1984

The life of George Orwell Eric Arthur Blair was born in India and educated in England. He did not have the money to attend college. He returned to India and became a member of the Indian Imperial police. Later he went back to England and held low level, low paying jobs. While working, he became aware of the suppression of the working class.

Orwell’s Political Beliefs Orwell believed that POWER not only corrupts but also breeds desire for MORE POWER. He was opposed to the oppression of the poor by the rich and powerful. He was disenchanted with communism and totally against totalitarianism regimes. His political convictions and social criticism became a basis for much of his fiction. He also believed that individual rebellion was futile and revolution brought only temporary relief.

Anti-utopian / Dystopian Literature Utopian literature shows the world as it should be. Anti-utopian literature shows the world as it should not be. Orwell’s novels show a world where integrity, freedom, and the individual consciousness is forgotten and fear and hatred motivate and unite people.

The Construction of 1984 Orwell began 1984 in August of 1946 and finished it in November He was ill with TB for much of that time. Orwell once said that he was not totally pleased with the book and felt it would have been better if he had not been under the influence of TB at the time.

The Conditions Behind the Vision Orwell’s vision of the future came from what he viewed in his past – Nazism and Stalinism. When George Orwell began to write 1984, he had just witnessed the defeat of two dictators: Adolf Hitler of Germany

The Conditions Behind the Vision and Benito Mussolini of Italy. FASCISM

The Conditions Behind the Vision He also witnessed the success of dictator Joseph Stalin of the former Soviet Union.

The Conditions Behind the Vision Orwell lived through the most devastating war in his history and then saw its victors almost immediately turn on each other in a tense Cold War.

A Warning? Anti-utopian literature usually contains a warning for its readers. Orwell seems to warn against the far reaching effects of Western technology, destructive world wars, and the rise of totalitarianism. He also poses the question: can we change human nature so that humans lose their humanity?

The world of is reminiscent of Hitler’s Nazi Germany and Stalin’s Soviet Union. The strong sense of nationalism is seen through the parades. Food shortages and rationings, censorship of the media, forced labor camps, spying, secret police and constant war or the threat of constant war are all a part of 1984.

The world of 1984 The governmental leader in 1984 is Big Brother. Big Brother is based on Joseph Stalin or the Man of Steel.

Joseph Stalin Stalin was born as Iosif Vissarionovich Dzhugashili. In 1924 he changed his name to Stalin. Stal in Russian means steel. In 1924 he gained leadership of the Communist party and became dictator of the former Soviet Union.

The Great Terror In the mid 1930’s Stalin started the purging of his enemies in order to maintain a stronghold on his position of power. He first attacked his closest party members by making them confess in court to fabricated crimes and then executing them. He next attacked other party officials, military leaders, industrial managers, and members of the secret police. Eventually he purged artists, university professors, and the population at large.

The Great Terror Prisoners and slave laborers became an essential part of the work force, enduring appalling conditions. Stalin's aides tried to justify what was happening and ordered filmmakers to produce Hollywood-style movies to persuade Soviets that they were living in normal times.

The Great Terror Many believe he killed 8-13 million and more died from famines and forced labor camps. Why did he do this? To maximize his own power.

Is 1984’s warning relevant today? 1984 is still relevant today as long as the world allows tyrants to rule the world,

Is 1984’s warning relevant today? technology to invade our privacy, and

Is 1984’s warning relevant today? disruptions in the peace process.