Context for 1984 – George Orwell George Orwell was born Eric Blair in India in 1903. Educated as a scholarship student at prestigious boarding schools Described his life as “lower-upper-middle” class – he was frustrated by the oppression he felt by the dictatorial control the schools exercised over their students’ lives Did not attend college Worked as a British Imperial Policeman in Burma, and hated it He, of course, was required to enforce the strict laws of a political regime he despised. Became a writer

People of the Abyss Inspired by Jack London’s People of the Abyss: Jack London lived for a time within the grim and grimy world of the East End of London, where half a million people scraped together hardly enough on which to survive. Even if they were able to work, they were paid only enough to allow them a pitiful existence. He grew to know and empathize with these forgotten (or ignored) people as he spoke with them and tasted the workhouse, life on the streets, ... and the food, which was cheap, barely nutritious, and foul. He writes about his experiences in a fluid and narrative style, making it very clear what he thinks of the social structures which created the Abyss, and of the millionaires who live high on the labours of a people forced to live in squalor. "... The food this managing class eats, the wine it drinks, ... the fine clothes it wears, are challenged by eight million mouths which have never had enough to fill them, and by twice eight million bodies which have never been sufficiently clothed and housed."

Down and Out in Paris and London Purposely bought ragged clothes from a second-hand store and lived among the very poor in London and Paris Published a book about this “reemergence” – Down and Out in Paris and London It had two parts about the poverty in the two cities First part: Breadline in Paris and the experience of casual labor in restaurant kitchens Second part: Travelogue of life on the road in and around London from the tramp’s perspective (traveling from place to place on foot – no real home)

Witnessing HATE In 1936, he was reporting on the Spanish Civil War Witnessed firsthand the nightmarish atrocities committed by fascist political regimes. The rise of Hitler and Stalin inspired his hatred of totalitarianism and political authority Totalitarianism – State holds total authority over the society, and seeks to control all aspects of public and private life wherever possible When Orwell witnessed the danger of absolute political authority in an age of advanced technology, he responded by writing: Animal Farm in 1945 1984 in 1949.

1984 Negative utopian novel (dystopian) Aims to show the worst human society imaginable, in an effort to convince readers to avoid any path that might lead toward such societal degradation 1984 tells the story of Winston Smith – a low-ranking member of the ruling Party in London, in the nation of Oceania. Everywhere Winston goes, even his own home, the Party watches him through “telescreens” Everywhere he looks shows the face of the Party’s leader, Big Brother At the time, Orwell’s vision of a post-atomic dictatorship in which every individual would be monitored ceaselessly by means of the “telescreen” seemed terrifyingly possible… Televisions had not become a fixture in the family home It was the dawn of the nuclear age Dictatorships were a force around the world

1984 Fictional 3 superstates made after a nuclear warfare or civil dissolution Oceania Eurasia Eastasia The Party controls everything in Oceania, including the people’s history & language The novel takes place in a “transition time” between old speak (our current English) and Newspeak – a language created by the Party to prevent political rebellion by eliminating all words related to it. THINKING rebellious thoughts is punishable by death (maintained by The Thought Police) Leader of Oceania is Big Brother – a seemingly omniscient leader of the Party Ruling/Upper Class Inner Party Middle Class Outer Party Lower Class Proles 1984 highlights Winston Smith’s journey to find individuality among the totalitarian world in which he lives.

WINSTON SMITH 39 years old Low-ranking member of the ruling Party Frustrated by the oppression and rigid control of the Party Works in the Ministry of Truth, where he alters historical records to fit the needs of the Party.

BIG BROTHER Omnipresent image, appearing on the telescreen and everywhere else in daily life Never seen in person Oceania’s slogan: WAR IS PEACE FREEDOM IS SLAVERY IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH

EMMANUEL GOLDSTEIN The Party’s scapegoat and arch enemy The target of the public hatred generated by the Party Fought for: Peace with Eurasia Ending the Party Freedom of speech Freedom of the press Freedom of assembly Freedom of thought Revolution

Themes from 1984 Alienation and Isolation Appearance vs. Reality Destruction of Human Values Individuality vs. Tyranny Danger of Permanent Totalitarianism

Please read and respond to this quote in your Writing section “As to the [totalitarian] immunity of Britain and the USA. Whatever the pacifists etc. must say, we have not gone totalitarian yet and this is a very hopeful symptom. I believe very deeply…in the English people and in their capacity to centralize their economy without destroying freedom in doing so. But one must remember that Britain and the USA haven’t really been tried, they haven’t known defeat or severe suffering, and there are some bad symptoms to balance the good ones… If one simply proclaims that all is for the best and doesn’t point to the sinister symptoms, one is merely helping to bring totalitarianism nearer.” George Orwell, discussing 1984