“Throughout recorded time, and probably since the end of the Neolithic era, there have been three kinds of people in the world, the High, the Middle, and the Low.” (Orwell, 201) From the ancient and primitive tribes of our ancestors to the blue-collar and white-collar jobs within cities, the human race has always divided itself into clear groups of social classes. Sometimes, the distinction is placed to forcibly separate the elite from the workers, while others are formed through a separation of class interests. Over time, writers have distinguished a pattern common within most societies. Most societies, from the utmost primal to the most advanced, have congregated themselves into three classes of people. These societal classes are exemplified …show more content…
According to Anthony Giddens, a British sociologist, and David Held, a Professor of Politics and International Relations at Durham University, in their book titled Classes, Power, and Conflict: Classical and Contemporary Debates, “…a social class is defined by its place in the ensemble of social practices…which includes political and ideological relations.” (“Classes, Power, and Conflict”) The distinction of the classes presented in 1984 included economic means, culture, and level of knowledge. Proles, the lowest class, perform the majority of the physical labors required in Oceania. They have the most freedom, but lack the knowledge and ambition to overthrow the government. Big Brother gives them items such as alcohol, porn, and gambling with the name of ‘Prolefeed’ (Orwell, George). Proles are the majority of the population in Oceania and are the poorest. But, they have a culture which includes singing. Outer Party members, the bourgeoisie, perform most government jobs that require an education. Although, Outer Party members are not allowed to make the laws, they only implement them into Oceania’s society. Therefore, they are more educated than the Proles. While they are more educated, they are monitored via telescreens every second of their life. Big Brother, also, encourages them to spy on each other. Rations are severely low for the Outer Party members almost to the point of …show more content…
In the human race’s development years, the social classes were separated by tribes and, within the tribes, by the physical mass of a person. Now, society is separated by the education level of people in the workforce. These distinctions are sometimes placed forcibly upon society by some need of the people living at that time, while other differences form through the separation of class interests. Over time, people have distinguished a pattern common within most societies. Most societies, from the most primitive to the most progressive, have congregated themselves into three classes of people. These societal classes are exemplified in many pieces of literature. One novel in particular demonstrates the extreme separation of the classes: 1984. In George Orwell’s 1984, three hierarchical parties are created and separated simulating the Marxist ideal of the three classes: proletariat, bourgeoisie, and the aristocracy; 1984’s Inner Party, a version of an aristocracy, runs society and yields a higher income and lifestyle portraying the Marxist theme of the superiority of the aristocracy over the other classes while, also, emphasizing the ‘perfect’
Social and economic class is something we as Americans like to push into the back of our minds. Sometimes recognizing our class either socially or economically can almost be crippling. When individuals recognize class, limitations and judgment confront us. Instead, we should know it is important to recognize our class, but not let it define and limit us. In the essay, “Class in America”, Gregory Mantsios, founder and director of the Joseph S. Murphy Institute for Worker Education at the School of Professional Studies, brings to light the fact that Americans don’t talk about class and class mobility. He describes the classes in extremes, mainly focusing on the very sharp divide between the extremely wealthy and extremely poor. In contrast, George
Class systems played a more important role in 1984, than they did in Harrison Bergeron. In 1984, there were three classes. The highest class, the Inner Party, controlled everything. They controlled what the people saw, heard, and read, and even what they
Different societies have risen and fallen in the common search for the “perfect” civilization. In the books 1984 by George Orwell and Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, both authors portray a dystopian society with some troubling similarities. Orwell and Huxley each stress the use of power to control the masses. This influence is always situated with a small group of individuals that uses it to control every aspect of the people’s lives. Using such a method brings to mind a severe totalitarianism of rigid control that terminates individuality. Each society makes use of a caste system. Each caste has certain tasks and rules it must follow. Any sign of individuality is immediately disciplined and the societies are set up so the people will never question the morals or humaneness of their situation. Such concepts have been stopped from common thought so the people in power remain in power. Religion has been eliminated and logical thought have been destroyed. The days are continuously filled with worthless everyday jobs and a wish to be alone is considered a dangerous. In both books the...
(p1) Broadly speaking, class is about economic and social inequality… (p6) We have a tendency for groups of advanced people to congregate together, and groups of disadvantaged people to congregate so that inequalities persist from generation to generation.
