Friday, August 27, 2010
"Books were just a commodity that had to be produced, like jam or bootlaces." (130)
This passage uses a comparison between books and commodities to highlight the importance of literature for future generations. If society does not actively read, write, and think, then books will become a commodity. Diversity of opinions and literary styles will decrease, and the government will be able to completely control everything people read. Orwell is saying that in order to prevent a society like the one in 1984 from forming, people must keep reading and writing.
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People keep reading and writing. The thing is that what people read (or watch (on the internet)) is there to entertain themselves.
ReplyDeleteCritical thought in itself is exhaustive, difficult and seldom leads to satisfaction with the current situation.
Hence people, in their heart of hearts, switch to hear stories that make them feel like bearing the toils of their life easier. Just as the sweetness of the jam or the utility of the bootlace makes their life easier.
It is a useful commodity, but it will be consumed and go out of date, to be replaced by a new generation of commodity.
In a society without empiric thought no problem. Just use a caleidoscope to create stories, like happened in 1984.