George Orwells 1984 So whats this book about

George Orwell’s 1984 So, what’s this book about, anyway?

Who was George Orwell? § 1903 -1950 § Real name: Eric Arthur Blair § An Englishman who wrote about political and contemporary events § Sought to actively change the world through writing

Who was George Orwell? § A strong socialist, but he warned against totalitarianism of the left and the right § Other significant work: Animal Farm § 1984 was intended as a warning about the future. § Died at 47 of tuberculosis

1984: The Big Picture § Setting: 1984 in the futuristic country of Oceania § Think About: § Totalitarian government uses language, power, and revisionist history to control and abolish the individual § Individual vs. Society § What is the meaning of truth? § Strength of the human spirit

1984: The Society § Newspeak: Official language designed to align thought and action § Three Warring Super-states: § Oceania (Great Britain, Ireland, Australia, southern Africa, Polynesian islands, and the Americas) § Eurasia (Continental Europe and northern Asia) § Eastasia (China, Japan, Korea, and Northern India) § The war is over who will control all other areas of the world.

1984: The Society of Oceania § Three social classes of Oceania § Inner Party: the upper class § Outer Party: the middle class § The Proles: the lower class; the governors, administrators, and workers

1984: The Society of Oceania Big Brother Inner Party (< 2% of population) Outer Party Proles (~85% of population)

1984: Who’s Who? § Winston Smith: protagonist and member of Outer Party; middle aged and sickly; trying to learn about the past and hoping for a rebellion § Julia: young, beautiful, and seemingly the perfect Party member § O’Brien: member of the Inner Party § Big Brother: Who is he? How does he keep power?

1984: Who’s Who?

1984: An Expression of Mood § “George Orwell’s 1984 is the expression of mood, and it is a warning. The mood it expresses is that of near despair about the future of man, and the warning is that unless the course of history changes, men all over the world will lose their most human qualities, will become soulless automatons, and will not even be aware of it. ” p. 313 Erich Fromm, the Afterward