1984 by George Orwell introduces its readers to an excellent example of a negative dystopia and a totalitarian government. In a moment of desperation, Winston Smith decides that he will be writing his diary towards O'Brien, a man who works at the Ministry of Truth and that Winston thinks is also against the Party. Winston begins writing about his wife (who he is separated from) and about proles (the poor percentage of the population), who Winston thinks are the only hope for changing the system. Then, Winston visits the proles to ask the old ones if life was better before Big Brother or after, but finds no answers. He discovers a woman, named Julia, following around but is surprised when she gives him a letter telling Winston that she loves him.
My Thoughts On...
“I understand HOW: I do not understand WHY.” (Orwell,80)
This reflects Orwell´s opinion on the world at the time the book was published. Orwell was a British man living during the Cold War who was probably disgusted with the world's events at the time, and decided to write a book about it. He understood how the constant political, economic, and military problems made themselves present in his everyday life, but he didn't understand the reason behind it. Just like the Western Bloc was in constant disagreement with the Eastern Bloc, Oceania was in constant war with Eurasia and Eastasia. George Orwell was able to incorporate events and ideas from his time living into his book, but was still able to add fiction to his novel.
This movie is about a boy who tries to find a reason for everything in his life.
“Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make four. It that is granted, all else follows.” (Orwell, 81)
I think that this is an excellent example of how deep into a person's mind the government is trying to control. Orwell is explaining that the government in 1984 is capable of changing basic operations of math in order to control the minds of citizens and, worst of all, the citizens accept it without questioning it. Will the government say that two plus two make something other than four and make the citizens accept it? Will Winston accept it?
Next Up On 1984...
This book has brought me a lot more surprises than I thought it would, and I'm positive that there will be many more to come throughout the book. Also, I found out that the name of the author, George Orwell, is actually a pseudonym for Eric Arthur Blair. I thought this was interesting since I originally thought that George Orwell was the author's real name. I have honestly no idea of what could happen next with the book, but I do hope that more things about Winston and Julia are revealed. I hope that Winston decides to do something to change the system and gives O´Brien his diary.
In 1949, George Orwell imagined the year 1984 as a time where the world is divided in three superstates (Eurasia, Eastasia, and Oceania) that are in constant war with one another, a totalitarian government that spies on every citizen through telescreens, a new language (called Newspeak) being developed, and children play games of war before learning what it is. The then book introduces Winston Smith, a 39 year old man who leaves in a deteriorating building and works at the Ministry of Truth, where his job is to alter speeches and announcements from the government in order to fool the population into believing everything the government says. Smith then starts a diary in which he expresses his thoughts about the government and its leader, Big Brother (whose posters are present everywhere, depicting his face and his slogan “Big Brother Is Watching You”). Winston then realizes that he will probably be vaporized (the government kills people and erases them off every document and picture there is) since he committed Thoughtcrime (thinking of a crime can get you vaporized) against the government.
Figuring It Out
“WAR IS PEACE
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH” (Orwell,4)
This is one of the many slogans of the INGSOC, which is the English Socialist Party in Oceania. Their main goal is to have total control over the population, but most importantly of their minds (this is why Thoughtcrime exists and so does Thoughtpolice). I think that these three phrases are incredible examples of double thinking, a mind program imposed by INGSOC that wants citizens to accept two contradictory beliefs as correct. War is present in Oceania, but the Party make the citizens believe that they are still at peace. The Party also convinces the people that being free of choices would make them slaves in one way or another, and that their ignorance in everything in general (no one knows what year it is exactly) makes them stronger. All of the phrases above are paradoxes that can't be present with the other but, are these still being enforced today?
This movie (The Noble Family in English) is about the lessons and problems that lying can bring
"He was alone. The past was dead, the future was unimaginable." (Orwell, 26)
When I read this quote, I felt strangely pitiful towards Winston. I realized that he is the only one, that I know of, that wants to know of the past without being lied to about it and wants to imagine a future with free choices. I think that since Smith was so foreign to change, he became extremely curious about it even though he can't change anything about his society. I wonder if he will ever share his thoughts with anybody else or just keep writing in his diary.
