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Who controls the past controls the future.
Who controls the present controls the past.
1984Introduction and
Background
Orwell on the novel My recent novel is NOT intended as an attack on
Socialism or on the British Labour Party (of which I am a supporter) but as a show-up of the perversions to which a centralized economy is liable and which have already been partly realized in Communism and Fascism. I do not believe that the kind of society I describe necessarily will arrive, but I do believe (allowing of course for the fact that the book is a satire) that something resembling it could arrive. I believe that totalitarian ideas have taken root in the minds of intellectuals everywhere, and I have tried to draw these ideas out to their logical consequences. The scene of the book is laid in Britain in order to emphasize that the English-speaking races are not innately better than anyone else and that totalitarianism, if not fought against, could triumph anywhere.
George Orwell
George Orwell Born Eric Blair in 1903 in Motihari, Bengal His mother, Ida, brought him to England at
the age of one At age five, he was sent to a small private
school Two years later, he was recommended to
the headmaster of one of the most successful preparatory schools in England
After graduating, he received scholarships to both Wellington and Eton colleges
George Orwell After finishing his studies at Eton, he
joined the Indian Imperial Police in Burma He resigned and returned to England in
1928 because he had grown to hate imperialism
He lived for several years in poverty, sometimes homeless
Worked briefly as a school teacher until his health forced him to resign
George Orwell Soon after the outbreak of the Spanish
Civil War, Orwell volunteered to fight against the uprising
He was shot in the neck in 1937 and returned to England
He began to support himself by working as a journalist
He died at the age of 46 of tuberculosis
Orwell’s pen name Eric Blair adopted the pen name George
Orwell to show his love of English tradition and the English countryside George – the patron saint of England Orwell – a river in Suffolk (one of Orwell’s
favorite places)
Orwell’s Writing During his life he was best known for his
journalism Also wrote 2 very famous books
Animal Farm – allegory of the corruption of socialist Stalinism
1984 – prophetic vision of the results of totalitarianism
Orwell’s Beliefs Orwell disliked communism and socialism
because he feared that they would result in totalitarianism
1984 is Orwell’s prediction of what could happen if the ideas of socialism spread and continued to develop
Socialism did not spread as Orwell feared; however, many of Orwell’s predictions have come true, especially in the United States
The Conditions Behind the Vision In 1946 when George Orwell began to imagine a
future world, he had just witnessed the defeat of two dictators – Adolf Hitler in Germany and Benito Mussolini in Italy
He had also witnessed the success of two other dictators – Francisco Franco in Spain and Josef Stalin in the former Soviet Union
He had also just lived through the most devastating war in history and seen its victors turn on each other in a tense cold war
Orwell’s vision of the future came from what he knew of the recent past
What is totalitarianism? State regulation of almost every aspect of public
and private behavior
True socialism or communism would never result in totalitarianism because there would be no government
Unfortunately, the leaders who called themselves communist at the time were not – Hitler, Stalin – their ideas were leading their countries toward totalitarianism
What is socialism? Socialism as a political movement was a
response to the consequences of industrialization
In socialism, property and the distribution of wealth are controlled by the community – either directly or through government control on behalf of the people
Socialism vs. Communism Socialism is a step towards Communism Socialism is when the proletariat (lower-
class/working-class) takes over, and forms a government ruled by the people
Communism is what happens when the government is gone completely
Leon Trotsky Emmanuel Goldstein is
modeled after Leon Trotsky Trotsky was instrumental in founding the
South Russia Workers Union and the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party
1900 – deported to Siberia, escaped, and met Vladimir Lenin
Participated actively in first Russian Revolution
Leon Trotsky 1907 – deported to Siberia again, and
escaped again 1917 Tsar removed as a result of the
Bolshevik Revolution, Trotsky went to Russia and became a member of the Central Committee of the Bolshevik party – Lenin was the leader
Trotsky became second in command
Leon Trotsky Lenin became ill in 1922 and died in 1924.
Josef Stalin took over. Stalin did not like Trotsky and kicked him
out of the Executive Committee Trotsky was banished to Kazakhstan and
then Turkey Trotsky used his writing to oppose Stalin
Leon Trotsky Because Trotsky was a Communist and he
had been expelled from his own country, he had a hard time finding a country where he would be allowed to reside
He was finally allowed to live in Mexico in 1937
On August 20, 1940, Trotsky was attacked with an ice-axe in his office in Mexico City by one of Stalin’s followers and died the following day
The Bolshevik Revolution An uprising in Russia in which the
proletariat united and overthrew the bourgeoisie
Proletariat – working class – lower class Bourgeoisie – ruling class – upper class
1984Literary Devices
Literary Devices in 1984
Irony – a contrast between appearance and realityIn 1984, reality is often the opposite of
what the party says it is• Big Brother is a tyrant• Ministry of Truth produces lies• Ministry of Peace is in charge of war• Ministry of Love punishes people• Ministry of Plenty rations food
Literary Devices in 1984
Setting and Mood1984 gives us full detailed descriptions
of placeOrwell uses all the senses to really
make the reader imagine what it is like to live in this society
• smells of houses – cabbage and bad lavatories
• Taste of Victory Gin and thin, sour stew• Vision of Mrs. Parsons with “dust in the
creases of her face”• Sounds of the telescreen
Literary Devices in 1984
Symbolism (a symbol is a person, place or thing that has a concrete meaning itself and also stands for something beyond itself)Symbols in 1984
• Winston’s Diary• Victory Gin• “The Bells of St. Clements”• The Prole Women• The paperweight• The Chestnut Tree Café
19841984
Things to think about – Discussion Things to think about – Discussion
Things to think about – discussion Things to think about – discussion
Individuality can be destroyed by a political Individuality can be destroyed by a political system.system.Do you believe this could be true? Explain?Do you believe this could be true? Explain?Who might believe this statement more Who might believe this statement more
readily than others?readily than others?
Things to think about – discussionThings to think about – discussion
Language is a powerful tool for controlling Language is a powerful tool for controlling how people view the world.how people view the world.How does language shape your view of How does language shape your view of
reality?reality?Do you think that a broader vocabulary would Do you think that a broader vocabulary would
increase or decrease your ability to increase or decrease your ability to understand the world you live in?understand the world you live in?
Things to think about – discussionThings to think about – discussion
A knowledge of the past is essential for A knowledge of the past is essential for evaluating the present.evaluating the present.What connections can exist between past and What connections can exist between past and
present events?present events? In what way does a knowledge of history help In what way does a knowledge of history help
you understand current events?you understand current events?
Things to think about – discussionThings to think about – discussion
People can be forced to give up their People can be forced to give up their beliefs and even alter their feelings if their beliefs and even alter their feelings if their survival is threatened.survival is threatened.What kind of beliefs or feelings might be the What kind of beliefs or feelings might be the
easiest to give up? Most difficult?easiest to give up? Most difficult?Do you have beliefs that you would not give Do you have beliefs that you would not give
up under any circumstances? Explain.up under any circumstances? Explain.