Orwell wrote 1984 during the time of World War II, where atomic bombs dropped with a bang, dictators dominated vulnerable countries, and technology grew industriously. World War II brought about a scarce, hectic economy that consisted of “the negative aspects of the dystopian world” (Wright) as a European dictator captured weaker societies, affecting American citizens to fear the worst, inspiring Orwell to venture out of the desired comfort zone and into the dreaded possibility of what America could be like after war: a “nightmare” (Deery). “While World War II clearly had a major impact on the United States prewar trends, values, and patterns of life and politics, it also continued to shape the postwar nation” (Paul). The United State’s propaganda to join the military emphasized “Orwell’s mistrust of empty political slogans” (Protherough) to imagine the influence and power the posters really have with slogans like, “War is Peace, Freedom is Slavery, Ignorance is Strength” (Orwell 17) to direct the reader’s mind of obeying the poster.
The European dictator was Adolf Hitler, the man who “had become the principal European power” (Adolf Hitler Biography) in Germany, the man solely responsible for the start of World War II. “All non-Nazi parties, organizations, and labor unions ceased to exist” (Adolf Hitler Biography) when Hitler took charge. Hitler had not only dominated Germany, but he invaded more than seven countries surrounding Germany. Hitler’s type of character intimidated Orwell in the sense that inspired him to write about a totalitarian society, much similar to the eastern hemisphere’s experience.
Similar to Hitler in the mindset of dictators, Joseph Stalin “was the supreme ruler of the Soviet Union and the leader of w...
... middle of paper ...
...of Nineteen Eighty-Four.” Essays in Criticism 47.2 (1997): 143+. Literature Resource Center. Web. 31 Jan. 2011.
Place, Troy. “Orwell’s ‘1984.’ (George Orwell)(Critical Essay).” The Explicator 61.2 (2003): 108+. Literature Resource Center. Web. 31 Jan. 2011.
Protherough, Robert. “George Orwell: Overview.” Twentieth-Century Young Adult Writers. Ed. Laura Standley Berger. Detroit: St. James Press, 1994. Twentieth-Century Writers Series. Literature Resource Center. Web. 31 Jan. 2011.
Sterling, Bruce. “Science fiction.” Encyclopedia Britannica. Encyclopedia Britannica Online School Edition. Encyclopedia Britannica, 2011. Web. 24 Jan. 2011.
“Winston Churchill.” Contemporary Heroes and Heroines. Vol. 2. Gale, 1992. Gale Biography In Context. Web. 16 Feb. 2011.
Wright, Juntus. “Dystopias: Definition and Characteristics.” Read Write Think. NCTE, 2011. Web. 25 Jan. 2011.
Since the rise of totalitarianism in Europe and Asia was the cause of World War II (Perry, 2002), naturally many people such as Orwell feared and despised it. In this way, 1984 was most likely written solely because World War II occurred, and was effective and remains effective because of the memory of the horrors of World War II.
Many people argue whether George Orwell’s 1984 was written purely to criticize, or if it portrays society today. I believe that George Orwell wrote 1984 in order to express his feelings about how society is governed. There are many examples of irony that support my position. 1984 is a political satire, the Orwell used to criticize man’s use of power. The slogan of Oceania is War is Peace, Freedom is Slavery, and Ignorance is Strength. These three phrases reflect some of the disturbing factors of our society today, which is why I believe that 1984 resembles Orwell’s dystopian creation.
George Orwell is thought to be one of this time 's greatest political authors that ever has become very well known.While growing up, Orwell’s family was lower-upper class, using this terminology to make a comparison of his family’s working class income and social aspirations. He lived his later years in Jura, a small and isolated island off the coast of Scotland and started working on his book (Johnson 1545-46). His novel, 1984, is used to impact the governmental judgement with enhancing it from the inside out. This literary work is fierce, yet at the same time fear to the control of one’s mind. Some critics have thought of this work as a political horror comic (Deutscher 120). 1984 is based in a society where
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.
