Utopianism Throughout Literature
With dystopia’s aims to challenge the utopian assumption of a rather faultless society with human perfection, it is rare to find hope in this genre. Whether it be in regards to hierarchical society, identity—which has been a constant topic or struggle throughout all three works—, or social class systems, elements of dystopian concepts can be seen through Aldous Huxley's Brave New World as well as George Orwell’s 1984 and Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale.
We simply could not have asked for a better protagonist than Winston Smith. Not only do we identify with him, but we also have the privilege of viewing the world through his eyes and his eyes only; we feel what he feels. The depiction of a hierarchical society as seen through both George Orwell’s 1984 can be identified as an element of dystopian concept. Winston Smith, a Party member can be seen living at the Victory Mansions where
The old flats [were] built in 1930 or thereabouts, and were falling to pieces. the plaster flaked constantly from ceilings and walls, the pipes burst in every hard frost, the roof leaked whenever there was snow, the heating system was usually running at half steam when it was not closed down altogether from motives of economy.
(26-27).
Clearly Victory Mansions is a misnomer in comparison to the home of our total mystery O’Brien, an Inner Party member that lives in an isolated area of town in a rather opulent and luxurious
The theme of one’s internal conflict with society is very prevalent in George Orwell’s novel, 1984. The society in which the main character lives in is very rigid and is controlled by the Party whose main goal is to suppress its citizens and to remain in ultimate control eternally. Throughout the book, many characters discreetly rebel against the Party’s way, while still maintaining an air of orthodoxy to all who observe them, thus creating a battle between a person’s innermost thought, and their heavily monitored outer actions. The main character Winston Smith is a perfect representation of this battle. Initially he tries to conform to the Party’s wishes, but systematically, his thoughts and then actions eventually become more orthodox. Winston’s
In the novel 1984, George Orwell relates the tension between outward conformity and inward questioning by allowing the reader to see inside of the mind of Winston Smith. Orwell uses Winston’s rebellious thoughts to counteract his actions in order to show the reader how a dystopian society can control the citizens. Although Winston is in an obvious state of disbelief in the society, his actions still oppose his thoughts because of his fear of the government. Winston’s outward conformity and inward questioning relate to the meaning of the novel by showing Winston’s fight to truth being ended by the dystopian society’s government.
‘The twentieth century has seen a rise in the appearance of a distinctive literary sub-genre, the dystopian or anti-utopian novel with dehumanisation as its dominant theme.” To what extent do ‘1984’ and ‘Brave New World’ depict a dehumanised society?
Winston Smith is a hero. Despite his anticipated and inevitable failure at the end of 1984, he personifies humanity’s nature to resist subjugation and repression. Actions and intentions are the true measure of a hero and Winston Smith is not found lacking in either. His failure does not diminish his status as a hero. On the contrary, he is the precise representation of Orwell’s definition of heroism: an ordinary man doing whatever he can to change a system that is devoid of decency; in spite of the obvious futility of such an endeavor.
The main character in George Orwell’s book 1984 is a thirty-nine year old man with the name of Winston Smith. Winston Smith creates thought crimes, he also has anti-Party views. The story “1984” tells about all of Winston Smith’s struggles. In an effort to avoid being monitored, Winston physically conforms to society, however mentally he does just the opposite. Winston is a thin, frail and intellectual thirty-nine year old. Winston hates totalitarian control and enforced repression that are characteristics of his government. Winston hates being watched by Big Brother. He always has revolutionary dreams, he feels like he would be protected. Julia is Winston’s lover, a beautiful dark- haired girl working in the
Totalitarianism, derived from a society which proceeds without cautiousness towards governmental power, can induce many limitations among citizens and every aspect of their lives including individualism. In George Orwell’s 1984, the artificiality of the dystopian country influenced the protagonist of the novel, Winston Smith, to try and deceive the government in any way possible. Winston and many others view individuality as immensely important, but a large challenge to achieve due to the diminished hope evident in dystopia. Hope is prominent among Winston in his actions towards the totalitarian government, referred to as Big Brother, throughout the novel. From the beginning of the novel when readers are introduced to a dismal setting to
George Orwell's 1984 is about a totalitarianism, dystopian society that Winston Smith finds himself living in. Wherever Winston goes, whether it's work or his house, the Party, known as Big
In 1984, Winston Smith lives in a world where the government, the Party, intrudes on the private lives of common people for the pure power it entails. He is one of few, if not the only, person who is against this life and detests the world of lies he lives in. Winston’s memories both aids and hinders his ability to fight against the Party and society, but it ultimately leads to his downfall as humanity’s last hope.
