Reply #8: This Might Be Where The Mistake Lies [View All]

[Forrest Greene]

The mistake in "...this opinion of the author's purpose; 'the book is about trading freedom for security,' " that is.

To some people, it seems being wrapped in the steely arms of a relentless, ubiquitous, omnipotent Big Brother _is_ security, believe it or not. Or at least it suffices as security for them. No need to think, to feel, no need to bear the awful responsibilities of freedom. Winston just wasn't that way, until the end of the book.

Imagine considering life in a constantly-surveilled, social / political / emotional paralysis as "security..." You can even see, sort of, how the conclusion might be arrived at: if "security" means nothing bad can happen, why then, a situation like paralysis -- where nothing at _all_ can happen -- is the ultimate security! It's just good old clumsy, lazy, unimaginative all-or-nothing thinking, helped along, of course, by the Ministry of Truth. The same sort of thing as thinking fear equals respect, or war equals peace.

Hope you've enjoyed the collection "The Orwell Reader: Fiction, Essays, and Reportage." He's one of the clearest, best writers in English I've ever encountered, not to mention his heart being in the right place.