Analysis Of George Orwell's Homage To Catalonia And Animal Farm

1974 Words4 Pages

This paper is a discussion of George Orwell 's Homage to Catalonia (1938) and Animal Farm (1945) showing the factual and fictional obsession with revolution in both books. The two books are based on Orwell 's personal and political background. Orwell was so obsessed with the idea of revolution that he created the details of this revolution in his mind in two books: the first is factual out of his experience and the second is fictional in a symbolic narration. Orwell’s obsession with revolution consists in the images, ideas, or words that preoccupy his mind so forcefully that they become real even when they are not. These images and ideas turn to be patterns of mind.
Both Homage to Catalonia and Animal Farm delineate Orwell’s obsession with …show more content…

And he debates that the end of the Cold War is “an ideal context for a reassessment of Orwell 's political ideas” (Newsinger ix). Newsinger gives us a map of Orwell 's intellectual terrain, and deftly orientates the reader around the key Orwellian debates which run around the idea of war and revolution against inequality and dictatorship. He examines how Orwell 's politics developed in a changing world. Newsinger 's argument is that, although Orwell 's politics shifted throughout his lifetime, the one constant was his unwavering socialism. What detractors - and even some admirers - have missed is that he never ceased to write from within the left, attacking the betrayal of the revolution rather than the revolution …show more content…

The two books have also a documentary value, as a result of the confrontation between the reported historical events and the texts, between fact and fiction. The documentary value of Homage to Catalonia seems to be obvious because of the literary means of expression, since it is written almost as a travel book with both the advantages of authenticity and sincerity and the disadvantage of subjectivity. However, it should also be noted that Orwell 's evidence is limited only to Barcelona and to the Aragon front. It presents only the perspective of the POUM a small left-wing revolutionary faction, during five months of war which lasted thirty-two

Show More
Related

  • Rhetorical Analysis Of George Orwell's Animal Farm

    457 Words  | 1 Pages

    At the beginning of George Orwell’s Animal Farm, an aging pig named Old Major gives a speech to the rest of the animals. In his speech, he explains to them how awful their lives are in order to shows them that the Rebellion against Man, their one true enemy, will come soon. Old Major appeals to the animal’s emotions by using rhetorical questions and fear to effectively persuade the animals of the coming Rebellion.

    Read More

  • The Ambiguity of Truth in How to Tell a True War Story by Tim O’Brien

    801 Words  | 2 Pages

    Orwell, George. “Politics and the English Language.” George Orwell: Critical Essays. London: Harvill Secker: 2009. 270-286. Print.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of George Orwell's Incompetent Language

    826 Words  | 2 Pages

    The time frame of this article is in 1946, a year after World War 2 has ended. Orwell takes the current situation into consideration when he appeals to his audience. Therefore, he addresses areas of politics in combination with recent events to try to persuade his audience while inducing a connection between the reader and his article. Orwell writes, “Things like the continuance of British rule in India, the Russian purges and deportations, the dropping of the atom bombs on Japan, can indeed be defended, but only by arguments which are too brutal for most people to face…”. The reader makes a connection with the article because they can remember the previous experience of the topics in their time frame. However, Orwell uses pathos to finally convince the audience of his argument when he writes “Defenseless villages are bombarded from the air, the inhabitants driven out into the countryside, the cattle machine-gunned, and the huts set on fire with incendiary bullets”. This technique is highly effective because readers automatically feel a sense of pity and sadness which in turn persuades the audience of the argument and convinces them to agree with Orwell’s

    Read More

  • Brave New World

    937 Words  | 2 Pages

    Howe, Tom. "George Orwell." British Writers Volume VII. Ed. Ian Scott-Kilvert. New York: Scribner, 1984. 273-287.

    Read More

  • Values And Values In 1984

    765 Words  | 2 Pages

    ”The values, beliefs and attitudes of George Orwell’s can easily be seen in the novel 1984, as no text is neutral. These values attitudes and beliefs have shaped the novel to reflect socio-cultural context and by the use of certain discourses, ideologies, and historical influences support the idea that) “The explanation of a work is always sought in the man or women who produced it “Bathes Roland (1977).

    Read More

  • Geroge Orwell

    1876 Words  | 4 Pages

    Orwell later moved on to Spain where he joined the Partido Obrero de Unificación Marxista (POUM), or the Workers’ Party for Marxist Unity, and began his belief in socialism. When he arrived in Barcelona, he noticed an almost complete elimination of the social class structure: “Waiters and shop-walkers looked you in the face and treated you as an equal. Everyone called everyone else Comrade and Thou…. In outward appearance, the wealthy had practically ceased to exist…. In some ways I did not...

