1984 By George Orwell George Orwell l l
1984 By George Orwell
George Orwell l l Pen name: Eric Arthur Blair Born in India, June 25, 1903 Composed satires attacking totalitarianism Known for clear style, shrewd political awareness and stringent satires
Author’s Purpose l l To warn society against the dangers of total govrenment control To cause an awareness of the need for language and history to retain humanity
Big Questions l l How does the devolution of free thought lead to the evolution of an overly controlling ruling body? How does the loss of language and history serve to weaken humanity?
Background Info. l l l Orwell joined Imperial Police in Burma—caused awareness of British imperialism investigated lives of the urban poor-developed distrust of capitalist society Developed dislike of totalitarian form of government
Totalitarianism l l Ruling group has complete control over every aspect of life both personal and public 1984 speaks directly to this type of rule: Big Brother=Stalin?
Important Info. l l l l Genre: dystopian fiction- opposite of a utopian Published: 1949 Setting: London, England (Airstrip One); bleak and oppressive, no set date; abject poverty; a ruling elite of 2%; Oceania Tone: frustrated, pessimistic, dark, foreboding Themes: the dangers of totalitarianism, the importance of language to humanity Symbols: Big Brother, the glass paperweight, the telescreens, chocolate, Goldstein’s Book, POV: third person omniscient
Characters l Winston Smith – – protagonist Lives in memories, dreams, and a longing for the past Falls in love with Julia which causes his demise; eventually betrays her Humanity torn from him in “Room 101”
Char. Cont. l Julia – – – 26 years old and a whimsical spirit Contrast/Foil to Winston: alive, lives in the present, young, and has a lust for life Seemingly “devoted” to the Party; cover so she can “live” Betrays Winston Becomes a shell of her once lively self
Char. Cont. l O’Brien – – Member of the Inner Party Befriends Winston to ultimately betray him Winston feels a bond to him: fatherly, loves him like Big Brother Gives Winston knowledge of real history; validates him and then tears him down l – Goldstein’s book: “The Theory and Practice of Oligarchical Collectivism” Causes both Winston and Julia’s demise
Cont. l Big Brother – – Omnipresent Does not actually existfounder of the Party Revered and honored like a god Irony is that the words he speaks are created by those like Winston as they rewrite history
Minor Characters l l l Katharine- Winston’s wife; no love Mr. Charrington- owns store and rents Winston the room above Syme-philologist working on Newspeak dictionary; Winton’s friend Ampleforth- poet working on Oldspeak poems; sent to Room 101 for leaving in “God” Tom Parsons- Winston’s co-worker and neighbor, given up to Thought Police by his child
The World… l l l Setting is after a nuclear war in the future Big Brother assumes control over all No free or independent thought allowed Democracy replaced by tyranny History is lost—Memory holes, Winston’s job, Thought Police No love or sincere affection
l Winston’s Process Towards Self. Awareness Learning—Part One – – – – Begins diary: “Down With Big Brother” : signifies the importance of the written word (39 -40, 43 -44, 51 -52, 57) Witnesses “dark haired girl”: no name yet; is not aware Works for Records Dep’t of the Ministry of Truth Meets and is drawn to O’Brien (11) Explains the world around him but does not react to it: Winston is a “lonely ghost” (27) First sees the “room” above the shop –it later becomes his outlet and ironically, his demise: concept of being “vaporized” (61) Describes memories of wife and home life- devoid of passion or love, merely “functional” (64 -67) Big Brother and Thought Police are reality- section ends with the Party’s motto (69, 70 -72, 77 -78)
Part Two--Understanding l Dark haired girl makes contact (is she Thought Police? ) l Enemy in front of him vs. human creature in need (106 -107) P. 115: symbolic “birth” of Winston as he meets Julia in crowd- (read/note purposeful diction) l Experience the “Golden Country” and learn each others names— symbolically more aware/ID l Julia challenges him (“keep the small rules and break the big ones” (129)/Sex as a political act; aware that things need to change (126) l Physically healing—body and mind; his ulcer is healing, he is happier l Reads Goldstein’s philosophy- rebellion continues: (140 -141, 144147 = foreshadowing, 171 -173= concept of betrayal l Ironically, section ends w/ being taken by O’Brien- he sees Thought Police for the first time, concept of “doublethink” (214) l
l Part l l Three--Acceptance Enters the Ministry of Love “unwholesome kind of hunger”(225) gnawing at l his gut Witnesses fallen co-workers Ampleforth (230) and Parsons (232) Knows O’Brien is head/resists him up to a point – Argues that past is true (246 -247) – (243 -245, 248 -251) l Made to enter Room 101 l Falls to human flaw: natural inclination to avoid pain-wishes harm to Julia turned, - Winston realizes his fault and accepts it Now believes the paradox- “He loved Big Brother. ”– he gives in/Orwell’s fear for humanity (266 -267, 269= concept of power; 284= fear of rats, 297= Love of BB) l l l
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