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Perception vs reality
Perception vs reality
School culture analysis
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For many situations there exists both a perceived version of the situation and an actual version of the situation. Usually, these two versions vary in some sense. Some people will be able to understand honestly happened, but the majority is unable to see the truth of a situation. They instead view an inaccurate representation of the definite situation. George Orwell’s Such, Such Were the Joys, Juliet Schor’s The Overspent American, and Loren Eiseley’s The Firmament of Time, show how the truth of a situation is hidden by a façade.
In George Orwell’s Such, Such Were the Joys, the school Crossgates is perceived as a prestigious private school, when in fact its true operations run as a deceiving and disappointing institution. Orwell explained first how the institution’s standard of living was poorer quality than lower-class living. The narrator who came from a poor family retold that he “took a social step upwards by attending [Crossgates], and yet the standard of comfort was in every way far lower than in my own home, or indeed, than it would have been in a prosperous working-class home” (Orwell 434). Crossgates was perceived to have been a lavished place to reside, where the school kids would have top-notch residing quarters. Instead, the Crossgates boarding situation lacked all hospitability and had a lower standard of living than what would constitute as lower class.
The ascetics of Crossgates were despicable, as well. The institute reeked of a pungent odor, as well as allowing the kids to live in a state of malnutrition. Orwell recalled that “it was not was not easy for me to think of my school-days without seeming to breathe in a whiff of something cold and evil-smelling” (Orwell 436), as well as “often repeated to us at Cr...
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...e two. Often times, the façades prove triumphant over the truth. However, if we want society to advance we must recognize that living a life of illusions will not get us there. We must break the façades to uncover the truth. In the words of the American academic leader Edward Levi, “The concept of reason itself appears as an artificial attempt to separate intellectual powers from the frustrations, emotions, and accidents which cause events; the concept of reason is viewed as facade to prevent change.”
Works Cited
Eiseley, Loren C. The Firmament of Time. Lincoln: University of Nebraska, 1999. Print.
Orwell, George, and Richard Halworth Rovere. The Orwell Reader: Fiction, Essays, and Reportage. San Diego: Harcourt, Brace, 1984. Print.
Schor, Juliet B. The Overspent American: Why We Want What We Don't Need. New York: HarperPerennial, 1999. Print.
“There are two ways to be fooled. One is to believe what isn't true; the other is to refuse to believe what is true” (Kierkegaard)- Misleading oneself by accepting things as true or valid when they are not is a common phenomenon of nearly every human being, especially when faced with life changing of threatening situations. Self-deception can therefore be considered an option to escape reality in order to prevent oneself from dealing with the weight of a situation. Basically, those strong influencing psychological forces keep us from acknowledging a threatening situation or truth. However, oftentimes people do not realize that they are deceiving themselves, for it is mostly the action of the subconscious mind to protect especially the psychological well- being. This psychological state is depicted and in Ambrose Bierce’s short story “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge”. He shows that people try to escape reality and seek refuge in self-deception when confronted with life-threatening situations, through characterization, alternate point of view, and the fluidity of time.
Despite the best efforts of Richard Rodriguez and those like him, the gap between society’s public and private lives is getting noticeably smaller. As minds are changed and integrity (which has been described as the difference between words and actions) becomes the norm, the public personas of the people will much more closely match their private personas. These same people will finally be free from the needless shackles of regret. Society’s essential ingredients, truth and honesty, will be readily available for all those that currently lack them. Some day soon, the truth will set them free.
...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.
Orwell was an accurate analyst of social conditions in the 1930s in communicating issues of unemployment and social perceptions existing after the detrimental international economic halt provoked by the Wall Street market Crash of 1929. Leading into The Great Depression, Orwell gives a first-hand account of the living and working conditions of the working-class in Britain, gaining insight into ideologies different from what he had been taught in his middle-class upbringing. In his account, the economic upheaval in Britain provides a basis for social issues to be addressed through a physical engagement with the working-class.
Deutscher, Isaac. “1984 – The Mysticism of Cruelty.” George Orwell: A Collection of Critical Essays. Ed. Raymond Williams. New York. Prentice Hall, Inc. 1974. 119
Falsehood and deception are traps that many people can find themselves in. Macbeth, a dynamic character in the play, encompasses this overarching idea brought to us by Shakespeare. He is easily influenced, in this case to do wrong, and this eventually leads to his downfall. Just like Macbeth was unable to, we too can’t hide our inmost self for long; the veil between your masks will tear and become revealed. In our lives, people tend to put on a false front in order to meet society’s intangible standards and to reach what society deems “successful”; in other words, people cover up their true identity and place a more “likeable” one to the forefront. We, as readers, can use discernment to distinguish deception and learn to beware of manipulation and deceit. We can learn that disguising our true selves will only lead to a road of consequences for everyone
Howe, Irving, and George Orwell. 1984 Revisited Totalitarianism in Our Century. New York: Harper & Row, 1983.
Orwell, George. “Politics and the English Language.” George Orwell: Critical Essays. London: Harvill Secker: 2009. 270-286. Print.
Williams, Raymond (ed). Deutscher, Isaac: `1984 - The mysticism of cruelty' George Orwell: A collection of critical essays Prentice Hall Int. Inc. (1974)
Works Cited for: Orwell, George. 1984. The 'Standard' of the ' London: Penguin Books, 2008. Print. The.
And he debates that the end of the Cold War is “an ideal context for a reassessment of Orwell 's political ideas” (Newsinger ix). Newsinger gives us a map of Orwell 's intellectual terrain, and deftly orientates the reader around the key Orwellian debates which run around the idea of war and revolution against inequality and dictatorship. He examines how Orwell 's politics developed in a changing world. Newsinger 's argument is that, although Orwell 's politics shifted throughout his lifetime, the one constant was his unwavering socialism. What detractors - and even some admirers - have missed is that he never ceased to write from within the left, attacking the betrayal of the revolution rather than the revolution
...society you must be strong and powerful, but too much power corrupts. Respect comes and goes. Receiving respect can come by force and by natural decisions. Respectful instances make people give thanks but can be voluntary or involuntary. George Orwell shows his views on Fear of powers in 20th century dystopian literature. As a British novelist, Orwell succeeded in being an informant. His past experiences struck knowledge in the many of his followers. The novel 1984 is representation of the terror profound dictatorship. The fictional society, Oceania, has many problematic issues in what the future can indulge. The famous British novelist struck many and still captivates value in many eyes today. George Orwell with the maiden name of Eric Arthur Blair, the man was simply brilliant; he fulfilled his hopes and wishes into making a difference and entirely changed lives.
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.
Based on the two essays, George Orwell is a vivid writer who uses a unique point of view and strong themes of pride and role playing to convey his messages. His writings are easy to pick out because of the strengths of these messages. Just like politicians in government, people with power turn corrupt to stay in power and keep their reputations. Anyone who takes on power must be prepared to live with the consequences of his actions. Orwell knows this challenge well and conveys this principle in his writing. After all, his narration is based on real life experiences and not fictional fantasies.
The beauty of Orwell’s writing lies within the two unwavering beliefs to which he most closely adhered. The first is his resolute dedication to the principles he supported. The second belief, his blatant refusal to bleach his opinions,