75 Years of 1984 and How We Must Make It Fiction Again

When George Orwell is brought up, what is the first book that comes to mind? For many, they will respond by saying 1984.

It is 2023 and many of what Orwell once predicted in the book has become a reality. We are seeing so much overreach happening today that it is hard. The book is one of the most favorite books from the last century. It is being read in schools throughout the US. It even is read by young adults alike.

The timeless classic has shown what can happen in a dystopian genre.  The book captures the minds of those who are hit with what can happen when we lose our human freedoms. Even Orwell, a Democratic Socialist, knew the trajectory the world was heading as human freedom was slowly going away.

As we look at the book after 75 years, we have some startling themes that are becoming a reality today.

Dehumanization

When Stalin ruled Russia from World War II and then through the early 1950s, he instrumented the Iron Fist as he planned to capture half of Europe. Orwell wrote the novel at a time when a technocratic approach coerced people into accepting lies and dismissing truth. Those associated with “big brother” would stop it nothing to make sure one never existed.

St. John Paul the Great once wrote, “In the totalitarian and authoritarian regimes, the principle that force predominates over reason was carried to the extreme. Man was compelled to submit to a conception of reality imposed on him by coercion, and not reached by virtue of his own reason and the exercise of his own freedom” (Centesimus Annus).

Artificial Love

Winston slowly gets seduced by Julia. He compromises to accept a social good by having an illicit affair with her. It would lead him to his demise. Our culture has done this already with a culture of use. We have learned to use people for personal gratification instead of loving people.

We are seeing the effects of free love. Woodstock took place 21 years after the novel was released and it was even on the heels of the sexual revolution.

Never Back Down

Winston longed to take down Big Brother. Yet, he would fall victim of unorthodoxy. For Catholics, we must never compromise. We must stand tall for our principles and faith. We must be willing to charge into adverse fire and defeat the enemy.

St. Paul reminds us, “Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which, you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one."

"And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints...." (Eph. 6:13-18).

1984 must be made fiction again. We can’t live in a utopian reality anymore.