Both the novels '1984' and 'The Handmaids Tale' provide warnings of how each author sees certain problems in society leading to dystopian states. Dystopian genres exist in both novels, but arise for different reasons. Resulting from Atwood's concerns about political groups and aspects of feminism; 'The Handmaids Tale' illustrates how declining birth rates could lead to a state where women are forced into bearing children. In contrast, '1984' depicts a terror state where poverty is rife and tyrannical leaders force citizens to live by their rules. Although both novels share such themes as surveillance, deprivation and loss of identity, they describe two very different dystopian worlds, often by using identical literary techniques but also
Winston Smith, is the protagonist of George Orwell’s dystopian novel 1984. He lives in the seemingly
Dystopian novels have become more common over the last century; each ranging from one extreme society to the next. A dystopia, “A futuristic, imagined universe in which oppressive societal control and the illusion of a perfect society are maintained through corporate, bureaucratic, technological, moral, or totalitarian control,”[1] through an exaggerated worst-case scenario, criticizes about current trends, societal norms, or political systems. The society in Brave New World by Aldous Huxley is divided in a caste system, in which humans are not individuals, do not have the opportunity to be individuals, and never experience true happiness. These characteristics of the reading point towards a well-structured
Popular literature often reflects society’s beliefs and struggles, and dystopian fiction is once again gaining popularity. From Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro to Hulu’s reimagining of The Handmaid’s Tale, written by Margaret Atwood, and all the young adult dystopias in between, one does not have to search far to find a unique dystopian read. While every dystopia is different, these novels have similar characteristics that define their genre.
The dystopian novel 1984, written by George Orwell, depicts the life of Winston Smith as he lived it in the year nineteen eighty four. Winston is a low-ranking member of an entity called the Party, the governing body of the city of London. The Party is represented by a single figure known as Big Brother, an all-knowing and an omnipresent factor in the lives of those that follow the Party. Although no one knows who he truly is, Big Brother still holds tremendous weight in the lives of Party members. The structure of the government in the novel mirrors the principles of Marxism, an economic system that focuses on the means of production and class struggle within a given society (Jakse ).In 1984, George Orwell uses key principles of Marxism to convey the Party’s ability to naturalize its dominance over the inhabitants of Oceania.
Hopelessness, deep and gaping ever lasting hopelessness. If the course of humanity fails to change, to this everyone will succumb. That is the message that George Orwell has left for the future, and it would be in humanity's best interest to heed. Winston Smith of 1984 lived in a world that had been consumed by the everlasting abyss of injustice. Eventually this world became too much for our hopeful protagonist and thus, like the future that is bound to a horrific fate, he succumbed. “It was like swimming against a current that swept you backwards however hard you struggled, and then suddenly deciding to turn round and go with the current instead of opposing it” (Orwell 248). No one in this world is any different than Winston, they will follow his path like all of those before them, following the five stages of Kübler-Ross. Denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance make up the cycle that every feeble life will follow and that Winston grew to know all too well.
In 1984 the dystopian society member and protagonist, Winston Smith, turns against the government, The Party, in an effort to become an individual. O’Brien, a secret member of the Thought Police is the primary reason for Winston’s demise and change of heart to loving The Party. 1984 by George Orwell is about Winston Smith who rebels against the government of the dystopian society, to change the government from a conformist society, to a society allowing individualism. In his journey for freedom, he meets Julia, who shares similar beliefs as him, and they begin an affair, against the rules of the Party. Winston also meets O’Brien, a mysterious member of society, who Winston believes is part of an anti-conformist group, the Brotherhood. O’Brien is a key role in