Then What?
So far, I'm really enjoying this book. This is the third book that I've read about negative dystopias and so far I've liked them. I honestly hope that Winston tells someone he trusts about the thoughts and curiousity he's been having. Hopefully, in the next few chapters more characters will be introduced that think the same way as Winston and that can help him do something about their current situation. I am quite sure that the book will revolove around Winston´s ideas of revolutions and rebellions. I also hope that in the next few chapters, more information about the government will be introduced in order for me to understand the plot of the book better.
As Halloween approaches, Scout participates in a play in school butwhen Jem and Scout are going back home from the play, they are attacked by an unknown person who tries to suffocate Scout and breaks Jem arm (but Jem is later taken home by a mystery man). Once at home, Scout gets rid of her destroyed ham costume and finally meets Boo Radley (who turns up to be the one who saved Jem and Scout). Mr.Tate investigates these events and tells Atticus that it was Bob Ewell who tried to kill Jem and Scout, but that he later slipped on his own knife and killed himself. Boo Radleyasks Scout to take him home across the street andthis was the last time Scout ever saw Boo Radley and, while standing in his front porch at night, Scout imagined life from Boo's point of view. Boo then describes situations like watching three children make up a play in the garden, a man shooting down a dog in the street, two children running up to their father, and two children looking up at gifts in an oak tree (all of which are moments from Scout's childhood in Maycomb).
Some Well Organized Words
“He raised his eyebrows, and I protested: "Least ways not till I started telling Mr. Tate about it. Jem wasn't scared. Asked him and he said he wasn't. Besides, nothin's real scary except in books." (Lee, 375)
Once Mr.Tate and Boo Radley leave Scout's house, she is quick to spend time with her father and brother. I don't think she lied to Atticus about being scared, but I think that adrenaline and instinct stopped her from being scared. This quote also makes me remember something Scout said at the beginning of the book about how she didn't love reading and compared it to breathing. I think that this thought from Scout has a great influence in her definition of fear. Her love for reading has taken her to understand fear as an emotion that can only be felt by things we don't see, but by things we imagine. Based on this, I now think that Scout is a very imaginative person who is creative and wise beyond her years. She is able to enhance imagery from books in order to define her emotions, and I think that is amazing.
“When they finally saw him, why he hadn’t done any of those things . . . Atticus, he was real nice. . . .” His hands were under my chin, pulling up the cover, tucking it around me. “Most people are, Scout, when you finally see them.” He turned out the light and went into Jem’s room. He woul d be there all night, and he would be there when Jem waked up in the morning.” (Lee, 376)
I think that this quote is one of Atticus's many teachings to his children (and to the world in general). I think that this quote is much like those “don't judge a book by its cover” type of stuff, but it doesn't replace a better image for something bad but it rather creates a positive image for something unknown. I also think that Atticus is trying to tell Scout about not inferring anything about anyone based on information that is not even true. My mom is constantly telling me to know a person before I judge them or talk about them, and I think this also applies to Scout and her opinion on Boo.
This Is The End
So, I'm done with the book. And let me tell you, I'm not one bit disappointed. I had wanted to know the reasons behind people who praised this book so much, and now I understand them completely. To Kill A Mockingbird is an excellent example of the existence of racial and social inequality, it shows the importance of the presence of morality in an individual, and portrays innocence in the most beautiful way. Throughout the book, I also learned about Boo's portrayal in reality. He is everything that is good in the world and helps others without getting anything in return. This book made me look at the world in a complete different way by showing me the childhood of a girl who doesn't even exist. It showed me both injustice and love, two words that are not usually related to each other. Scout's representation of a girl who wasn't into things that are considered girly also showed me that stereotypes could also be fought in the 1930’s. But most of all, To Kill A Mockingbird has taught me that the shyest ones are also the kindest ones, and that bravery is relative when an act is made with love.
