George Orwell's 1984

2195 Words5 Pages

Literary Analysis The author of the novel 1984, George Orwell, is a political critic. Therefore, he used very precise descriptions of situations and words to provide the reader a clear understanding of the entity he is criticizing. When Winston describes the destruction of past records to create new ones to Julia, he says: “Every record has been destroyed or falsified, every book has been rewritten, every picture has been repainted, every statue and street and building has been renamed, every date has been altered. And that process is continuing day by day and minute by minute. History has stopped. Nothing exists except an endless present in which the Party is always right.” (pg. 162). Here, instead of only saying “Every record has been destroyed or falsified”, Orwell describes in-depth which materials exactly were destroyed. This provides the reader a better picture of the situation in Oceania because instead of only thinking that paper records were rewritten, now the readers know that even street names were constantly rewritten, which makes the people’s lives more problematic due to the learning curve involved with new street names. This description of rewriting of records really shows to what extent the government is willing to go to achieve full control of the past and gives the reader a very scary feeling on a totalitarian system. Orwell also uses some unique word choice to express the feelings of his characters. When Winston describes Syme, he alleges that he is a “venomously orthodox” (pg. 52). Instead of using an adjective like ‘extremely’, Orwell takes it to another extent by applying the adjective ‘venomously’. Use of this adjective provides a darker feeling about Syme because the word venom is usually associated with ... ... middle of paper ... ...he USSR under Lenin and Stalin. He was dismayed by the total monitoring system, control over people’s thoughts, loss of happiness with loved ones, and loss of freedom happening in the USSR, which caused him to dread the future of other countries. Therefore, in addition to creating a replica of the USSR, he portrayed the perfect totalitarian government in his novel to emphasize many problems associated with it. To summarize, the author’s motives behind writing this novel helped me realize the astonishing resemblance of our society to the fictional society of the novel. It forces one to think of the risk associated with giving any single person or entity too much power or control over our lives. This led me to the conclusion that we shouldn’t engage in any activities that might put our privacy at risk if we want to avert a potential totalitarian system in the future.

