1984 In an article by The New York Times, the author suggests that George Orwell’s 1984 was “a chilling exploration of absolute depravity.” Orwell’s purpose in writing 1984 was to warn the people of the dangers that could come from becoming a totalitarian society. Throughout 1984, Orwell exposes the dangers of a totalitarian society, such as the psychological torture and the physical brutality that one would experience living in such a society. A rhetorical device that Orwell uses in order to convey his purpose is juxtaposition. Throughout the whole novel, Orwell juxtaposes Winston’s point of view with the parties point of view. For example, Orwell names one of the ministries the Ministry of Love, while making the reality of this place for the people, a place of utter fear, and torture. Orwell deliberately uses juxtaposition in attempt to show what a totalitarian society is like; he implicitly provides the reader with the knowledge that the government is to be feared because everything that they create is exactly what is isn’t. Throughout the book, Orwell refers to the houses as “victory mansions”, and the drinks as “victory gin”, but then proceeds to describe the houses as smelling like "boiled cabbage and old rag mats", and the “victory gin” as something “like nitric acid” and “ being given the sensation of being hit on the back of the head with a rubber club.” In this way as well, Orwell uses juxtaposition as a means to inform the reader that within a society such as
A book may have the best of messages and intentions but few will read it if it isn't captivating or engaging. As a result, George Orwell used a variety of literary techniques to make the book more engaging. The three mottos of the inner party represent oxymorons. These are “Freedom is Slavery”, “War is Peace” and “Ignorance is Strength”. These statements contain opposing terms but does contain truths within them. For example, an ignorant population is easy to manipulate and the government
In the excerpt, Orwell uses the rhetorical device of repetition in order to create suspense. For example, right before the rats are going to attack, Winston says, “‘Do it to Julia! Do it to Julia! Not me! Julia! I don’t care what you do to her. Tear her face off, strip her to the bones. Not me! Julia! Not me!’” The repetitive screams for help from Winston reveals the tone as he is frantically begging for mercy. Another example of repetition is used is when Orwell writes, “To think, to think, even with a split second left--to think was the only hope” This reveals the tone as it reveals Winston only has a split second to save himself from the rats, and he must be able to think fast in order to do it.
The first use of literary devices in George Orwell's 1984, is situational and verbal irony. Throughout 1984 Orwell is relaying what he believes a totalitarian government would look like in using the phrases "War is Peace," "Slavery is Freedom" and "Ignorance is Strength" (Orwell, 4). This suggests that Big Brother is trying to make people believe the opposite of what is true. Such a thing would help them by allowing for more control when they can change a person’s way of thinking. Furthermore, he says that Winston believes that O'Brien is thinking the same way about the government as he is, but as it turns out he is a member of the Thought Police (Orwell, 17 and 239). George Orwell has proven in this text that one never really knows the motivation of a person when it comes to a totalitarian government. At first, Winston thinks that O'Brien and he are on the same page when it comes to the government;
1984 by George Orwell, published in 1948. Orwell uses the dystopian genre to conceive an exemplification of life in the future based on conformity, dependence of technology, and the absolute control of the state over the people, their rights, and their history. The dystopian genre has been classified to have constraints upon the structure of the storyline; variations of such plots come through in different ideas, but all adhere to: conformity, surveillance / invasion of privacy, a terrible / unnamable past which lead to the dystopia’s creation, a futuristic setting, lack of rights / freedom / expression for the people, and a distinct segregation of the higher and lower classes.How
Rhetorical analysis refers to the study done by an author's use of words to influence their audience. It is closely related to diction which refers to an author's choice of words. The rhetorical analysis breaks a non-fiction work into sections then explains how the parts work together to create an effect. The effect could be achieved via persuasion, entertainment, or information. This paper will, therefore, divide the book into different sections and give an analysis of such parts to identify how the chapters are organized to help in achieving the intended effect. It will determine the elements of writing used to give the pathos, ethos, and logos. It will further identify the figures of speech used and their effectiveness. The paper will also
The want to communicate with others is instinctual to all animals; communication is necessary to survive. As infants, humans coo, gurgle, and cry to communicate their immediate needs to their providers. However, the provider does not exactly know what their child needs, due to the child’s inability to explain their distress through words. As the child develops and learns to speak, this communication barrier is broken. Words, even in their most pure and basic form, are used for the sole purpose of expression. However, expressing oneself can have many goals and outcomes. In his treatise Rhetoric, Aristotle writes about using words to express one’s self for the sole purpose of persuading an audience. In his novel, 1984, George Orwell uses the
Throughout the novel Orwell uses many rhetorical strategies to convey the strong message of exhibiting the impact that government can have on its citizens as well as to show the gullibility of people by believing what the governments says has to go through.
1984, Orwell’s last and perhaps greatest work, deals with drastically heavy themes that still terrify his audience after 65 years. George Orwell’s story exemplifies excessive power, repression, surveillance, and manipulation in his strange, troubling dystopia full of alarming secrets that point the finger at totalitarian governments and mankind as a whole. What is even more disquieting is that 1984, previously considered science fiction, has in so many ways become a recognizable reality.
Primarily, George Orwell creates imagery in his novel to develop his point. An example of this is when Winston’s world is described, “”the sky a harsh blue, there seemed to be no color in anything except the posters that were plastered everywhere. The black-mustachio’d face gazed down from every commanding corner” (Orwell 6). This imagery depicts Winston's fear towards Big Brother and the party. It says “there seemed to be no color” which could also mean that there seemed to be no happiness, no life, in the city (Orwell 6). Another example of imagery is during the Hate, “The Hate rose to its climax. The voice of Goldstein had become an actual sheep’s bleat, and for an instant the face changed into that of a sheep. Then the sheep-face melted into the figure of a Eurasian soldier who seemed to be
George Orwell’s purpose for writing 1984 is to show the consequences society faces as a result of an overpowering regime through the use of conflict, mood, and symbolism.
George Orwell’s key objective throughout his novel, 1984, was to convey to his readers the imminent threat of the severe danger that totalitarianism could mean for the world. Orwell takes great measures to display the horrifying effects that come along with complete and dominant control that actually comes along with totalitarian government. In Orwell’s novel, personal liberties and individual freedoms that are protected and granted to many Americans today, are taken away and ripped from the citizen’s lives. The government takes away freedom and rights from the people so that the ruling class (which makes up the government), while reign with complete supremacy and possess all power.
As human beings, there are distinct characteristics that separate us from feral animals; the ability to create, to appreciate art, to curiously question the world and most importantly to sympathize for our kind. However, when that exact nature is stripped from us, we tend to become mindless, restricted, cold, and degraded as an entire race. This is the setting of George Orwell’s last book, 1984. A world where human thought is limited, war and poverty lie on every street corner, and one cannot trust nobody or nothing. It is all due to the one reigning political entity, the Ingsoc Party, who imposes complete power over all aspects of life for all citizens. There is no creative or intellectual thought, no art, culture or history, and no
War Is Peace. Freedom Is Slavery. Ignorance Is Strength. The party slogan of Ingsoc illustrates the sense of contradiction which characterizes the novel 1984. That the book was taken by many as a condemnation of socialism would have troubled Orwell greatly, had he lived to see the aftermath of his work. 1984 was a warning against totalitarianism and state sponsored brutality driven by excess technology. Socialist idealism in 1984 had turned to a total loss of individual freedom in exchange for false security and obedience to a totalitarian government, a dysutopia. 1984 was more than a simple warning to the socialists of Orwell's time. There are many complex philosophical issues buried deep within
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.