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A class struggle between two economic divisions is not just about the distinction and conflict but also the ideology of dominance that the “have’s” has set on the “have not’s”. The most general way of understanding economic structure within a literary work is to apply the Marxist Literary Theory. Marxism is based on the philosophy of Karl Marx, which follows the idea that life within an economic system is the struggle between social classes. The literary criticism is based on the belief that historical social and economic conditions determine literary works. Marxist literary theory examines a text containing a power structure between two groups, the Proletariat and Bourgeoisie, and its representation. An example of a Marxist
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The social classes are distinguished as the Inner Party (Bourgeoisie), the Outer Party (Middle class) and the “Proles” (Proletariat). The book is centered on an Outer Party worker, Winston Smith, who begins to question the government’s authority and how it manipulates their people. Through a Marxist Literary analysis, 1984 displays a social power structure in the society, which is demonstrated through the privileges that differentiate the party classes, the Party’s exploitation over human consciousness, and the emphasis of power. Therefore, the totalitarian government is a representation of a socialist capitalistic system that values control of its power structure.
To begin, the text demonstrates a distinction among the party groups as whoever is in power, have the highest privileges. For instance, throughout the story, Orwell emphasizes the lack of privacy that everyone has, hence the famous quote, “Big Brother is watching you”. Telescreens appear in every room to monitor behavior that can potentially harm the Party. Winston is watched over his every move and plans, which then leads to his downfall. Winston and Julia met up with O’Brien, a member of the Inner
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To further explain, the Party entrenches the ideology to remain unquestioned by those capable of recognizing oppression. According to the Party’s slogan, “who controls the present controls the past” (Orwell 37). Based on Marxist Literary belief, historical conditions determine human thought, as mind is a product of it historical influences. The Party dominates their people because history is rewritten in their favor. As a result, they will remain in power because their people’s consciences will automatically stay devoted under the party without questioning due to insufficient evidence to prove otherwise. In addition, the Party is also able to prevent rebellion by instilling “doublethink” into their people’s mind. The technique convinces the brain to believe something to be true when it is not, for example, “2 + 2 = 5”. The party is successful in maintaining its power due to the practice of “doublethink” in which the proletariats are incapable of questioning their position in life: “To a Party member it means loyal willingness to say black is white when the Party discipline demand this” (Orwell 221). Orwell’s use of “doublethink” displays an extreme form of false consciousness. Marxism describes false consciousness as the inability of the human mind to see things, especially during an exploitation or oppression for they fail to
Marxist literary criticism as defined by Peter Barry approaches a literary text through terms introduced in Karl Marx’ and Friedrich Engels’ Communist economic theory. Their jointly written text titled The Communist Manifesto called for a society with “state ownership on industry… rather than private ownership”. The social theory later became known as Marxism. As stated in Barry’s text, “The aim of Marxism is to bring about a classless society, based on the common ownership of the means of production, distribution, and exchange” (156). One of the theory’s main aspects looks to the “exploitation of one social class by another. The result leaves one class alienated.” Central to Marxism is a belief in its ability to change the material world, which it theorizes. According to Marxist theorists, only through conflicts between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat, can the status quo positively change (157).
We all use cell phones to communicate with people all over the globe or even a few blocks away. Cell phones can be tracked and used to “watch” the public. Our government allows themselves to listen to everyone’s conversations. In the novel, the party uses telescreens to watch over the people and check up on them. The federal government has a system very similar to this through security cameras and other means of communication. Also, the party uses the thought police where the people cannot have any thoughts against Big Brother or against the party. Winston states, “Big Brother is watching you”, (Orwell 2) and then he looks down at the caption. There is no privacy and nowhere to run from the party because Big Brother (federal government) is watching them at
Human history is full of hundred and millions of evil deeds, tragedies , wars and disasters. From the past decades the social and economic problems has a huge impact on human livings ,which are still existed in our world. Many novels and plays are being made on the social and economic aspects of life which are based on different literary lenses. The novel 1984 by George Orwell is all about the man named Hinston smith who lives in the society which is controlled by the political party leader named big brother. He decided to be a rebellion and to fight against the big brother and get out from this darkness eventually ended up dying at the end. the novel 1984 demonstrated the many fundamental themes as a perspective of Marxist theory. The
Orwells’ book is set in a totalitarian state where all who live there must accept and comply with every one of the Party’s rules, ideas and orders. The main character in this novel is Winston Smith. Winston decides to rebel against the Party and soon after this results in his capture and torture from the Party. By the end of the book Winston
Orwell’s novel of 1984 depicts a dystopian society in which people are brainwashed with propaganda and bound to the chains of a strong dictatorship, also known as the Inner Party. Humanity has been filled with lies, as not a single person knows the truth that lies beneath the dictatorship. History is constantly being rewritten to mask their true identity. Any skeptical thoughts may make you disappear."Big Brother" is constantly observing you along with a telescreen watching every facial expression and recording any abnormal body language. However, two citizens called Winston and Julia rebel against "Big Brother's" totalitarian rule which triggers an astonishing warning towards future generations. Orwell is warning future generations of a society
In 1984, the last and largest work of Orwell’s life, the oppression becomes even more sinister. Winston, a member of the “party,” decides to break away from the melancholy lifestyle in which “freedom is slavery” and rebel against the government that restrains him. The party even erases all of history and claims that reality is within the mind; “He who controls the past controls the future. He who controls the present controls the past.” He becomes conscious of all the trickery and lies of the party and joins a secret organization to fight for freedom. The organization, however, is a lie and Winston is tortured until he learns to truly love Big Brother. 1984 makes prominent stabs at the
“1984” is an imaginary novel wrote by George Orwell in 1949. The novel takes place in a fictional country called Oceania. In 1984, the society is a mess in the control of the “big brother”, people are leveled by three three classes: the upper class party, the middle outer class party, and the lower class proles. But the lower class make up 85 per cent of the people in Oceania. Winston is a outer class party member working for the “big brother”. This novel uses Winston as an example to show how the “big brother” takes the control by mind, manipulation and technology.
