1984 Proles Essay

Discuss the ways in which the proles are presented as being different to Winston and the people he works with. What might be the advantages of being a prole?
In 1984 by Orwell there’s a distinct contrast between the proles and Winston and his “comrades”. Orwell depicts the proles as emotional and free whereas Winston and his comrades are unemotional and confined.
The proles are seen to be unimportant in Oceania society; they are just “left to themselves”. This kind of freedom is unusual to see in the novel. Winston and his “comrades” are continuously regulated by “Big Brother” through: “telescreens…. thought police” and each other. The thought of being “left to themselves” would be quite foreign to the average Oceanian but the proles aren’t

regulated at all.
The freedom and unimportant role in society that the proles have is further reinforced by Orwell with the party slogan “Prole and animals are free”.

The party describing the proles as “animals” could be showing their inferior attitudes towards them. Animals are frequently regarded as the lowest of the low comparing the proles to them means there on par with them. However it could also be that like “animals”, their living a natural and free life. A life human were supposed to live without any regulation, censorship and dictatorship. Animals can’t be regulated no matter how much you try similarly proles are “left to themselves” unregulated and free; their living the normal human life.
Orwell first introduces the proles as “not human beings”. This creates an image of alien like creatures. Orwell immediately gives us a stark contrast between the party member and the proles. As Syme pointed out everyone “Expect the proles” will be speaking newspeak soon; only they will understand and remember “oldspeak; which creates a sense of superiority. Also by retaining “oldspeak” the proles are not “annihilated” of expression and freedom. Their society is not degenerating whereas the party member’s society is being “annihilated” because of

“newspeak.
It’s quite ironic that Syme chooses to describe the proles as “not human beings”; in many ways the proles are the closest to normal human beings. The proles take “care of home and children, petty quarrels with neighbours… and above all gambling”; they also have “sexual desire” these are typical human activities. Whereas Winston and his “comrades” weren’t allowed to have “thoughts” or “sexual desire”. They weren’t meant to be “human beings”; they were meant to be robots designed to follow the parties order, unlike the proles.
Winston understands that proles are superior because of their human emotions.

Orwell makes the proles symbolize a hope for a rebellion, according to Winston “If there was hope, it must lie on the proles”. Winston seems to think the high majority of proles “could blow the Party to pieces tomorrow morning”; further stopping the annihilation of society and human emotions. However “Until they become conscious they will never rebel,” Winston fears the ignorance of the prole about the oppression by the party will never cause a rebellion. The ignorance of the proles symbolizes the degeneration of hope in Winston. Both the proles and the party member are ignorant. Whereas the proles are ignorant because of the lack of education; the party member are ignorant because of the brainwashing by “Big

Brother”.
In conclusion Orwell uses the proles to provide a view of how much the outer and inner party members are being brainwashed into an emotionless and superficial world.

Research London in the late 1940’s – what was life like for ordinary Londoners?
In the late 1940’s London was slowly recovering from the Second World War which dominated the early 40’s. London was largely damaged during the war. In the late 40’s reconstruction of the city started. London was eagerly seen by politicians as a “New Jerusalem” a city which provided decent standard of living for all. The reconstruction of London created a vast number of new jobs and opportunities for Londoners. The moral of the citizens were also high due to the end of World War 2. There was also a lot rationing still present even after the war. The Olympics and The Royal Wedding also created a sense of unity and happiness for Londoners and the whole nation.