Orwell’s purpose in writing 1984 and the understanding of the writer’s thoughts through a thematic analysis of characterization and symbolism…
George Orwell’s 1984, depicts a time of totalitarian and communism rule. Where ever you are big brother is watching you. Winston, Orwell’s main character in the satirical novel is a man struggling with his true identity in this gloomy world. Orwell, constructing this novel after the ending of World War II writes a satirical story that is also a warning to what can become of the world. Throughout 1984, George Orwell uses satire in his writing through literary elements; theme, imagery, symbolism and irony.…
Imagine living in a world where politics are everything and all forms of individuality and personal identities are shattered. A world where everybody is stripped of their rights to talk, act, think, or even form their own opinions, simply because they do not agree with the government’s beliefs. These aspects are just a few of the examples of things dictators would have control over in a totalitarianism form of government. Aggressive leaders such as Hitler and Joseph Stalin are examples of such dictators. They used their power for terror and murder, and their motive is simply to maximize their own personal power. George Orwell had witnessed World War II, the fall of Hitler and Stalin’s dictatorships, and the fatal outcomes that have come from these governments. To warn future generations of the harsh effects of totalitarianism governments, he wrote the book Nineteen Eighty-Four. Published in 1946, Nineteen Eighty-Four describes life in a totalitarianism form of government, following the main character, Winston Smith, as he takes risks in discovering how he believes life should truly be. Literary critic Irving Howe states, “Were it possible, in the world of 1984, to show human character in anything resembling genuine freedom...it would not be the world of 1984” (62). In Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four, the government uses its power to suppress individuality among the people.…
In George Orwell’s 1984, the setting nation of Oceania is being governed by a totalitarian entity known as Big Brother. To exert his authority, Big Brother has placed censorship on nearly all aspects of society. Big Brother banned sexual activity, modifies all public news and programs, monitors the activities of the general public, and even goes so far as to censor an entire language by making people convert to a new speaking system. This is done as a precaution; a necessary measure taken to crush the rebellious nature of humanity by preventing them from being able to express their distaste for the party; even their thoughts are censored. Censorship has acted as Big Brother’s number one means of maintaining control throughout the course of Orwell’s work, and there exist countless examples of the effect it has throughout 1984.…
1984 begins on a cold April day, the totalitarian superpower during World War II Europe. We are introduced to Winston, which is depressed and oppressed, and starts a journal on his rebellious thoughts against the Party. On which, if it’s discovered he will be executed. Winston becomes curious about Julia, and is in paranoia of her being a member of the Thought Police, but that changed when she slips him a note reading “I love you”.…
‘Everything not forbidden is compulsory’ as wrote by the 20th-century writer, T.H. White in his Arthurian novel, The Once and Future King, displaying the authoritative rule of many totalitarian governments. Totalitarianism has been a central theme in many notable dystopian novels such as Margaret Atwood’s, The Handmaid’s Tale, Ray Bradbury’s, Fahrenheit 451, and John Wyndham’s, The Chrysalids. Perhaps the reason why totalitarianism is featured heavily throughout literature is perhaps because these novels are acting as a warning to mankind and - in a world rife with political change - we would do well to heed their advice. Possibly the most powerful warnings ever issued about the danger of totalitarian governments can be found in George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four where the protagonist – Winston – despises the forced oppression of the Party on the otherwise oblivious citizens of Oceania, yet, by the climax of the novel Winston is punished for his disloyalty to Big Brother and is obliged to become the epitome of ignorance which he so strongly detested at the beginning of the…
Through the use of Orwell’s and Lang’s intertextual connections of political reform and shared perspectives of dystopic societies it becomes apparent that the quote “The object of power is power” is strongly supported throughout the two texts. The meaning of this quote is also made abundantly clear within the texts as the dictatorship rulers within both texts acquire power simply to have power and authority, instead of for the good of the people. This features predominantly in both texts through their shared perspectives on dystopic settings made apparent by their use of symbolism. In Orwell’s ‘1984’ only 2% of the populace resides in the ‘Inner Party’ whilst the other 98% is suppressed within the lower classes in either the ‘Outer Party’ or the ‘Proles’. This totalitarian, power based society is made dystopic by the overwhelming power and control exhibited by the tyrant dictator ‘Big Brother’. This is emphasised through Orwell’s use of symbolism in O’Brien’s words as he says “If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face – for ever.” (pg 307) The symbolism between the boot and big brother, and the human face and society emphasises the suppressive nature of this totalitarianism rule, casting the society into dystopia. This also forms a contextual connection to Nazi…
