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1984 By George Orwell: A Literary Analysis

Decent Essays

In the novel 1984, by George Orwell, a theme addressed in the text is the need or the habit to form social classes and divisions. History has shown that a vicious cycle wreaks havoc through social aspects of societies. The tendency for there to be at least three distinct classes (low, middle, and high) is represented in all past civilizations. The novel addresses this cycle and how it will never change because it is necessary to maintain a balanced society. Today’s society contains various class distinctions as well. George Orwell predicted in his novel, 1984, that due to the repetitive and necessary condition of social stratification that in the future there would continue to be class distinctions. In the novel there are three distinct …show more content…

Each social class structure is defined by certain aspects of an individual’s life. The social class structure in America is “based on wealth, income, educational attainment, occupation, and social networks” (Boundless). There has always been evidence of social class structures in societies, modern day America is no different. Some sociologists like to dispute the existence of these classes, but the majority believes there are three main social groups in America. However, there are many more complex levels to understand, America recognizes 6 distinctive categories that are part of the three basic groups. The 6 groups are Upper-upper class, lower-upper class, upper-middle class, lower-middle class, working poor, and underclass. The majority of people in America reside in the middle classes. Unlike in the novel, status in America is usually achievement based. People work hard early in life and in school so that they can be successful later in life. Your social status also regulates how much control you have. In most cases, “the upper class has vast accumulated wealth and significant control over corporations and political institutions” (Boundless). People with more wealth have more influence and power over various aspects of American life. In the social class system in America today there is a relatively good amount of mobility and freedom. If people work and study hard and achieve higher educations then they can move into a higher social class. The same goes for if someone makes bad financial decisions, they can find themselves in a lower class. Essentially today’s world regularly uses economic and occupational distinctions to separate people into a basic social class structure, as shown by the presence of classes in the

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