"And we can't reach any higher, If we can't deal with ordinary love"
Atticus is assigned the case of Tom Robinson, a black man who is blamed for raping Mayella Ewell and wants to prove to the jury that Mayella's father beat her up and blamed Tom for it. Later, Tom is questioned by Atticus on the events that supposedly happened, but he just says that he was trying to help Mayella when she tried to kiss him (not to mention that Tom's left arm was severely damaged and wasn't useful, hitting Mayella would've been extremely hard). Sadly, Tom is taken to prison but Atticus promises Tom to keep trying to set him free. Jem cries because he thought that the jury would be fair, but is only comforted by the sadness he shares with his dad. One day, Atticus arrives strangely early from work and tells Calpurnia, the maid, that he needs her help in order to tell Tom Robinson's wife that Tom was killed while trying to escape prison.
My Thoughts On...
“´I think there's just one kind of folks. Folks.´” (Lee, 304)
This quote is said by Scout to Jem while they are discussing the types of people Maycomb. It all started when Aunt Alexandra prohibited Scout from bringing Walter Cunningham home, she said he was trash. I think that, since Scout is young and innocent, she does not understand that society has always been organized in social classes that don't usually mix with one another. I felt strangely pitiful for Scout, she lives in a time and place where poverty existed among everyone and where everyone was extremely judgmental and condescending towards others. I guess I didn't expect the 1930´s to be such a socially divided period of time, but then again; the 21st century is a socially divided time. Also, I don't think that I can totally understand Scout since her living arrangements and traditions are way different than mine. I also think that Scout does not understand the prejudice that exists in the different social classes or in colors of the skin. Honestly, I think that social hierarchy should not be defined by money or race, but should instead be way to organize society equally and fairly.
“´But there is one way in this country in which all men are created equal- there is one human institution that makes a pauper the equal of a Rockefeller, the stupid man the equal of an Einstein, and the ignorant man the equal of any college president. That institution gentlemen, is a court.´ ” (Lee, 274)
These are some of the last words of Atticus Finch in his trial in which he defends Tom Robinson. I think that the words that Atticus tells to the jury are not completely true since not even the court gave justice to Tom. The law is supposed to be enforced in a court, but morality and an individual's beliefs also interfere in a court. Justice was not granted to Tom because of the racial inequality and discrimination of his time , but hopefully it would've been granted today. Until what extent does law influence the final decision of the jury in court? Is prejudice present in every jury in a court? Is justice controversial or different for everyone, even though it shouldn't be?
To Be Continued...
So, I'm back. Honestly, this blog took me awhile to complete since I haven't written anything about the book in about a month (but I still enjoyed it so that is good). In other news, I just found out that Harper Lee passed away two days ago (February 19th, 2016) and it actually made me very upset since I didn't even finish her book while she was alive. Anyway, I literally have no idea of what could happen next in the book since I was looking forward to the trial and that already happened. I'm still waiting on the appearance of Boo Radley, I miss Jem, Scout and Dill talking about him and trying to get him out of his house. In the last chapters that I read, I learned that the good not always wins, I learned that life can sometimes be unfair.
To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee tells the story of Scout Finch´s childhood and is narrated through the eyes of none other than Scout. She lives in Maycomb with her father Atticus, her brother Jem and also Calpurnia, her maid. On the summers, both Jem and Scout hang out with their friend Dill and plan adventures throughout their time together.