In 1984 by George Orwell, novelist and essayist creates a dystopian novel that features his frightening vision in 1949 of the world we were soon to become. Orwell’s purpose in this passage is to convey the effect of Winston's stolen and mysterious past. Orwell uses foreshadows and symbols. He adopts a nostalgic and mysterious tone in order to hypothesize a horrific ending.…
Repression is a very important issue in George Orwell’s novel 1984. The citizens can not follow their natural impulses because of Big Brother and the party fearing that if they did they would be a danger to their power. Overall Orwell was trying to prove that a totalitarian society does not work because there will always be someone that does not fit into the system and that a government can never fully take away a person's natural…
George Orwell was a prominent political writer during the post-WWII era who openly opposed totalitarian governments. In the novel 1894, Orwell creates a dystopian society where the idea of individuality does not exist. The novel takes place in Oceania, a fictional country, where the party and its ruler, Big Brother, seek to have complete control over the population. The party implements many tactics in order to achieve this, such as surveillance, propaganda, and degradation of language to gain control of the population’s minds. Furthermore, the party destroys all aspects of independent thought and identity.…
Dear comrades of Oceania, as the leader of the thought police I am here to remind you of big brother’s greatness. Our country is unstoppable under the reign of Big Brother, our invincible fearless protector who stands like a rock against the malicious tumour Emanuel Goldstein brings to our beloved country. He is the filth who is responsible for the rebellion of several men, women, and children and will do anything to try to coerce you, the citizens of Oceania, into defying the love of Big brother. He will use his treacherous acts make you think all of which the party has done for Oceania is fabricated. That is not true! The party is all knowing. Anything that is true in the eyes of the party is the truth, the only truth! Minitrue, a ministry…
1. George Orwell’s Classic 1984 depicts a totalitarian government that aims to repress and control its people. It does this in many ways; the most notable are the destruction of the family structure, destruction of language and the most dangerous the rewriting of history. With these tools—and others not mentioned—The Party maintains control of its people and ensures its continued existence.…
1984, a novel by George Orwell, shows how terrifying a totalitarian government can be. In this passage, Winston doubts himself as a reliable source of reality, displaying the Party's ability to control others. He thinks, “If both the past and the external world exist only in the mind, and if the mind itself is controllable - what then?” Winston is able to identify the reason mind control is possible and is afraid that he himself has been controlled to think a certain way. Throughout the passage, the tone is perceived as desperate. Winston is desperate for someone to tell him that his reality is the truth. Orwell uses words like penetrated, battering, and frightening to describe the Party's tactics and show how hopeless escape is. The Party will always be there to make a person believe what they wish them to believe and there is no way to avoid them. Winston realizes this when he thinks, “In the end the Party would announce that two and two made five, and you would have to believe it.” Throughout the passage and the book, the reader senses how powerful the Party is and why it is so difficult to overthrow a totalitarian government. The Party controls everything, even people's thoughts of rebellion which is referred to as thoughtcrime. Oceania is and will forever remain in a totalitarian state.…
Government controlled by the people, for the people is the underlying idea and basis of a successful government. The ubiquitous need of the people to feel safe and protected in every aspect of their lives is what drives the power in society. When a government neglects this idea and takes control getting wrapped up in the power of their position in society’s hierarchy, chaos ensues and Big Brother has the ability to take control. Government control of society is an important subject due to the current state of the world today. From countries such as the United States to its polar opposite of North Korea government control of society plays an important factor in how people live their lives. The creation of new technology stirred George Orwell in nineteen forty-nine to write his epic novel of dystopian society and complete government control. Today, as new technologies such as iris scanners and street cameras are becoming more prevalent, the same issue arises as to how much control of society a government should have.…
In the year of 1949, George Orwell saw a possible future from his reflection of the totalitarian regimes of World War II and experience in Spain as well as Russia, especially with Stalin. This would culminate into the novel known as 1984, in which the Party and their leader – Big Brother – have complete control of the nation known as Oceania, where everyone is under constant surveillance by the Thought Police. The story is set in London which has decayed just as much as the people’s souls and minds, shown as a “negative utopia”.…