HATING BIG BROTHER IS FREEDOM
To Orwell Today,
I am an Orwell fanatic with a strange request. Let me just start by saying that I admire what you are doing with your site. It's sad to see the world turning a blind eye to what is going on in the world and society. You are keeping the fire burning, and it is amazing. Thank you.
I was doing some research, looking for a way to find the original type of George's 1984, because a line in the book stood out to me and reflects a big part of my view on life and society, but is obscure enough to not give away my viewpoint to those who wouldn't understand. That's how I stumbled upon your site.
I would very much so love to have a tattoo done in this specific type. The line in question is near the last chapter and goes: "To die hating them, that was freedom". If I could permanently mark my body in his original print, it would be that much more inspiring. If nothing else, I would just love to hear back from you.
Thanks in advance,
Jonathan Gray
Greetings Jonathan,
Thanks so much for your kind comments about the website -- it's great to have a kindred Orwell fanatic as a reader.
I love your idea of a tattoo saying, "To die hating them, that was freedom". Those are my sentiments exactly.
As to the font or the type used in the 1984 first edition published by Martin Secker & Warburg in 1949, I don't own an original but have copies of reprints by Penquin and by Harcourt Brace and by Signet.
Of the copies of 1984 that I own, the truest version of the font would be the hardcover 31st edition that was published by Penquin in 1984:
Above is the line as it appears at the bottom of page 242 and then enlarged as a model for the tattoo artist.
I don't know if you've seen the articles or not, but over the years I've had discussions with previous readers about Orwell's meaning behind the "To die hating them, that was freedom" line. In descending order with more recent at top, here they are:
The debate and confusion re "To die hating them, that was freedom" is about whether or not, at the end of the book, Winston still hates Big Brother because, in the last line, Orwell says, "He loved Big Brother".
It's my contention (and I give my reasons in the above articles) that Winston did NOT love Big Brother -- he still hated him.
Now, with your email, the discussion continues and I'm inspired to expound further on the meaning behind "To die hating them, that was freedom" and will post my thoughts in an article I've had in mind for awhile. So stay tuned.
All the best,
Jackie Jura, October 2017
Diana is doing a thesis on Orwell's 1984 book covers & requests publishing info on a 1984 edition seen on my website
2.Big Brother & 35.Big Brother's Brotherhood and 43.Winston Talks In Sleep and 45.Chestnut Tree Cafe
Jackie Jura
~ an independent researcher monitoring local, national and international events ~
email: orwelltoday@gmail.com
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