Dusting off the Classics: "1984"

Few books capture rebellion, hopelessness, reality and love like George Orwell's "1984."

These themes are at the forefront of almost every college student's mind at some point, and that's why this book is a perfect mid-semester read.

Set in London, "1984" depicts a world where personal freedom and ingenuity have been replaced with automatonism. It follows Winston, a low-ranking member of the ruling party as he goes through his life questioning the rationale and authority of the ruling party. As the story progresses, Winston meets Julie, a dark-haired beauty who shares his affinity for mental rebellion. They carry on a romantic relationship for some time until they're lured into a false party opposition group. Both are captured and tortured for their "treason."

The real beauty of this book is in its versatility of connectivity. Everyone can get something different from "1984." There are those who will see problems described in "1984" that mimic those in modern society. Forbidden love is always a popular topic, so others may dwell romantic inclinations of Winston and Julia. This book can even reach readers who consider themselves as people who don't fit in. The two protagonists are the quintessential definition of misfits. It's easy to connect to them from this standpoint.

Another fascinating side of this book is character development. Winston is not a hero. He is not some brave soldier out to rid the world of wrong and restore freedom to the masses. He's an average Joe. He's scared of death. He's terrified of losing the little freedom in life he has. It's these features that make him so wonderful for the role as the protagonist. Orwell creates a man, not a hero. By doing this, he has related to more readers than he ever could have hoped with a gun-slinging freedom fighter.

Mystery is another aspect of the book that makes it so appealing. The reader never really knows who Winston can trust and who he can't. Orwell does a fantastic job of defining characters in a way that makes their allegiance seem ambiguous. The book doesn't reveal the true villain until the end, which is a staple in almost any good piece of literature.

This is a novel that needs to be read in college. It coalesces perfectly with the average college student's thought process, and is a breath of fresh air when the semester hits that dreaded point of monotony.