1. Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past. 1984 Introduction and Background

2. Orwell on the novel  My recent novel is NOT intended as an attack on Socialism or on the British Labour Party (of which I am a supporter) but as a show-up of the perversions to which a centralized economy is liable and which have already been partly realized in Communism and Fascism. I do not believe that the kind of society I describe necessarily will arrive, but I do believe (allowing of course for the fact that the book is a satire) that something resembling it could arrive. I believe that totalitarian ideas have taken root in the minds of intellectuals everywhere, and I have tried to draw these ideas out to their logical consequences. The scene of the book is laid in Britain in order to emphasize that the English- speaking races are not innately better than anyone else and that totalitarianism, if not fought against, could triumph anywhere.

3. George Orwell

4.  Born Eric Blair in 1903 in Motihari, Bengal  His mother, Ida, brought him to England at the age of one  At age five, he was sent to a small private school  Two years later, he was recommended to the headmaster of one of the most successful preparatory schools in England  After graduating, he received scholarships to both Wellington and Eton colleges

5. George Orwell  After finishing his studies at Eton, he joined the Indian Imperial Police in Burma  He resigned and returned to England in 1928 because he had grown to hate imperialism  He lived for several years in poverty, sometimes homeless  Worked briefly as a school teacher until his health forced him to resign

6. George Orwell  Soon after the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War, Orwell volunteered to fight against the uprising  He was shot in the neck in 1937 and returned to England  He began to support himself by working as a journalist  He died at the age of 46 of tuberculosis

7. Orwell’s pen name  Eric Blair adopted the pen name George Orwell to show his love of English tradition and the English countryside George – the patron saint of England Orwell – a river in Suffolk (one of Orwell’s favorite places)

8. Orwell’s Writing  During his life he was best known for his journalism  Also wrote 2 very famous books Animal Farm – allegory of the corruption of socialist Stalinism 1984 – prophetic vision of the results of totalitarianism

9. Orwell’s Beliefs  Orwell disliked communism and socialism because he feared that they would result in totalitarianism  1984 is Orwell’s prediction of what could happen if the ideas of socialism spread and continued to develop  Socialism did not spread as Orwell feared; however, many of Orwell’s predictions have come true, especially in the United States

10. The Conditions Behind the Vision  In 1946 when George Orwell began to imagine a future world, he had just witnessed the defeat of two dictators – Adolf Hitler in Germany and Benito Mussolini in Italy  He had also witnessed the success of two other dictators – Francisco Franco in Spain and Josef Stalin in the former Soviet Union  He had also just lived through the most devastating war in history and seen its victors turn on each other in a tense cold war  Orwell’s vision of the future came from what he knew of the recent past

11. What is totalitarianism?  State regulation of almost every aspect of public and private behavior  True socialism or communism would never result in totalitarianism because there would be no government  Unfortunately, the leaders who called themselves communist at the time were not – Hitler, Stalin – their ideas were leading their countries toward totalitarianism

12. What is socialism?  Socialism as a political movement was a response to the consequences of industrialization  In socialism, property and the distribution of wealth are controlled by the community – either directly or through government control on behalf of the people

13. Socialism vs. Communism  Socialism is a step towards Communism  Socialism is when the proletariat (lower- class/working-class) takes over, and forms a government ruled by the people  Communism is what happens when the government is gone completely

14. Leon Trotsky  Emmanuel Goldstein is modeled after Leon Trotsky  Trotsky was instrumental in founding the South Russia Workers Union and the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party  1900 – deported to Siberia, escaped, and met Vladimir Lenin  Participated actively in first Russian Revolution

15. Leon Trotsky  1907 – deported to Siberia again, and escaped again  1917 Tsar removed as a result of the Bolshevik Revolution, Trotsky went to Russia and became a member of the Central Committee of the Bolshevik party – Lenin was the leader  Trotsky became second in command

16. Leon Trotsky  Lenin became ill in 1922 and died in 1924. Josef Stalin took over.  Stalin did not like Trotsky and kicked him out of the Executive Committee  Trotsky was banished to Kazakhstan and then Turkey  Trotsky used his writing to oppose Stalin

17. Leon Trotsky  Because Trotsky was a Communist and he had been expelled from his own country, he had a hard time finding a country where he would be allowed to reside  He was finally allowed to live in Mexico in 1937  On August 20, 1940, Trotsky was attacked with an ice-axe in his office in Mexico City by one of Stalin’s followers and died the following day

18. The Bolshevik Revolution  An uprising in Russia in which the proletariat united and overthrew the bourgeoisie  Proletariat – working class – lower class  Bourgeoisie – ruling class – upper class

19. 1984 Literary Devices

20. Literary Devices in 1984 Irony – a contrast between appearance and reality In 1984, reality is often the opposite of what the party says it is Big Brother is a tyrant Ministry of Truth produces lies Ministry of Peace is in charge of war Ministry of Love punishes people Ministry of Plenty rations food

21. Literary Devices in 1984 Setting and Mood 1984 gives us full detailed descriptions of place Orwell uses all the senses to really make the reader imagine what it is like to live in this society smells of houses – cabbage and bad lavatories Taste of Victory Gin and thin, sour stew Vision of Mrs. Parsons with “dust in the creases of her face” Sounds of the telescreen

22. Literary Devices in 1984 Symbolism (a symbol is a person, place or thing that has a concrete meaning itself and also stands for something beyond itself) Symbols in 1984 Winston’s Diary Victory Gin “The Bells of St. Clements” The Prole Women The paperweight The Chestnut Tree Café

23. 1984 Things to think about – Discussion

24. Things to think about – discussion Individuality can be destroyed by a political system. Individuality can be destroyed by a political system. Do you believe this could be true? Explain? Do you believe this could be true? Explain? Who might believe this statement more readily than others? Who might believe this statement more readily than others?

25. Things to think about – discussion Language is a powerful tool for controlling how people view the world. Language is a powerful tool for controlling how people view the world. How does language shape your view of reality? How does language shape your view of reality? Do you think that a broader vocabulary would increase or decrease your ability to understand the world you live in? Do you think that a broader vocabulary would increase or decrease your ability to understand the world you live in?

26. Things to think about – discussion A knowledge of the past is essential for evaluating the present. A knowledge of the past is essential for evaluating the present. What connections can exist between past and present events? What connections can exist between past and present events? In what way does a knowledge of history help you understand current events? In what way does a knowledge of history help you understand current events?

27. Things to think about – discussion People can be forced to give up their beliefs and even alter their feelings if their survival is threatened. People can be forced to give up their beliefs and even alter their feelings if their survival is threatened. What kind of beliefs or feelings might be the easiest to give up? Most difficult? What kind of beliefs or feelings might be the easiest to give up? Most difficult? Do you have beliefs that you would not give up under any circumstances? Explain. Do you have beliefs that you would not give up under any circumstances? Explain.