George Orwell’s George Orwell’s 19841984 Published in 1948 and Published in 1948 and

set 36 years in the set 36 years in the futurefuture

1984 is George 1984 is George Orwell’s dark vision of Orwell’s dark vision of the future. the future.

It is a chilling depiction It is a chilling depiction of how the power of of how the power of the state could come the state could come to dominate the lives to dominate the lives of individuals through of individuals through cultural conditioning.cultural conditioning.

Perhaps the most Perhaps the most powerful science powerful science fiction of the 20fiction of the 20thth century, this century, this apocalyptic satire apocalyptic satire shows with grim shows with grim conviction how conviction how Winston Smith’s Winston Smith’s individual personality individual personality is wiped out and how is wiped out and how he is recreated in the he is recreated in the party’s image until he party’s image until he does not just obey but does not just obey but even loves Big even loves Big Brother. Brother.

Orwell Orwell maintains that maintains that the book was the book was written “to written “to alter other alter other people’s idea people’s idea of the kind of of the kind of society they society they should strive should strive after”after”

Orwell Biography Orwell Biography

Born Eric Arthur Blair in Bengal, India in 1903Born Eric Arthur Blair in Bengal, India in 1903 Moved to England as a toddlerMoved to England as a toddler As a student in private prep academies he As a student in private prep academies he

became keenly aware of became keenly aware of class consciousness class consciousness The pseudonym George Orwell was used to The pseudonym George Orwell was used to

protect his parents from the shocking portrayal protect his parents from the shocking portrayal of his lifestyle in his first published book of his lifestyle in his first published book Down Down and Out in Paris and London and Out in Paris and London in 1933. in 1933.

Orwell saw his responsibility as a Orwell saw his responsibility as a writer to write about social writer to write about social conditions and concerns and the conditions and concerns and the political regimes of the time. political regimes of the time.

““every line that I have written every line that I have written since 1936 has been written, since 1936 has been written, directly or indirectly, against directly or indirectly, against totalitarianism totalitarianism and for and for democratic socialismdemocratic socialism, as I , as I understand itunderstand it.”.”

Orwell died in 1950 of Tuberculosis Orwell died in 1950 of Tuberculosis

ThemesThemesFreedom & Enslavement/Free Freedom & Enslavement/Free

WillWill 1984 is set in 1984 is set in

Oceania, a Oceania, a totalitarian state totalitarian state ruled by a god-like ruled by a god-like leader named Big leader named Big Brother who Brother who completely controls completely controls the citizens down to the citizens down to their very thoughts. their very thoughts.

Watch out for your T.V!!!Watch out for your T.V!!! Anyone who thinks Anyone who thinks

submissive submissive thoughts can be thoughts can be turned in by spies turned in by spies or by Big Brother, or by Big Brother, who monitors them who monitors them through highly through highly sensitive sensitive telescreens. telescreens.

If someone does not have the proper If someone does not have the proper facial expression, they are facial expression, they are considered guilty of Facecrimeconsidered guilty of Facecrime

It is even possible to commit It is even possible to commit Thoughtcrime by being overheard in Thoughtcrime by being overheard in one’s sleepone’s sleep

Freedom exists only in the Freedom exists only in the proletarian ghetto, where crime and proletarian ghetto, where crime and hunger are commonplace.hunger are commonplace.

The punishment for even minor The punishment for even minor crimes is severe, yet people crimes is severe, yet people occasionally choose to break the occasionally choose to break the law. law.

The Party knows that people The Party knows that people instinctively want to have sex, instinctively want to have sex, form loving bonds, and think for form loving bonds, and think for themselves instead of accepting themselves instead of accepting unquestioningly whatever the unquestioningly whatever the totalitarian government tells totalitarian government tells them.them.

Free-thinking people Free-thinking people must be stoppedmust be stopped

As long as people As long as people choose to exercise choose to exercise free will, the Party free will, the Party must be ever-must be ever-vigilant against vigilant against crime and make crime and make their punishments their punishments severe in order to severe in order to remain in control.remain in control.

Appearances and RealityAppearances and Reality In totalitarian Oceania, it seems that In totalitarian Oceania, it seems that

everyone obeys and is devoted to Big everyone obeys and is devoted to Big Brother and believes everything he Brother and believes everything he says.says.

However all is not as it seems…However all is not as it seems… Some people secretly feel and Some people secretly feel and

believe differently from how they believe differently from how they behave, of course they are extremely behave, of course they are extremely careful not to betray themselves. careful not to betray themselves.

How do you know what How do you know what you read is the truth?you read is the truth?

The party is in control The party is in control of all information and of all information and revises history, even revises history, even yesterday’s history, yesterday’s history, to reflect their current to reflect their current version of events.version of events.

Winston works at the Winston works at the Ministry of Truth and Ministry of Truth and it is his job to change it is his job to change the records of history.the records of history.

Only the old man, a Only the old man, a powerless prole powerless prole who lives on the who lives on the street, speaks about street, speaks about what really what really happened in the happened in the past.past.

