Historical context of 1984-george orwell

The masterpiece 1984 by George Orwell first published in 1949 is regarded by many as the best book ever written. It is a novel which explores deep into the human psychology and is a permanent warning and remainder for the ever-lasting threat of totalitarianism.

Winston Smith is probably the most important and complex character in George Orwell’s masterpiece, namely Nineteen Eighty-Four. Throughout this essay I will try to explain the different aspects of Winston’s role in the novel from the question of the narrative perspective through his rebellious tendencies to his psychological problems.

George Orwell was one of the best writers of his time. He was born in India but studied in England. After seeing all the poverty going on in England during the early 1900s he started socialism

He enjoyed the idea that everybody was equal, but he still showed resentment towards it. His inner conflict between these two ideas and his experiences as a member in the Spanish Civil War caused him to choose a median between the community ideals which he saw and the individual ideals which he missed: “I have seen wonderful things and at last really believe in socialism, which I never did before” (qtd. in Chen).

His hatred lead to him agreeing with anarchy ideals and before long Orwell was calling himself an anarchist. In the late 1930’s however Orwell found himself agreeing with Socialist ideals. This led him to writing his first socialist book The Road to Wigan Pier. This novel describes what he saw when he lived in the slums. After this book was printed Orwell found himself in Spain. During the time that the Spanish Civil War was going on. Orwell soon found himself involved with this war. He rose in rank very quickly, and was soon a Second Lieutenant on the Aragon and Teruel fronts. Sadly he was badly injured in Teruel, and had major damage to his voice. In May 1937, he flees Spain in fear for his life. His experienced left him with an extreme hatred of communism, which lead him to write Homage to Catalonia. This novel is a favorite of many, however his greatest work is considered to be Nineteen Eighty Four. Nineteen Eighty Four is meant to be a warning. He wished to never see a society such as the one in Nineteen Eighty Four. Nineteen Eighty four describes the dangers of a totalitarian society. He is able to vividly explain what will happen if the government has total control. This is because of his first hand experience dealing with Communism in Spain, and Russia. Nineteen Eighty Four is an extremely well written novel set in a dystopian

“1984” by George Orwell is a utopian and dystopian novel, this novel is enticing and while very gloomy proves to be an extraordinary book with an old futuristic feel to it. In the very beginning of the novel, we are introduced to a character named Winston, who has a very strong opinion against the Party and he immediately has thoughts and actions going against the organization which controls the world that he lives in. He first keeps a record of his thoughts in a diary and then joining what he thought was the “Brotherhood” which tries to sabotage the Party with the hope of making it fail, falls in love with a girl named Julia and strives to live a life that is not controlled by the Party. Major events of this story were that Winston wrote

In a world where manipulation is required, thought is crime, and love is forbidden, it is questioned how much of a person is left once his or her life is stripped of such basic freedoms. This is the question a reader asks as he or she is immersed into the world George Orwell created in his classic novel, 1984. As Winston Smith, the main character in Orwell’s novel, navigates through the cruel and oppressive society of Oceania, readers are allowed to see how the oppressiveness of the world in which he lives affects the lives of not only Winston but also the society as a whole. However, as time passes, Winston becomes a character that starts to inwardly question the world around him while being forced to outwardly conform for his own safety. Throughout the novel, a reader can begin to compare the feelings and thoughts of Winston to the mass majority of the population that continues to blindly conform to the government of Oceania. In this contrast, one can begin to understand how the relationship between outward conformity and inward inquisition contributes to the theme of oppression and the meaning of the work as a whole by showing the oppression that Winston feels through his inner thoughts.

