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Genre: classics

Author: George Orwell

Number of pages: 368

Publisher: Penguin Classics

ISBN: 978-0141393049

In what ways is Hong Kong becoming like Oceania?

Big Brother is one of the phrases in the book that has entered the English language. Can you list four others?

About the book

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Book discussion

In George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four, love and freedom are replaced by fear and oppression. Two people make a stand for humanity by pursuing a love affair, but incur the wrath of the state

A FTER the devastation of World War II, the nations are subdivided into monolithic superstates that are constantly fi ghting each other. In the province of

Oceania is Airstrip One, which was formerly Britain and, like every other territory of the super nation, it is ruled by an all-powerful party led by one man. With personal freedom practically non-existent, one man dares to have individual thoughts.

Party snoopersTHE year is 1984 and, in an almost unrecognisable London, lives Winston Smith, a middle-ranking member of the Party that rules the land with fear, propaganda and brutality. Everywhere you go, giant TV screens blast out patriotic messages from the supreme leader, all signed off with the warning, “Big Brother is watching you.” Not only do the screens brainwash everyone with offi cial Party programming but they can monitor everyone to ensure compliance. But in his cramped apartment, Winston secretly writes critiques of the Party, which carries the risk of death.

Convenient truthsWINSTON works as an editor in the Ministry of Truth, which is constantly rewriting history to suit the propaganda needs of the Party. One day, he stops a fellow worker called Julia from falling and in response she leaves a note on his

desk which reads “I love you” and explains that she wants to talk. Warily, he agrees because he fears she may be spying for the Party. But he learns that she hates the Party as much as he does. The two start dating in secret in the low-class Proletariat part of town.

State-sanctioned tortureAFTER a spy informs the Party of their illicit affair, both are taken in and subjected to brutal physical and mental torture. Overseeing the interrogation is a charismatic senior Party member who manipulates Winston’s intellect and emotions. Winston is given a stark choice of confessing to all his crimes or facing his worst personal fear.

Nineteen Eighty-Four is a chilling and prophetic vision of the future, which foretold things like excessive government su rve i l l ance and revisionist history. If you can take the bleakness of this cautionary tale, it is required reading for anyone interested in politics or journalism.

propaganda (n)政治宣傳brutality (n) 殘酷

compliance (n) 服從critique (n) 評論文章

proletariat (n) 最下層階級prophetic (adj) 預言的Vocabulary

A Clockwork Orange Brave New World

IN a future world gone mad, 15-year-old Alex is thriving as he spends his days with his friends indulging in ‘ultra violence’, rape and destruction. But the state finally grows tired of his antisocial behaviour and imprisons

him. Desperate to leave his cell, Alex agrees to undergo an experimental course of ‘re-education’ in the hope of being released early. He effectively becomes a guinea pig and endures hours of mind-altering procedures that aim to cure him of his evil desires. The traumatic and painful treatment not only rids him of bad behaviour but also strips him of his individuality and his will to survive.

YEARS from now, the government has found a way to get the entire population to be totally compliant. They simply keep them high on drugs and sex so that life seems like one big, debauched, carefree party. People are happy to

live out their superfi cial lives and drop dead at the age of 50. Additionally, personal responsibility has been swept aside as people do not have to worry about dirt and disease and are encouraged to consume without consequences. In this seemingly blissful world, an outsider emerges who feels that the human race has turned into a race of sheep. He longs for individuality, poetry, real danger and freedom.

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Books■ Text : Mike Lau ■ Photos : Internet

E.08 Wednesday 26 November 2014

Suspicious minds