The Party cannot The Party cannot allow people to allow people to have a perception have a perception of reality that is of reality that is different from different from theirs. theirs.

Loyalty and BetrayalLoyalty and Betrayal In order to remain all-In order to remain all-

powerful, the Party powerful, the Party destroys loyalty destroys loyalty between people: co-between people: co-workers, friends, even workers, friends, even family members.family members.

Children are encouraged Children are encouraged to betray their parents to to betray their parents to the state if they suspect the state if they suspect them of Thoughtcrimes them of Thoughtcrimes (thinking something that (thinking something that is against the party line)is against the party line)

The Party has outlawed The Party has outlawed sex for pleasure and sex for pleasure and reduced marriage to reduced marriage to an arrangement an arrangement between a man and a between a man and a woman who exists only woman who exists only for procreation.for procreation.

Sexual urges must be Sexual urges must be repressed for fear they repressed for fear they will lead to love, will lead to love, human connection, human connection, and personal loyalty, and personal loyalty, all of which threaten all of which threaten the Party.the Party.

Utopia and Anti-UtopiaUtopia and Anti-Utopia 19841984 is clearly an is clearly an

anti-utopian book. anti-utopian book. Instead of being a Instead of being a

society that is a society that is a triumph of human triumph of human spirit and creativity, spirit and creativity, the society the Party the society the Party has created is full of has created is full of fear, torment, and fear, torment, and treachery that will treachery that will worsen over time.worsen over time.

Orwell’s deliberate pessimistic vision Orwell’s deliberate pessimistic vision serves a purpose; he wrote 1984 as a serves a purpose; he wrote 1984 as a warning in order to make people aware warning in order to make people aware that this type of society could exist if that this type of society could exist if trends such as trends such as jingoismjingoism and the and the oppression of the working class.oppression of the working class.

Patriotism Patriotism The blind patriotism that fueled the The blind patriotism that fueled the

dictatorship of German leader Adolf dictatorship of German leader Adolf Hitler and Soviet leader Joseph Stalin Hitler and Soviet leader Joseph Stalin in the 1930’s and 1940’s inspired in the 1930’s and 1940’s inspired Orwell to write of Oceania and its Orwell to write of Oceania and its leader, Big Brother.leader, Big Brother.

Just as the Germans fanatically Just as the Germans fanatically cheered and revered Hitler, treating cheered and revered Hitler, treating him as a beloved father, the citizens him as a beloved father, the citizens of Oceania look up to Big Brother as of Oceania look up to Big Brother as their protector who would watch over their protector who would watch over them as a brother would.them as a brother would.

The huge picture that can be found The huge picture that can be found everywhere of Big Brother in Oceania is everywhere of Big Brother in Oceania is reminiscent of the Communist leader reminiscent of the Communist leader Mao Tse-tung displayed by the Chinese.Mao Tse-tung displayed by the Chinese.

As in real totalitarian regimes the As in real totalitarian regimes the children of Oceania play a large part in children of Oceania play a large part in maintaining the loyalty and patriotism of maintaining the loyalty and patriotism of the citizens. the citizens.

Just as German children joined the scout-Just as German children joined the scout-like militaristic Hitler Youth organization, like militaristic Hitler Youth organization, the children of Oceania enjoy wearing the children of Oceania enjoy wearing their Junior Spies costumes, marching their Junior Spies costumes, marching around and singing patriotic songs. around and singing patriotic songs.

Style Style Orwell’s Orwell’s 1984 1984 is told in the 3is told in the 3rdrd person person

but the point of view is clearly but the point of view is clearly Winston Smith’s.Winston Smith’s.

Through his eyes the readers are able Through his eyes the readers are able to see how the totalitarian society to see how the totalitarian society functions, in particular how an functions, in particular how an individual deals with having illegal individual deals with having illegal thoughts that can be detected easily thoughts that can be detected easily by spies and telescreens that monitor by spies and telescreens that monitor one’s every movement. one’s every movement.

SettingSetting The action takes place in London, The action takes place in London,

which is now part of a country called which is now part of a country called Oceania.Oceania.

Oceania is one of three world Oceania is one of three world superpowers, and it is continually at superpowers, and it is continually at war with one or the other two war with one or the other two superpowers, Eastasia, and Eurasia superpowers, Eastasia, and Eurasia

Enemies can change overnight and Enemies can change overnight and become an ally, although the party become an ally, although the party automatically rewrites history when automatically rewrites history when this happensthis happens

The perpetual state of war consumes The perpetual state of war consumes most of the states resources, so city most of the states resources, so city buildings are in constant state of buildings are in constant state of disrepair. disrepair.

All consumer goods, from food to All consumer goods, from food to clothing, are rationed, just as they clothing, are rationed, just as they were in England during World War II.were in England during World War II.

Winston lives in what was once Winston lives in what was once London, now a drab, gray, and London, now a drab, gray, and decaying urban area. decaying urban area.