As a political journalist of World War II, Orwell promised “Every line of serious work that I have written since 1936 has been written, directly or indirectly, against totalitarianism and for socialism" (“Why I Write” 7). In 1948, he published the novel 1984, attacking the fascist regimes of Europe and the English left-wing intelligentsia that supported them. In the futuristic novel, the main character, Winston Smith, desperately tries to hold onto his identity and spirit as the government attempts to control both the minds of its citizens and their ability to

In his work George Orwell excellently describes the darkness and futility of the dystopian world in which the protagonist of our story Winston Smith lives. Although the title of the novel is 1984 the work itself was written in the late 1940’s. The reasoning behind the title is Orwell’s prediction of what the year 1984 would look like if something were not changed. In the novel the author uses an abundance of symbolism and theme, which acts as a driving force of the novel. I have always been a fan of Orwell’s work and 1984 is definitely not an exception.

George Orwell was the pseudonym for Eric Arthur Blair, and he was famous for his personnel vendetta against totalitarian regimes and in particular the Stalinist brand of communism. In his novel, 1984, Orwell has produced a brilliant social critique on totalitarianism and a future dystopia, that has made the world pause and think about our past, present and future, as the situation of 1984 always remains menacingly possible. The story is set in a futuristic 1984 London, where a common man Winston Smith has turned against the totalitarian government. Orwell has portrayed the concepts of power, marginalization, and resistance through physical, psychological, sexual and political control. The way that Winston Smith, the central

The strongest people are poor, starving, and treated like animals. In 1948, author George Orwell wrote the dystopian novel 1984. In 1984, Orwell created a world without freedom of speech, motion, and thought to portray an idea of our world with totalitarian power. In the book, it follows a member of the Outer Party named Winston, and his fight to keep his freedom of thought through love, rebellion, and secrecy. Throughout the book, it portrays three important themes, War is Peace, Freedom is Slavery, and Ignorance is Strength. The statement, “Ignorance is Strength” is a deep meaning throughout George Orwell’s 1984 due to the jocundity of the Proles, the rigid rules and expectations of both the Inner and Outer party, and Big Brother’s strive

The thesis of the essay is that writing was Orwell’s inevitable and irresistible destiny, although shrouded by his attempts to abandon it. It had always been inexorably and intricately woven into his person, manifesting itself first at 5 or 6, and then ultimately impressing itself on his life with irrevocable and fulfilling finality.

George Orwell wrote his books based on his thoughts and feelings toward the world. These thoughts would begin to arise early on in his life. Growing up in India where his father was stationed as a British official, his mother and siblings soon moved to England where he received his education. Unfortunately because of his family 's financial conditions Orwell was unable to attend the university he would have liked to attend. Instead he headed to Burma where he joined the Indian Imperial Police Force where he would begin to see the detestable side to British Imperialism. Orwell knew he wanted to be a writer so after 5 years resigned from the force and went back to England in 1922. (George Orwell Biography) Soon he would publish his second big book Burmese Days in 1934 which “offered a dark look at British colonialism in Burma, then part of the country 's Indian empire” (George Orwell Biography). By this time Orwell identified himself as a socialist. Two years later Orwell and his wife traveled to Spain where he participated in the Spanish Revolution fighting against the Nationalist Party. This nationalist party was for the rise fascism, which is a type of government “in which people are not allowed to disagree with the government” (Merriam-Webster). This faction was also receiving support from Joseph Stalin 's communists who were combating the socialist dissenters. During this time Orwell was shot, and forced to flee the country with his wife. This stint would forever make him

The novel 1984 is a futuristic totalitarian society where everyone is kept under close surveillance and is forced to follow all rules and laws of the state. The novel 1984 was written by George Orwell and published in 1950. The main characters were Big Brother, Winston Smith, Julia, O’Brien, Syme and Emmanuel Goldstein. Winston Smith is a low man on the totem pole when it came to the ruling Party in London, Oceania. His every move is watched by the Party through devices called telescreens. Posted everywhere around the city is the face of their leader, “Big Brother” informing them that he is always watching. He works in the “Ministry of Truth” which is ironic seeing that they alter history to fit the liking of the Party. As this book continues Winston challenged the laws and skirts around the fact that he is always being watched. His shocking and rebellious act is “falling in love.” Throughout this novel George Orwell utilizes symbolism to further enhance the totalitarian features of the society. In many ways these symbols represent the things that this society hasn’t experienced and doesn’t understand.

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.