Scout has turned eight years old and Jem is twelve, and they are facing obstacles that are beyond their years. Their father, Atticus, is defending a black man in a trial and has to go out of town; which causes Jem and Scout to go with Calpurnia (the Finches´ black maid) to her local church. When they come back, Jem and Scout find out that their Aunt Alexandra will be living in Maycomb for a while since she believes that both Jem and Scout need a feminine influence in their lives considering that their mother passed away. Scout later overhears Atticus and Aunt Alexandra fighting about the presence of Calpurnia, but Atticus convinces his sister to let Calpurnia stay. That night, Scout and Jem find Dill hiding under Scout's bed and find out that he escaped his home, took the train and came to Maycomb to stay with his aunt. Now reunited, the three friends go visit Atticus in his office and randomly save his (black) client from being hurt by several men in town. Scout was quick to stand up for her dad and persuaded the men into being sympathetic towards Tom and Atticus. Aticus´s trial later takes place in town and everyone in Maycomb attends since it isn't common for a black man to be defended. Turns out that Tom Robinson was accused of raping Mayella Ewell, member of the Ewell family, who are known for being lazy and uneducated. Atticus tries to defend Tom by trying to prove that it wasn't his client who abused Mayella, but that it was her father who caused the bruises in her body.
“I know now what he was trying to do, but Atticus was only a man. It takes a woman to do that kind of work.” (Lee, 179)
When Aunt Alexandra arrived to Maycomb to stay with the Finches, it wasn´t only because she wanted to be a feminine influence to Jem and Scout. I think that Aunt Alexandra wanted to become the mother that Scout and Dill never had and the mother that she could never be to her real son. She tells Atticus to tell his children that they should start behaving better and they start honoring the family. Sadly, Jem and Scout get upset with Atticus but he tries to make them laugh by making jokes about a cousin, Scout realizes that it is not in Atticus's nature to nurture and care for his children like a mother does. I can remember countless times when my mom has left my sisters and I with our dad. I guess it wasn't entirely his fault but, my dad could not take care of my sisters and I the same way my mom did. Perhaps women possess the ability to care for children in a way that men can't.
“´Dill?´
Mm?´
´Why do you reckon Boo Radleys never run off?´
Dill sighed a long sigh and turned away from me.
´Maybe he doesn't have anywhere to run off to.´ ” (Lee, 192)
This is part of a conversation Dill and Scout have the day Dill runs away from his home and goes to Maycomb. I realized that, even though Scout, Jem, and Dill haven't bothered Boo Radley in a while; they still care for him. I felt so grateful when I read this quote because I realized that, if I went crazy and run away from my house, I would still have somewhere to go. Perhaps it was only the fact that Boo Radley is lonely and, sadly, fictitious; but I was nevertheless thankful for my family's existence at the moment. If I was to run away from home, I would probably escape to my grandparents´ house. They would probably run away to my house, too.
"Give me reasons to believe that you would do the same for me And I would do it for you, for you"
I have realized that I am already more than half way through the book and that Boo Radley is still as invisible as he can possibly be. I hope that he can come out of his house sometime in the near future of the book. Something else that I find curious, and that I didn't take so seriously until the Atticus's trial took place, is the enormous amount of discrimination towards black people in the book. But, considering that this book was published in 1960, I should have had in mind that discrimination and abuse was a part of people's everyday lives. I am also anxious about how the trial is going to turn out, I want Atticus to win (but I honestly don't think he will. Not because he is a bad lawyer, but because he is defending a black man). I seriously do not like Mayella Ewell and her family and I think that it would be a disgrace towards morality if they won the case against Atticus.
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee tells the story of Scout Finch and her brother Jem´s life during the 1940’s. The story is narrated by Scout´s point of view as she tells the story about living in Maycomb, Alabama with her father Atticus and her maid Calpurnia. When Scout and Jem's friend Dill comes over in the summers, the three friends try to make the mysterious Boo Radley come out of his house.
