1984 literary theories

George Orwell’s 1984 was an incredible book that displayed a multitude of literary theories that would require looking at the novel from different perspectives. The novel contains subtext that is influenced by the author’s personal experience, and the time in which he resided. Winston Smith represents Archetypal literary theory Orwell was raised in England, even thought he was born in India, so smith was a common name, thus implying that Winston Smith was just a common man. The common man has always been part of history, without them to control, and use, then a government would just be a name with no power, so they shall continue to be part of the present and future. There are layers of literary theories that lie within 1984, but one of particular interest is the historical aspect. To understand the historical aspect of 1984, one must research the time and place the book was written and the life the author has experienced. George Orwell’s real name was Eric Arthur Blair, during his time he was influenced by witnessing totalitarianism. Many aspects of Oceania’s society were based on the Stalin-era Soviet Union. For example, the “Two Minute Hate” was based on Stalinism’s condemnation of their enemies. Stalin’s condemnation of his enemies would range from propaganda to parades’. Orwell did not invent the idea behind the term "two minutes hate"; it was already in use in during World War I. British writers’ would often satire the German campaign of hatred against the English, by illustrations, a Prussian family sitting around the kitchen table having its "morning hate". Comparatively, during the “Two Minute Hate,” the Party would denounce Emmanuel Goldstein, the figurehead of capitalism and the Party's number one enemy, and workers would scream and throw things at the screen, praising Big Brother and Oceania. Orwell also embedded a small amount of his own personality and personal experiences of various societies in the way Smith views things and moments that happen around him. Winston’s hatred for working for the party is completely implied to be based on Orwell’s experience working as a British Imperial Policeman in Burma. He hated working in Burma, since they required him to enforce the strict the laws of the political authority that he despised, so he infused fragments of that experience into Winston Smith; thus, Winston Smith’s doubts about working in the Ministry of Truth. Orwell was possibly attempting to model Winston Smith after himself like many authors tend to do so, by turning Winston Smith into his avatar and implanting his own feelings and views into Winston Smith. Orwell’s world experiences are hidden throughout the book to an average reader unless they truly dive into the content that’s submerged below the surface. For example, Alice in Wonderland, it may seem like a cute children’s story since they can’t relate to the dark meaning behind the words, but to an experienced professional reviewer it can be looked at closely and compared to parts of the real world, Alice isn’t in a magical land that can be entered through a rabbit hole, she’s hopped up on drugs and is having excessive hallucinations. The Proles are modeled from his time purposely living among the poor of London. After traveling to Spain in 1936, he witnessed with a front row seat the atrocities that were committed by fascist political regimes, and after witnessing Hitler’s rise to power as a dictator and Joseph Stalin in the Soviet Union only fueled Orwell’s detest for totalitarianism and political authority.
The Thought Police used methods that were used by totalitarian states to control people and remove any that would dare oppose the party. A way to avoid the Thought Police was to use crimestop, so a person avoids committing a thoughtcrime. It’s basically protective stupidity, accepting whatever the party says as the truth and ignoring any thoughts that would say otherwise, even thought they would probably be right.
It could be debated that Orwell wrote 1984 as a warning, that the dangers of a complete politically ruled society in an advanced age of technology would create a dystopian lifestyle for the people of that society. 1984 was written in 1949, before the Cold War truly escalated, the views of the communist and democratic countries were ambiguous to the people that have never experienced the other for themselves, so they couldn’t truly understand if their society was the best way to live. However, Orwell experienced communism for himself, and was simply revolted by the oppressions he’s witness, and how technology might be able to monitor and control the citizens making their lives even more constraining than before, thus he made the telescreens.
1984 could be said to be a book that is the manifestation of all of George Orwell’s fears of a totalitarian/communist society, and how it’s such a possible reality that it could be seen around the corner, it’s this type of world that Orwell doesn’t wish to live in. Winston Smith’s life is an example of how it’s impracticable, for a single average man alone to oppose the brutal might of a government. 1984 couldn’t have just been a warning, but inspiration for citizens to revolt against the government if 1984 seems like of becomes a reality for them. A government is powerless without its people, and if the people unite, then overthrowing the government is no an unobtainable dream, but a possible reality. Not everything can be done alone; sometimes a person just needs a little help.