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Yes, but Orwell wasn't really writing _about_ the UK, you need to look at the context and background of the work, which is the rise of Stalinism and the fear of
by xnorswap 2y ago
Yes, but Orwell wasn't really writing _about_ the UK, you need to look at the context and background of the work, which is the rise of Stalinism and the fear of that brand of totalitarianism taking over.
- zorked 2y agoThere is a very politically-motivated school of interpretation of 1984 that wants to excessively tie it to "Stalinism" to prevent using the book to critique other political doctrines - completely unrelated to Stalinism or communism - that exhibit the same tendencies. Interpret more broadly and it becomes a much better, more important book.
- xnorswap 2y agoIt wasn't just Stalinism, it was wider totalitarianism too, but that wasn't the point I was making, it wasn't a critique directed against the state of the UK at the time, but what it could become.