By: Brittany Rhoa and Sabrina Mckenzie 1984 Analysis By: Brittany Rhoa and Sabrina Mckenzie

“They [proles] were governed by private loyalties which they did not question. What mattered were individual relationships, and a completely helpless gesture, an embrace, a tear, a word spoken to a dying man, could have value in itself... They were not loyal to a party or a country or an idea, they were loyal to one another... The proles had stayed human” (pg 165). Intertextual Connections Questions Personal Response

Key Words/Phrases Back Human Denotation: sympathetic, humane Connotation: In this context, human refers to the people who haven’t been corrupted by Big Brother. They still experience emotion and are compassionate and kind towards one another. The “human” ones also live their own independent lives, free from the totalitarian society that the government has established. Back

Key Words/Phrases Loyal Denotation: Faithful to one’s sovereign, government, or state Connotation: Instead of being loyal to the party, the proles are loyal to each other. Their relationships are based on love, instead of fear. Back

Key Words/Phrases By using these words, Orwell paints a picture in the readers mind of people similar to us. We still care about our individual relationships, and are loyal to one another. He also shows what can happen to people under totalitarian control. They live in fear of their government, instead of living to love and help others. In this way, they become like robots following the expectations of the party instead of maintaining human values.

Literary Devices “...a completely helpless gesture, an embrace, a tear, a word spoken to a dying man...” Asyndeton: A rhetorical term for a writing style that omits conjunctions between words, phrases, or clauses Next

Literary Devices It gives a dramatic effect to simple things that are no longer important to the people of the party. By omitting the conjunctions it gives the reader a feeling that there is an endless list of small, yet important, aspects of life. Back

Literary Devices “...The proles had stayed human.” Irony: The use of words to convey a meaning that is opposite of its literal meaning Next

Literary Devices The proles were the ones that were looked down on in society, but they were the only ones who had the power to make a change. It is ironic that they are the ones who “stayed human,” when they are treated so worthlessly. Back

Intertextual Connections We connected this quote with The Notebook. In this movie scene, Allie’s parents are telling her that Noah is below their social status and she will no longer be able to date him. This is similar to 1984, because the proles are considered inferior to the members of the party. In reality, these people are the only ones that still have a grasp on true human emotion. The Notebook Next

Intertextual Connections The proles were loyal to each other, because they still felt human emotion. Julia and Winston believed that they would always be loyal to each other, since Big Brother would never be able to alter their thoughts. This, however, was not the case, and they betrayed each other. It is impossible to be loyal to another person when a powerful party is controlling the minds of their people. This shows the strength of the proles, because they are able to avoid that control and maintain their loyalties. Back

Questions How is our current government trying to control us? In what ways does that control challenge our values as humans? Next

Questions Why, throughout history, have people continuously been divided by social status? Would our society be better or worse if this divide did not exist? Back

Personal Reaction Next I think that this quote serves as a great reminder to always appreciate the little things in life, no matter what is happening around us. It also explores the idea that those who are looked upon as “less” than others are not necessarily less important; sometimes, they have the greatest power to make change and influence others in a positive way. Furthermore, Orwell makes the point that our relationships with others should be valued above all else. Even in the face of adversity, we must stay true to what we believe in and the people who are closest to us. Overall, this quotation acts to reemphasize the most important aspects of life and how we always need to take the time to be thankful for them. Next

Personal Reaction We often forget how impactful relationships can be. The people we surround ourselves with, often shape us into the people we are today. In this quote, Orwell emphasizes the importance of these personal relationships. In our society, we rely on technology to communicate, and we sometimes lose that personal connection with people. This is similar to Orwell’s futuristic society, because the people of the party don’t have personal relationships at all. This quote is meaningful to me, because it reminds me that small gestures and friendships can make a big difference in someone’s day or even their life. The proles may be looked down upon, but they hold the power to change society. In other words, we can’t over look the simple things, because they may have the biggest impact of all.

Works Cited ~maja*majika~. Kind gesture. Digital image. Flickr. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Feb. 2014. Flederhosen. Crying Dean Logo. Digital image. DeviantART. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Feb. 2014. Allie's Parents. YouTube.com, 2004. Film. 23 Feb 2014. Temper, Trap, perf. The Temper Trap - Sweet Disposition. YouTube.com, 2009. Film. 23 Feb 2014.