After Dill goes back home and leaves Scout with the promise of marrying her when he comes back, Scout and Jem continue to find gifts inside a whole in a tree near the Radley place. Scout and Jem decide to leave a letter thanking whoever it is leaving them the gifts but are very disturbed when they find out that the whole in the tree has been filled with cement. The next winter, Scout wakes up one morning convinced that the world was ending, but finds out it was just starting to snow. Jem and her try to make a snowman, but end up creating a mass that looks a lot like Mr. Avery; their neighbor. That night, Miss Maudie's house catches on fire and causes a lot of commotion in the neighborhood. Jem and Scout are told to stand in the sidewalk so they are out of danger but Scout begins to freeze due to the cold winter air. Scout then finds out that someone put a blanket on her shoulders so that she wouldn't be cold. Back in school, Scout is being insulted by her classmates due to the fact that Atticus is defending a black man in a trial. Atticus tells Scout not to be bothered about mean comments regarding his case defending Tom Robinson, and advises her to stay out of trouble.
For Christmas; Uncle Jack, Aunt Alexandra, Uncle Jimmy, and their grandson Francis all came to spend Christmas with Scout, Jem, and Atticus. At the Christmas dinner, Aunt Alexandra constantly tells Scout to behave like a lady and wear dresses, but Scout never listens to her since she thinks pants are more comfortable. After dinner, Francis insults Atticus for defending a black man in a trial, which causes Scout to punch him in the face. Atticus later tells Uncle Jack that the black man he is defending was accused of raping a member of the Ewell family, who are known for being lazy and uneducated.
That summer, Dill doesn´t come visit Jem and Scout since he is spending time with his dad. Scout and Jem stop tormenting Boo Radley but instead have to pass by Mrs. Dubose´s house to get to town. The old lady is constantly insulting Atticus for defending a black man, which causes Jem to get mad and cut off all of her flowers. Jem later apologizes but is ordered to read to Mrs. Dubose for a month. When he finishes reading to the old lady, Atticus tells Jem that Mrs. Dubose passed away but that she conquered her addiction of morphine with the help of Jem's reading.
“Atticus told me to delete the adjectives and I’d have the facts.” (Lee, 60-61)
When Jem tells Scout about how he is studying the Egyptians in school, Atticus is quick to bless Scout with some wise words. I genuinely think that Atticus is someone we should all have as a role model. I also think that Harper Lee was very aware that creating a character whose morality simply not match his time would create some faked expectative for people in reality. Atticus's words go beyond my knowledge of honesty and truthfulness, but also make me see the world in a completely different way. With his words, I realized that people's lies are not always far from the truth; but are instead so similar to the truth that it can't be differenced easily. I think that his words could also apply to every day gossip in school. Perhaps what I am hearing from my friends is, at some extent, true; but has been exaggerated with adjectives. I have also concluded that adjectives are tricky words. They can be used to create imagery of a perfectly described scenario, but they can also create perfectly detailed lies.
“I’d rather you shot at tin cans in the back yard, but I know you’ll go after birds. Shoot all the blue jays you want, if you can hit ‘em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.” (Lee, 93-94)
For Christmas, Jem and Scout got air rifles from their Uncle Jack. I was surprised when I realized that shooting birds or tin cans with real guns is something that people actually do. I was also wondering about the symbolical significance of a mockingbird, but then the book answered my question. Unlike blue jays, mockingbirds only sing their hearts out for us and don't eat other people's gardens. Perhaps they symbolize innocence. I genuinely think that the author wanted people to reflect on their lives and think about their possibility of killing a mockingbird in any way possible. Since Atticus was the one who said this, I wonder if he has ever killed a mockingbird. Why does he want his children to behave well in order to maintain mockingbirds alive? Does it has to do with their innocence? Does he want to preserve it and treasure it?
"Look at all the children we can change"
This book has been so much better than I expected it to be. This is the only book that I have read that actually gives me a look inside American life during the 1940's, something that I found rare based on other books I've read. Something that I really want to happen next is the appearance of Boo Radley, he did not appear once during the six chapters I read for this week. I still hope that he will have a positive impact in the story and I hope that he will help Jem, Dill, and Scout mature as individuals. I also missed Dill during this part of the story, even if he is just a fictional character that doesn't actually exist. I also found out that Dill was probably inspired by Harper Lee's childhood friend Truman Capote (whose book I read for my last blog posts). Anyway, I am really looking forward to the rest of this book since the title is just beginning to make sense to me.
