 speaks to the fears and anxieties of all free human beings in times of control, abuse of power and the perpetual struggle to determine what exactly is true about current happenings and almost everything.
Orwell was obsessed with poverty. He paid keen attention to living conditions of people, giving precise descriptions in pristine details. This brings up the responsibility of the writer to pay attention, to reflect reality. As a writer he was able to put himself at the forefront of asking questions about so many important things in human society; the complex relation between power, truth and the people.
Why should we be worried about how language is being used and abuse. Orwell paid attention to the relation between language and power. Every society should be genuinely concerned about how language is used. As he pointed out, “Political language — and with variations this is true of all political parties, from Conservatives to Anarchists — is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind.” At no time is this more apt than now.
Orwell is a challenge to writers of our days. His works should make them to start asking questions; about poverty, power, and today’s reign of anger, hatred and pervasive deceit. As one critic said “Orwell relentlessly and uncompromisingly criticized imperialism, nationalism, capitalism, political dishonesty, power, totalitarianism, privilege and private education.”
Orwell was never neutral. Why should any writer?