George Orwell's 1984
892 Words | 2 Pages
Thinking back into history, many important events have occurred in history since the publication of 1984 by George Orwell in 1949. In no specific order there would be the Holocaust, The creation of the United Nations, NATO (North Atlantic treaty Organization), and even The Iron Curtain being established. After 1984 was published huge events also occurred in history. There was the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Korean war, the Vietnam War, the creation of the Berlin Wall, and the destruction of the Berlin wall, Joseph Stalin dies, and Khrushchev gains power....etc, etc. No matter when a book is published the events in history will always surround it, such as this book.
Read More
Futile Resistance and the Almighty Ingsoc Party
1303 Words | 3 Pages
It is said that 1984 is one of the greatest books ever written, a literary work that remains as transcendent as ever since its publishing date sixty-four years ago. It is a grimly realistic story crafted together by George Orwell, who takes upon particularly effective literary elements, such as the limited third-person point of view, to follow the life of Winston Smith, the average everyday, resentful civilian who attempts to fight against the seemingly omnipotent and ubiquitous powers of the Ingsoc Party. The Ingsoc Party, a totalitarian government that governs the fictional country of Oceania, holds a casket of brilliantly intelligent individuals, some of who are members of the terrifying Thought Police and the notorious Inner Party, who employ informal language against the uneducated masses of Oceania civilians. Symbolism is also a key literary element in the novel, for anything ranging from ubiquitous telescreens to the infamous Big Brother ultimately contribute to Winston’s realization of how unbreakable the power of the Ingsoc Party truly is. All throughout 1984, George Orwell exercises the elements of diction, point of view, and symbolism to bring out the novel’s theme of how futile resistance is against established totalitarian governments.
Read More
Fahrenheit 451 And 1984 - The Fear Of Utopia
1240 Words | 3 Pages
Several conflicting frames of mind have played defining roles in shaping humanity throughout the twentieth century. Philosophical optimism of a bright future held by humanity in general was taken advantage of by the promise of a better life through sacrifice of individuality to the state. In the books Brave New World, 1984, and Fahrenheit 451 clear opposition to these subtle entrapments was voiced in similarly convincing ways. They first all established, to varying degrees of balance, the atmosphere and seductiveness of the “utopia” and the fear of the consequences of acting in the non-prescribed way through character development. A single character is alienated because of their inability to conform – often in protest to the forced conditions of happiness and well being. Their struggle is to hide this fact from the state’s relentless supervision of (supposedly) everything. This leads them to eventually come into conflict with some hand of the state which serves as the authors voice presenting the reader with the ‘absurdity’ of the principles on which the society is based. The similar fear of the state’s abuse of power and technology at the expense of human individuality present within these novels speaks to the relevance of these novels within their historical context and their usefulness for awakening people to the horrendous consequences of their ignorance.
Read More
Fahrenheit 451 Analysis
857 Words | 2 Pages
To conclude, because the government was able to use censorship and promote ignorance, they were able control and manipulate their citizens. This novel also has resemblance to our world, this novel is a reminder of how powerful media can become if used the right way, society can be mislead into thinking false things. By promoting ignorance, the citizens started having very bland lives with no depth. People did not talk about ideas and feelings because they were obsessed and dependent on instant pleasure, they will start denying they own feelings because of this. Television and easy access to entertainment made books nonexistent.
Read More
1984 a Novel by George Orwell
720 Words | 2 Pages
The novel 1984, by George Orwell, made me paranoid. It made me suspicious of our government's power and intentions. I became aware of the potential manipulation which the government could impose upon us. I came to see that the people I believe to be wholly dedicated to the well-being of society, the people I rely so heavily on to provide protection and security have the power to betray us at any given time. I realised that in my naivety I had gravely overlooked the powerful grip government has over society, and what it can do with that power.
Read More
Fahrenheit 451: Religious Freedom due to the Extremity of Communism
1027 Words | 3 Pages
In his novel, Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury entices and allows readers to interpret the deeper meaning of the text, which lies far beyond the characters and the setting of the dystopia. Throughout the 50’s and 60’s, many people were deprived of religious freedom due to the extremity of communism. USSR, during the Cold War, required countries to be communists limiting them from their necessary freedoms. Within each of the multiple tragedies in which the story explores, there is a link to the peril and warfare that occurred while this book was written. Bradbury binds the issues with communist countries in the story, and relates it to his fictional text highlighting communism as ineffective system of government and an excessively controlling atmosphere. For example, in 1968, Czechoslovakia attempted to release from the strict Soviet control. A new Czechoslovakian leader, Alexander Dubcek, tried to restore a shattered freedom that has been taken away since the end of WW2. Czechoslovakian People freely expressed themselves and read banned literature, which resulted in the Soviet Union sending Warsaw troops, tanks, and with little retaliation from the Czechoslovakian citizens, transformed them into an uncompromising communist nation. Although this even happened after Fahrenheit 451 was created, it was foreshadowed by Bradbury due to the nature and mindset various countries withheld in the 1950’s. Hence, Bradbury conceals various components of the world’s flaws by means of allusions and metaphors, ultimately paralleling the world to a dystopian society. Bradbury highlights that the world’s major flaw is limiting and restricting people from their necessary basic freedoms.
Read More
George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four
1289 Words | 3 Pages
