1984 George Orwell’s tale of a future world gone horribly wrong

About the Author: George Orwell Born Eric Blair in George Orwell is his pen name. Because of the tyranny he saw in the world around him due to totalitarianism, he became a democratic socialist. Democratic Socialism: ownership of land, capital, property, etc. belongs to the community as a whole--combined with a democratic gov’t (voting, people having a voice, etc.)

What Inspired Orwell? World War II just ended and the world witnessed horrible violence at the hands of authoritative rulers. Russia was ruled by a dictator named Joseph Stalin. Adolf Hitler used propaganda and racism to murder millions of Jews, Slavs, gypsies, homosexuals, mentally ill people, and political rebels.

What Inspired Orwell? Mao Tse-Tung in China was fighting for communism. When he won, he began a long oppressive totalitarian regime. There were other dictators: Francisco Franco in Spain and Benito Mussolini in Italy. The world was going through economic reform caused by the Great Depression and WWII, so he witnessed inequality in that realm as well.

What Inspired Orwell? Orwell was a democratic socialist: Believed that the gov’t (led by the people), not private enterprise, should control the production and distribution of goods Was greatly concerned about the lives of the poor and working class

Technology in Orwell’s Time: A Time of Change Poison gas used as a weapon Lie detector invented Talking movies invented First liquid-fuel rocket First solo flight across the Atlantic/first flight around the world First computer built Microwave oven invented U.S. drops atomic bombs on Japan Polaroid cameras invented Antibiotics invented Television invented Radar invented

1984: Setting and Genre A futuristic, cautionary novel Setting: City of London, in the mythical country of Oceania, 1984 (in the future) Was written in 1949, and is an imagining of what the future would hold if certain (negative) ideals and people were given power. Don’t get caught up in the novel’s title, Just think of it as the future.

What’s it about? First of all, 1984 is a satire. Satire is a literary term used to ridicule or make fun of human vice or weakness, with the intent of correcting or changing the subject of the satiric attack. Satire has a target, which may be a person or group of people, an idea or attitude, and/or an institution or social practice. Often the target is examined by being held up for ridicule, typically in the hope of shaming it into change/reform.

Types of Satire Horatian – Light hearted and intended for fun. The subject of the satire is mildly made fun of and this form of satire tends to ask the audience to laugh at themselves. Examples: The Onion, Saturday Night Live Juvenalian – Bitter and angry, often attacking the subject of the satire. This form of satire is more judgmental, asking the audience to respond with anger to the events it portrays. Examples: Colbert Report & Daily Show (at times)

Example of Satire (Horation) The New iHand: 1. Why is this video funny? 2. Who is it making fun of? Why? 3. What is the overall message? 4. What kind of social commentary are they making? In other words, what are they trying to change in society?

Back to 1984 Also, the novel is a dystopia. Utopia: an ideal, perfect world. Dystopia: a society filled with oppression, misery, sorrow. The main character, Winston Smith, tries to rebel against society. He begins his rebellion with the simple act of writing in his journal --- which is an action punishable by death.

1984: Oceania’s Ranks Oceania is a huge country ruled by The Party, which is led by a figure called “Big Brother”. The Inner Party (1% of pop.): controls the entire country. The Outer Party (18% of pop.): controlled by the Inner Party. They are like the middle class. Winston is a part of this group. The Proles (81% of pop.): the labor power/lower class, who live in poverty. The Brotherhood: an underground rebellion organization led by Emmanuel Goldstein.

What’s Oceania like? All citizens are monitored by telescreens, which are present in ALL homes and workplaces. The government is represented by Big Brother, a figure who “sees everything.” Newspeak is the official language of Oceania. The goal of the Party is to have Newspeak replace Oldspeak (our version of English). Newspeak eliminates/shortens undesirable (emotional) words and invents new words -- all to force Party conformity.

Questions to consider as you read: This novel predicted one possible future. Are we closer to 1984 today than we were in 1949? How are our thoughts controlled today? Who could Big Brother represent in today’s society? What are the key symbols in the novel? In what ways are we watched and monitored today?