    Read More

  • Analysis of George Orwell's 1984

    4217 Words  | 9 Pages

    War Is Peace. Freedom Is Slavery. Ignorance Is Strength. The party slogan of Ingsoc illustrates the sense of contradiction which characterizes the novel 1984. That the book was taken by many as a condemnation of socialism would have troubled Orwell greatly, had he lived to see the aftermath of his work. 1984 was a warning against totalitarianism and state sponsored brutality driven by excess technology. Socialist idealism in 1984 had turned to a total loss of individual freedom in exchange for false security and obedience to a totalitarian government, a dysutopia. 1984 was more than a simple warning to the socialists of Orwell's time. There are many complex philosophical issues buried deep within Orwell's satire and fiction. It was an essay on personal freedom, identity, language and thought, technology, religion, and the social class system. 1984 is more than a work of fiction. It is a prediction and a warning, clothed in the guise of science fiction, not so much about what could happen as it is about the implications of what has already happened. Rather than simply discoursing his views on the social and political issues of his day, Orwell chose to narrate them into a work of fiction which is timeless in interpretation. This is the reason that 1984 remains a relevant work of social and philosophical commentary more than fifty years after its completion.

    Read More

  • George Orwell's Argument Analysis

    734 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the novel 1984, George Orwell elaborates on the idea of an autocratic government. This novel describes Orwell’s views on the dark, twisted form of government that he believes will develop in future years. The culture he created for this story was the most horrifying, troubling place a person could reside. The goals of the Party consisted of keeping the citizens squared away and oblivious to the unethical actions taking place around them. This unrealistic society gave Orwell the opportunity to create a vision of what a future communist nation might resemble. The purpose of this work is believed to be informative to citizens of how the government impacts our way of thinking, living, and believing. Fear from the citizens is used as manipulation by the government; this means the government shapes the citizens that will not conform to their society. Throughout this writing, the author remains in a dark, cold mood; thus, creating the feeling of negativity and opposition to the government. Ethical appeal is revealed in this

    Read More

  • George Orwell's Animal Farm

    584 Words  | 2 Pages

    There is a substantial amount of conflicts that occur in this satirical story. Often these conflicts are between the pigs and the rest of the animals. Only a minute portion of the animals didn’t really have some sort of conflict with Snowball, Napoleon, Squealer, or the rest of the dominating pigs. Overall, Snowball was a better leader than Napoleon, yet the animals reacted differently to Napoleon than to Snowball.

    Read More

  • Animal Farm And The Russian Revolution

    863 Words  | 2 Pages

    George Orwell’s novel Animal Farm is a great example of allegory and political satire. The novel was written to criticize totalitarian regimes and particularly Stalin's corrupt rule in Russia. In the first chapter Orwell gives his reasons for writing the story and what he hopes it will accomplish. It also gives reference to the farm and how it relates to the conflicts of the Russian revolution. The characters, settings, and the plot were written to describe the social upheaval during that period of time and also to prove that the good nature of true communism can be turned into something atrocious by an idea as simple as greed. This essay will cover the comparisons between Animal Farm and the Russian Revolution. It will also explain why this novel is a satire and allegory to the Revolution that took place in Russia so long ago.

    Read More

  • A Reflection on 1984, by George Orwell

    1227 Words  | 3 Pages

    George Orwell is considered to be one of the most creative and expressive political writers of the twentieth century, particularly for his views opposing communism and totalitarian regimes famously expressed in his novel, 1984. Orwell perceived communism as, “A new, dangerous form of totalitarianism, a powerful tool for controlling the masses.” Orwell’s hatred towards communism began with communist leader, Joseph Stalin whom he referred to as, “a bloody-minded master” (Rossi 1). Orwell’s views solidified during his participation in the Spanish Civil War; throughout his experience, Orwell was subject to communist propaganda, which led to his distrust of authority and established hatred of fascist and communist governments (Rossi 2). Orwell’s views, along with his participation ...

    Read More

  • The Image Of Symbolism In George Orwell's 1984

    691 Words  | 2 Pages

    In conclusion, through Orwell’s uses of literary devices to imagine the abuse of power and living under a totalitarian government. Also to understand the theme of an indestructible totalitarian government throughout the novel. Orwell creates a different and a new world where there is limitation of freedom, expressing feelings towards others, and human qualities.

    Read More

  • Pride and Power in George Orwell's "Shooting an Elephant" and "A Hanging"

    986 Words  | 2 Pages

    Based on the two essays, George Orwell is a vivid writer who uses a unique point of view and strong themes of pride and role playing to convey his messages. His writings are easy to pick out because of the strengths of these messages. Just like politicians in government, people with power turn corrupt to stay in power and keep their reputations. Anyone who takes on power must be prepared to live with the consequences of his actions. Orwell knows this challenge well and conveys this principle in his writing. After all, his narration is based on real life experiences and not fictional fantasies.

    Read More

  • 1984 By George Orwell Essay

    428 Words  | 1 Pages

    Perhaps, Orwell’s novel is not intriguing due to its political pertinence, but is instead rendered captivating by its nagging and harrowing sense of

    Read More

  • Stalin Animal Farm

    687 Words  | 2 Pages

    The beauty of Orwell’s writing lies within the two unwavering beliefs to which he most closely adhered. The first is his resolute dedication to the principles he supported. The second belief, his blatant refusal to bleach his opinions,

    Read More

More about Analysis Of George Orwell's Homage To Catalonia And Animal Farm

Open Document