Books are and always have been political. From allegories jam packed with historical political references to criticism carefully constructed into plot points, writing has always been a way of bringing to light real life issues with subtlety. Though not always appreciated by the target of said criticism, it really reflects society when such books are ridiculed and shunned for being a hard but absolutely crucial pill to swallow.

Where the time comes to discuss corruption, totalitarianism, and propaganda, we must delve deep into the very core of human nature, which leads to such intense concepts. This very nature is shown in “Lord of the Flies” by William Golding. According to this novel, evil and savagery are inherent in humans. Where there is no limit, there remains no need for civility. Humans are contradictory creatures with two persons at war within them: the desire for peace and the greed for power. History has remained clear on which side emerges victorious and usurps the other.

Whenever political fiction is brought up, the topic is impossible to discuss without bringing up George Orwell, whose novels of 1946 predicted the control of the government over media in the present. Exhibit A is 1984: It showcases a dystopian world in which citizens are constantly monitored and even conflicting thoughts are considered punishable offenses, known as “thoughtcrime”. It is stigmatized to the point where even the concept of having any view besides the one held by the government is officially named “double think”. The surveillance was so strict that citizens had become accustomed to moving through life with a blank facade and mechanical movements. If one were to even give the impression of going against the standard way of living, they were “vaporized”. Not only killed, but all traces of them wiped from existence so that the only proof of them ever having been born was the memory of those around them, which too, gradually faded. Though at face value, the system in the book may seem incredibly extreme and ridiculous to compare to the real world, our government today is a much more concealed version of the Big Brother’s Party. Not just that, but it makes painfully apparent how easily propaganda influences people, regardless of their level of intelligence. People who know they are trapped are more free than those who truly believe that they have freedom, being shackled not just by society but by their own thoughts. Therefore, propaganda is power.

The Hunger Games also showcases the terrifying control governments are capable of having upon people and how fear is used to govern. People are grouped based on their economic and societal worth and treated differently for it. It also shows the extent to which a Ruler will take punishments just to emphasise and maintain absolute control. They erase the very concept of freedom to stay in power.

Another masterpiece written by George Orwell is “Animal Farm”, which is an allegory for the Soviet Union and the harsh regime of Joseph Stalin that reformed the state. In the form of animals, Orwell portrayed historical figures, such Napoleon as Joseph Stalin and his rival, Trotsky, as Snowball. The crux of the novel is that absolute power corrupts absolute intention. Despite the novel starting off with the animals united in the cause for freedom, the hunger for power soon engulfs Napoleon, leading him to annihilating any obstacle in his way, the biggest being Snowball, with his acute mind and popularity. This too, shows how governments manipulate your memory, as Squealer and Napoleon did by altering the Commandments and taking advantage of the animals’ inability to read. Even those capable of understanding were silenced by fear of execution and the dogs they marched around with. They transformed the fond character of Snowball into a treacherous creature, just to increase their own popularity. The novel also shows that loyalty to a corrupt regime does not pay well. Despite being their most tentative worker, when Boxer became injured and weak, he was disposed of, rather than cared for. As the book progressed, the animals transformed into exactly what they had been fighting against: The humans.

A third book that reflects society and politics is Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. A world where the government has banned books. The book highlights how people’s emotional range has been compromised due to fast paced entertainment and loud noises which leaves no room for processing any worthwhile experiences. People tend to shy away from the truth and cruelty when it doesn’t directly impact them, choosing to stay pillowed in their comfort zone. This is exactly how people have reacted to the genocide taking place in Gaza. Despite it being all over social media, it doesn’t affect people. This is because of desensitisation and the fact that they can scroll away from it whenever they please. Whether it is cowardice or the instinct to stay cocooned, we are all guilty of it. We have made it easier to be controlled. We have given up our freedom by choosing to stay under the radar.

Conclusively, books have always been an expression of freedom, rebellion, and strength. The world can restrict your actions as much as they please, but they may never silence your words, be it through words or through speech. The purpose of knowledge is to utilise it for what you believe is right, not for what you have been ordained to do. Words unite what power tries to break.