Having studied George Orwell's 'Nineteen Eighty-Four', I intend to discuss the type of Government envisaged by Orwell and to what extent his totalitarian Party, 'Ingsoc', satirises past regimes. I will also discuss Orwell's motive in writing such a piece and how his writing style helps it become clear.The main theme of Nineteen Eighty-Four concerns the restrictions imposed on individual freedom by a totalitarian regime. Orwell shows how such a system can impose its will on the people through manipulation of the press, the elimination of democracy, constant supervision (courtesy of the Telescreens) and more. Orwell also shows how the state has more subtle methods for imposing its authority, such as the manipulation of language and control of the media.
Read More
1984 By George Orwell
1084 Words | 3 Pages
Things to know: 1984 was a book written about life under a totalitarian regime from an average citizen’s point of view. This book envisions the theme of an all knowing government with strong control over its citizens. This book tells the story of Winston Smith, a worker of the Ministry of Truth, who is in charge of editing the truth to fit the government’s policies and claims. It shows the future of a government bleeding with brute force and propaganda. This story begins and ends in the continent of Oceania one of the three supercontinents of the world. Oceania has three classes the Inner Party, the Outer Party and the lowest of all, the Proles (proletarian). Oceania’s government is the Party or Ingsoc (English Socialism
Read More
George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four 1984
490 Words | 1 Pages
it has operatives all over keeping an eye out for cops or law enforcement, this
Read More
George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four 1984
416 Words | 1 Pages
1984 is about a parallel world 35 years into the future, in which all nations have been combined into three major countries: Oceania, Eastasia, and Eurasia. London still exists, but it is now a part of Oceania, governed by an entity called the Party, headed by a dominant figure called “Big Brother”. The Party's one goal is power; power over everybody and everything in Oceania. There is constant surveillance; devices called telescreens are put in people's homes to monitor thoughts, actions and broadcast Party propaganda continuously, with no way for the person to turn it off or change the channel. Free thinkers are not tolerated, and the "Thought Police" are sent to capture the culprits. The Party is developing an official language called “Newspeak,” whose goal is to simplify language by eliminating as many "extra" words as possible and reducing vocabulary to a small number of basic words, thus narrowing the range of thought.
Read More
George Orwell's 1984
1032 Words | 3 Pages
George Orwell's 1984 Winston reads Chapter 3, War is Peace, before he reads the first chapter. Chapter 3 explains the full meaning of the Party slogan, after which it is named. The author reviews how the three superstates of the world came into being: The United States absorbed the British Empire to form Oceania, Russia absorbed Europe to form Eurasia, and "after a decade of confused fighting" Eastasia emerged as the third superstate; it comprises China, Japan and some other adjacent areas. In various combinations, these superstates have been at war for twenty-five years (no concrete years are mentioned, but since the present is supposed to be 1984, the implication is that the war began at the end of the fifties and to make room for the "decade of confused fighting", Oceania and Eurasia must have come into being virtually immediately after Orwell published his novel in 1949). The never-ending war between the superstates is seemingly pointless.
Read More
Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
780 Words | 2 Pages
George Orwell’s haunting dystopian novel 1984 delves into the closely monitored lives of the citizens of Oceania as the Party tries to take control of society. In totalitarianism, propaganda and terrorism are ways of subjugation with a main goal: total obedience. He aimed to create a “what if” novel, what would happen if totalitarian regimes, such as the Nazis and Soviets, were to take over the world. If totalitarianism were to happen, the leader would be the brain of the whole system. Orwell emphasizes the theme of individualism versus collective identity through Winston, the protagonist, and his defiance to the Party and Big Brother, with a frightening tone, surreal imagery and a third person limited point of view.
Read More
George Orwell's 1984
730 Words | 2 Pages
The novel 1984 is a futuristic portrayal of the world in the year 1984. The main characters Winston and Julia fall in love with each other but are caught and purified of all their wrong doings. In the end they betray each other because of the pressure of the party. The party is a group that controls society in these ways: Manipulation of Reality, Invasion of Privacy, and Desensitization.
Read More
A Reflection on 1984, by George Orwell
1227 Words | 3 Pages
As the man’s lips grasped the edge of the cup and slurped the hot drink, the reflection of two eyes in the darkened coffee grew tremendously. The man immediately puckered his lips and placed the cup atop the wooden surface with dissatisfaction. His hairy arm was revealed from underneath his cotton shirt as he reached for the glassware containing packets of sweet crystals. He picked up the packets labeled Stalin, Hitler, and World War II, and dumped them into the caffeinated drink. Within seconds, a thick, redolent cream labeled, ‘Totalitarian Governments’ crashed into the coffee with force. A tarnished spoon spun around the outer edges of the cup, combining the crystals and cream together, and, unknowingly creating the themes for the book in which Big Brother would become a regime—this was the cup of George Orwell. Written in 1944, the themes in 1984 are reminiscent of the fascist and totalitarian governments formed in the early twentieth century.
Read More
Betrayal In George Orwell's 1984
956 Words | 2 Pages
Authors often use their works as a way to express their own opinions and ideologies. However, it is the skill of the author that determines whether these ideas are combined with the plot seamlessly, making a creative transition of ideas from the author’s mind, to the reader’s. There is no doubt that George Orwell is a masterful writer, and one of his most popular works, 1984, clearly expresses his negative views of the Totalitarian government. A common theme in the dystopian society in 1984 is betrayal: The Party is very intolerant towards any form of disloyalty, and anyone who plots against them or Big Brother will eventually either betray their own mind and accept Big Brother as their leader, or be betrayed and revealed to The Party by one of their so-called comrades. Overall, Orwell is using this constant theme of betrayal to show how alone and alienated the protagonist (Winston Smith) is in his quest against Totalitarianism, thus showing how flawed and hopeless the political system is.
Read More

Open Document

Wait a second!

George Orwell's 1984