For the Marxist critic, literature is in of itself a social institution, with a particular ideological function based on the experience and beliefs of the author, and a material product to be comprehended in broadly historical terms, emphasizing class and ideology as they are illustrated, distribute, and contest the social order of the period in which it was written. Terry Eagleton, in his book Marxism and Literary Criticism, describes Marxist application to literature
The novel “1984” by George Orwell exemplifies the issues of a government with overwhelming control of the people. This government controls the reality of all of their citizens by rewriting the past, instilling fear, and through manipulation. This is an astounding story because of the realistic qualities that are present throughout the text about an extreme regulatory government and its effects. This society is overwhelming consumed with the constructed reality that was taught to them by Big Brother. George Orwell brings significant aspects to the novel like the complexity of relationships during a rebellion and The Party’s obsession with power. The main character Winston struggles throughout the story trying to stay human through literature, self-expression and his individuality. The party uses human’s tendencies, weaknesses, and strengths in order to dehumanize their citizens to gain control over them.
Marxist Theory focuses on the idea that whoever controls the means of production in a
Gregory Maguire’s novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West is a fictional representation of many problems faced by the world in the past and present. It follows the life of Elphaba, who later becomes the “Wicked Witch of the West”, a result from her life experiences as a rebel against the Wizard of Oz, her unfortunate appearance of green skin, and several other trials she’s faced. Maguire was born in Albany, New York and lost his mother in childbirth. His father was a writer, but was very ill at the time of Maguire’s birth, so he and his three older siblings had to stay with family and Maguire even spent time in an orphanage before moving back with his father and his new wife. His family
Things to know: 1984 was a book written about life under a totalitarian regime from an average citizen’s point of view. This book envisions the theme of an all knowing government with strong control over its citizens. This book tells the story of Winston Smith, a worker of the Ministry of Truth, who is in charge of editing the truth to fit the government’s policies and claims. It shows the future of a government bleeding with brute force and propaganda. This story begins and ends in the continent of Oceania one of the three supercontinents of the world. Oceania has three classes the Inner Party, the Outer Party and the lowest of all, the Proles (proletarian). Oceania’s government is the Party or Ingsoc (English Socialism
In the novel 1984 by George Orwell a man named Winston lives within a dis-utopian society. People within this society keep their emotions non-noticeable because if they go against what the inner circle is teaching than that person would work manually labor for the rest of their life. In the story a party known as the inner circle uses a few slogans and sayings to control everything. The inner circle uses all that they say to brainwash people into believing what they are saying is true. The inner party 's slogans are “War is peace, Freedom is Slavery, and Ignorance is strength” By using these phrases one can see that the inner circle can manipulate everyone into believing in what the inner circle tells
There are three main social classes represented in 1984 by George Orwell, the Inner Party, the Outer Party and the Proles. While 1984 is a work of fiction, similar social classes do currently and have existed in the world, they just go by different names, the Upper class, the Middle class and the Lower class. The Inner class is resemblant of the Upper class. They both make up 2% or less of the population, but carry most of the wealth and privileges. The Middle and Lower classes is where the book shifts from reality a little. The Outer party has more wealth than the Proles, but are more closely monitored. While the Proles do not have much wealth, they could get away with the a lot more than the Outer party without anyone preserving them as a threat. They make up the majority of the population and have the power in number to fight back, but they do not know or think to use that power.
The Marxist literary criticism states that “literature reflects class struggle and materialism.” Someone who reads texts through a Marxist lens tries to identify issues that relate to both money and power, and commonly asks questions about how they deal with the struggles for money and power, along with the roles they play in the work. These criticisms stem from the beliefs and perceptions of popular philosopher Karl Marx that human society consists of clashes and conflicts between the oppressed and oppressing; between the proletariats and the bourgeoisie (Delahoyde).