1984 is a political parable. George Orwell wrote the novel to
show society what it could become if things kept getting worse. The first paragraph of the
book tells the reader of the "swirl of gritty dust....The hallway smelt of boiled
cabbage and old rag mats." Just from these few lines Orwell makes it clear that there
was absolutely nothing victorious about Victory Mansions. Every image the reader receives
from
Winston Smith is pessimistic. Hate week, for example, is a big event in Oceania. The
citizens prepare for it like Christmas. Instead of jolly songs with family and friends
over punch, Hate week is celebrated with
fists in the air while chanting about death, Goldstien, and whatever the party wanted the
citizens to disgust.
Winston hates the party and Big Brother. He hates the
"pure" ones, also. Everything about Winston's life drives him closer and
closer to a suicidal point each day. What makes things worse, the Party makes
Winston think that he is crazy for wanting to be free to think and for wanting to
remember. These simple things are taken for granted today. George Orwell devilishly
illustrates the brutality that man can be
capable of when he is given such power. The people of Oceania are forced to love Big
Brother. There is possibly no one that loves Bill Clinton, besides his family. there are
several that love to makes fun of him, but on the political mainstream love is not
involved as it is in Oceania. The setting in itself is an extremely important part
of the novel.
Winston lived in a "dark, gray drab jungle." Posters of Big
Brother were everywhere. The telescreen could see and hear almost everything that Winston
did. However, Winston could hide from it long enough to write in his diary even though he
knew he would get caught eventually. Winston was alienated before Julia. He didn't have
much contact with other people; he was constantly hungry both physically and emotionally.
However, it is ironic that Winston enjoys the work he does but he hates the falsification.
1984 is a satire of the upper class. The members of the Upper class
believe that they have superiority over the common people. They are always wanting more
than what is given to them. Very much like O'Brien telling Winston in the Ministry of Love
that it wasn't good enough just for him to say that 2+2=5; he had to believe it with his
entire being, to know that 2+2=5 or 3 or whatever the party said.
Send e-mail to lisa@studyworld.com
with questions or comments about this web site.