Language and MeaningLanguage and Meaning Orwell’s awareness of the power of Orwell’s awareness of the power of

language inspired him to create a futuristic language inspired him to create a futuristic totalitarian government that created its totalitarian government that created its own language called Newspeak.own language called Newspeak.

Newspeak is used throughout the book by Newspeak is used throughout the book by the citizens of Oceania and explained in the citizens of Oceania and explained in detail an appendix.detail an appendix.

The language is derived from standard The language is derived from standard English and will go through many versions English and will go through many versions over the years until it reaches its final over the years until it reaches its final version in the year 2050.version in the year 2050.

The basic idea to Newspeak is to take all The basic idea to Newspeak is to take all words that refer to ideas the Party disagrees words that refer to ideas the Party disagrees with and strip them of their original meaning with and strip them of their original meaning or eliminate them entirely. or eliminate them entirely.

The purpose of Newspeak is to narrow the The purpose of Newspeak is to narrow the range of ideas that can be expressed, so as range of ideas that can be expressed, so as the language develops it contains fewer and the language develops it contains fewer and fewer words.fewer words.

Word forms and grammar are simplified, as is Word forms and grammar are simplified, as is pronunciation, so that eventually the number pronunciation, so that eventually the number of readers can be kept to a minimumof readers can be kept to a minimum

Through the devise of Through the devise of fictional language, Orwell fictional language, Orwell is able to point out that is able to point out that language can be misused language can be misused to mislead people.to mislead people.

In creating Newspeak, In creating Newspeak, Orwell was influenced by Orwell was influenced by political rhetoric that political rhetoric that takes the place of takes the place of substantive substantive communication and communication and advertising lingo that advertising lingo that makes ridiculous and makes ridiculous and vague promises. vague promises.

Historical ContextHistorical ContextTotalitarianismTotalitarianism

In 1948, when Orwell’s novel was In 1948, when Orwell’s novel was published, World War II had just published, World War II had just ended.ended.

One of England’s allies had been One of England’s allies had been Russia, which was ruled by a Russia, which was ruled by a despotic dictator named Joseph despotic dictator named Joseph Stalin.Stalin.

Stalin ruled with an Stalin ruled with an iron fist, and was iron fist, and was famous for his famous for his midnight purges: midnight purges: he would round up he would round up hundreds of hundreds of citizens at a time citizens at a time and murder them and murder them in deserted areas, in deserted areas, much like Oceania much like Oceania citizens are citizens are “vaporized”“vaporized”

During the same During the same time in Germany, time in Germany, Adolf Hitler had Adolf Hitler had slaughtered millions. slaughtered millions. In the end Hitler’s In the end Hitler’s Germany had killed Germany had killed 6 million Jews plus 9 6 million Jews plus 9 million Slavs, million Slavs, gypsies, political gypsies, political dissidents, dissidents, homosexuals, and homosexuals, and mentally challenged mentally challenged people.people.

Mao Tse-tung in Mao Tse-tung in China was fighting China was fighting for Communism for Communism against Chinese against Chinese nationalist forces nationalist forces under Chiang Kai-under Chiang Kai-Skek. Skek.

Mao would finally Mao would finally defeat the defeat the nationalists in 1949 nationalists in 1949 and begin a long, and begin a long, oppressive oppressive totalitarian regime.totalitarian regime.

Other dictators of the time Other dictators of the time included:included:

Francisco Franco in SpainFrancisco Franco in Spain Benito Mussolini in ItalyBenito Mussolini in Italy These oppressive leaders These oppressive leaders

controlled citizens through controlled citizens through propaganda and violence.propaganda and violence.

This state of affairs This state of affairs prompted Orwell to create prompted Orwell to create Big Brother, the ultimate Big Brother, the ultimate totalitarian leader who totalitarian leader who dominates all political, dominates all political, social, and economic social, and economic activities. activities.

TelevisionTelevision Orwell was very aware of an important Orwell was very aware of an important

invention that was just becoming popular invention that was just becoming popular after World War II and would eventually be a after World War II and would eventually be a dominant force in Western culture: the dominant force in Western culture: the television.television.

The first BBC broadcast occurred in 1937, and The first BBC broadcast occurred in 1937, and TV was first demonstrated to the American TV was first demonstrated to the American public in 1939 at the New York World’s Fair. public in 1939 at the New York World’s Fair.

Television’s popularity grew enormously Television’s popularity grew enormously throughout the 1950’s and today 98% of throughout the 1950’s and today 98% of American households own at least one color American households own at least one color television set.television set.

Orwell recognized the enormous Orwell recognized the enormous potential of this communication tool, potential of this communication tool, which would soon be in every home.which would soon be in every home.

He imagined that television could He imagined that television could one day not only broadcast one day not only broadcast propaganda nonstop but that it could propaganda nonstop but that it could transmit back images of action in transmit back images of action in front of the screen, front of the screen, allowing the allowing the broadcaster to spy on its broadcaster to spy on its viewers. viewers.