Having watched a school production of Animal Farm recently, I have re-read both of Orwell's classics. The revolt by the animals against an alcoholic bullying farmer is popular and initially successful but their democracy is soon replaced by an even worse form of dictatorship. "All animals are equal" becomes "Some animals are more equal than others". In Nineteen Eighty-Four, in a country controlled by "Big Brother" who watches everybody constantly, Winston Smith manages to elude this surveillance - including having a secret affair with Julia; they are betrayed and pay a terrible price for their illusory freedom. Both books are still powerfully valid.
(James Baker - bwl 69 Summer 2013 ) |