To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee is narrated from Scout Finch´s point of view and tells the story of Scout (whose real name is Jean Louise) and her brother Jem´s new found friendships and adventures regarding Boo Radley, the mysterious man living in their town. The Finches live in Maycomb, Alabama during the Great Depression. Scout and Jem (who is four years older than Scout) live with their dad Atticus (who loves to read and is a lawyer) and with their maid Calpurnia since their mom died when Scout was two years old. Scout and Jem were first curious about Boo Radley the summer they met Dill. He is one year older than Scout (who at the time was six) and came to visit his aunt for the summer. Scout and Jem told him the story about how the Radleys had always lived in Maycomb but when the younger son Arthur (Boo) decided to join a gang, they became secluded from their neighbors. When Mr.Radley refused to send Boo to a school that would help him become disciplined, Boo had to stay at home and wasn't seen for the next fifteen years. One day, Boo was cutting some pictures for a scratch book when he attacked his dad with the scissors, which causes Mrs.Radley to leave the town. Years later, Mr.Radley passed away and his elder son, Nathan came back to Maycomb to live with Boo.
The following September, Scout enters the first grade but gets in trouble with the teacher for knowing how to read and write. When coming home from school, Scout finds chewing gum placed in a tree near Boo's house, but when she comes back with her brother Jem to the tree; they find two pennies left in the tree. The next summer when Dill comes to Maycomb; Jem, Scout and him try to leave a letter to Boo Radley but are unsuccessful to deliver the letter. Atticus later tells the three children that they should stop tormenting Boo since whatever he decides to do, is no one else's business but Boo´s.
“Until I feared I would lose it, I never loved to read. One does not love breathing.”
(Lee, 18)
This is said by Scout once she realizes that her teacher, Miss Caroline, might take away her time and ability to read. I think that the fact that she is comparing reading to breathing, already tells a lot about her priorities. I think that, although Scout read quite a lot, she never considered the option of it being taken away from her, and I think it is brilliant of her to think of it as the same way as breathing. I personally never thought about “loving” breathing, but I realized that it will one day be taken away from me and there will be nothing I can do about it. Even if the lack of breathing is directly connected to death, I will still consider it something so regular that I won't notice when it's gone. Perhaps Scout will learn how to cope with the lack of reading, but not with the lack of breathing.
“What Mr. Radley did was his own business. If he wanted to come out, he would. If he wanted to stay inside his own house he had the right to stay inside free from the attentions of inquisitive children, which was a mild term for the likes of us.” (Lee, 50)
This is said by Atticus Finch to Jem, Scout, and Dill in hopes of stopping them from tormenting Boo Radley. I think that this quote tells a lot about Atticus like the fact that he respects people as much as he respects himself, or that he considers other people's situations before making any comments. I really think Atticus is a very wise, middle-aged man, that can certainly be a good role model for Jem, Scout and Dill (even if he is not his son). I still wonder about his privacy at home. Atticus states that Boo should be free of the attention of children, but he has children of his own. Why does Atticus care so much about Boo? Is Atticus ever bothered by the lack of privacy he has at home? Does he ever tell Jem or Scout about it? Will he ever tell them?
I am honestly so excited to read To Kill A Mockingbird since I've heard about it before but was never able to read it. I think that this book fascinates me so much because it is narrated from a six-year old's point of view (unlike other books I've read that are narrated by adults or even Death). The only thing that I really want to happen in the book is for Jem, Scout, and Dill to meet Boo Radley in person. I really hope he comes out of his house and contributes to the story in a positive way (because for all I know, he is a convicted murderer responsible for homicides in the other side of the world). I also want to find out about Scout's other adventures (or misadventures) in school since they will tell if she definitely gave up reading or not.