George Orwell’s 1984 novel goes through the life of Winston who is trying to resist the power of the totalitarian government of Oceania known as The Party. Although the proles do seem to be marginalized by the inner party, they aren’t aware of it. They are free and have the sense of individualism to live their life. On the other hand, the outer party is aware of the Party’s manipulative powers, and they are capable of rebellion. Because of this, they are put under severe monitoring. Through showing different ways the Party exercises their supreme power, Orwell marginalizes the outer party.
In 1984 Big Brother keeps the people of Oceania in a perpetual state of war and poverty and consequently oppression so they have neither the will nor ability to rebel. This perpetual state is initially framed in Oceania’s architecture of repression: “Vistas of rotting nineteenth-century houses” juxtaposed with “The Ministry of Truth…towered vast and white above the grimy landscape”. The poverty and oppression of the citizens of Oceania is crucial in order for the oligarchy to perpetuate their power as “an all-round increase in wealth threatened the destruction of a hierarchical society” as those “who are normally stupefied by poverty would become literate and would learn to think for themselves”.
...en into organizations that brainwashes and encourages them to spy on their parents and report any instance of disloyalty to the Party much like Orwell’s experience in the Civil war. The fact that a portion of the populations suffered poverty while others bathed in wealth reinforces the strong hierarchal system imposed. Orwell’s attitudes surrounding sociocultural context are prominent throughout 1984 and strengthens the invited reading that power is problematic.
Humans always have had a tendency to allow the poor and miserable to suffer, even while the wealthy continue to fatten and flourish in needed yet often unshared resources. The social order has shaped a distinctive hierarchy composed of the High, the Middle, and the Low in an exceedingly flawed and callous structure. This system has been implemented in our history over a variety of ages and civilizations. More importantly, the structure has not been altered to work for any system except for theoretical Communism and Socialism. The novel 1984 was a shock to the masses when it was released, but by showing the class structure and political satire Orwell was able to present not only the danger of Communism gone awry but its repercussions on society.
Throughout the evolution of man, power and control have been idealized. When power is attained by manipulative dictators, citizens may initially view them as a means to satisfy their need for structure and direction. An author’s grim prophecy of mankind in a totalitarian society is depicted in George Orwell’s, 1984. Citizens in Oceania are governed by the Party Big Brother, which succeeds in controlling their actions and minds. The concept of oppression is taken to a new level, until there is no sense of humanity within the society.
Torkildsen (2011) stated that the nature and definition of 'social class' is generally regarded as being problematic, as class not only relates to income or occupation but also upbringing and family background. "social class is often regarded as grouping on the basis of occupation, which is 'socioeconomic class' rather than social class" (Torkildsen, 2011 p.49). divine
This is a remarkable book of objective description as well as of rhetoric. While he does have a bias, he is still able to recognize points on either side. Orwell had the rare courage to overcome centuries of class prejudice to live among and respect the people his peers could casually dismiss. He shows us the role that the middle class play in creating these deplorable conditions.
Many of the lower class band together to survive in an inhospitable world. While in poverty, Orwell experiences first hand the b...
In the 1920’s, people lived life however they felt like. Coming off a colossal war, many of the citizens believed they had this right. Examining humanity during this time period shows that groups of people fell into a hierarchy. By living life recklessly the high society class hurts others along the way. The people in the Valley of Ashes have lost all optimism. And the middle class which is portrayed as straightforward hard workers is left with self pride. After further social examination, the ranking of humans is purely based upon their wealth and status; breaking down into three classes of people. A high class made of money; a lower class in desperation … And a middle class is that the only societal group to have balance between work and play.
The proles, working class of Oceania, exist within the Party society where history is rewritten and `proletariat literature, music, drama and entertainment,' is produced by the Ministry of Truth. Unlike Winston, the proles are unaware of this manipulation and therefore pose little threat to the Party's rule. Within the societal sphere created by the Party, the proles are free from Party obligation and regulations (i.e. positive freedom) which allows them to experience liberties such as sexuality, family and leisure freely, `left to themselves, like cattle turned loose upon the plains of Argentina, they [proles] had reverted to a style of life that appeared to be natural to them.'
Kerbo, H. R. (2012). Social stratification and inequality: class conflict in historical, comparative, and global perspective (8th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.