Reading a dystopian novel during a world pandemic is probably not everyone’s cup of tea. I read 1984 before the COVID-19 lockdowns started, but you know what else I noticed? Many people who have been spreading misinformation online or feel inconvenienced when people hold them accountable draw the comparison with the 1984 novel that government, social media, liberals, or far-left are trying to censor them.
When you say “It’s Orwellian” or “It’s like 1984”, have you taken the time to read this book? Because I think you haven’t and you should. I think everyone should.
1984 by George Orwell” is a warning to all of us about authoritarian regimes that change the facts and rewrite history. It is a warning against mass surveillance and micro-managing people’s thoughts and behaviours.
There are no winners in this book; there is no happy ending. The only winners are the readers who will later advocate for fact-checking and evidence-based policies in the government. A healthy democracy requires a well-informed public; otherwise, it will turn into populism.
There is a bit of a romance happening in this book too, but as I said, it’s dystopian!