Through out the course of history there have been several events that have been a pivotal point which has molded the behaviors and thoughts of this century. A lot of notable activist and authors wrote stories and speeches about how they believed that this day and time would be like. A lot of these views were very accurate surprisingly. In the novel 1984 author George Orwell gives his vision on how he believed that the countries would be like if they kept going the way they were.This report will give you a brief rundown of the characters, theories and principles of this novel along with some of my personal insight of the novel.
“WAR IS PEACE, FREEDOM IS SLAVERY, IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH.” Part 1,Chapter 1,pg. 6. These three principles were repeatedly emphasized throughout the book and helped lay the foundation of the dystopian society George Orwell imagined in his novel 1984. Fear, manipulation, and control were all encompassed throughout this dystopian society set in the distant future. The freedom to express ones thoughts was no longer acceptable and would not be tolerated under any circumstances. Humankind was rapidly transforming into a corrupt and evil state of mind.
Woodcock, George. "Nineteen Eighty-Four." Reference Guide to English Literature Vol III. Chicago: St. James, 1991. 61-63.
Upon my reading of the novel 1984, I was fascinated by George Orwell’s vision of the future. Orwell describes a world so extreme that a question comes to mind, asking what would encourage him to write such a novel. 1984 took place in the future, but it seemed like it was happening in the past. George Orwell was born in 1903 and died in 1950; he has seen the horrific tides of World War ² and Ï. As I got deeper into this novel I began to see similar events of world history built into 1984.
George Orwell’s intent in the novel 1984 is to warn society about the results of a controlling and manipulative government by employing mood, conflict, and imagery.
After reading the first few pages of George Orwell’s 1984, it is easy to see the parallels of Hitler’s Germany littered throughout the story. Having been born in 1903, Orwell experienced both World Wars first hand, and he had strong feelings about what he experienced and where he thought the world was going moving forward. With writing being one of his many talents, he used it as a platform to mass produce a warning for the world. He used literary devices such as satire to project his feelings in an exaggerated, but easy to perceive way. Describing the ways Big Brother used fear to rule over Oceania, using tactics nearly identical to that of Adolf Hitler. He made characters with sadistic inklings, but relatable enough to show
The novel 1984 is one that has sparked much controversy over the last several decades. It harbors many key ideas that lie at the root of all skepticism towards the book. With the ideas of metaphysics, change, and control in mind, George Orwell wrote 1984 to provide an interesting story but also to express his ideas of where he believed the world was heading. His ideas were considered widely ahead of their time, and he was really able to drive home how bleak and colorless our society really is. Orwell wrote this piece as a futuristic, dystopian book which contained underlying tones of despair and deceit.
The year 1984 has long passed, but the novel still illustrates a possibility for the future of society. It still remains a powerful influence in all sorts of literature, music, and social theory. George Orwell envisioned a nightmarish utopia that could have very easily become a possibility in 1949 ? the year the novel was written. He managed to create such a realistic view of humanity?s future, that this story has been deemed timeless. There will always be the threat of totalitarianism, and at some moments civilization is only a step away from it. Orwell hated the thought of it, and 1984 shows that. From his work, readers who live in prevailing democratic society have a chance to consider about these very different political systems, democracy and totalitarianism.
In the novel Nineteen Eighty-Four, George Orwell uses a product of his time and use narrative conventions to communicate the universal truth that totalitarian dictatorship should not be tolerated and nations shall do whatever it takes to stop a totalitarian dictator even if it means war to restore peace. The theme of his novel and universal truth goes further through the use of language, war, dictatorship, manipulation, oppression, and rebellion. Based on 1984, Orwell explains in his view what the world would be like after World War Two (WWII) based on the events that took place and explains his universal truth that nations shall do whatever it takes to stop a totalitarian dictator even if it means war to restore peace.
”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).
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.