1984

George Orwell

War is Peace

Freedom is Slavery

Ignorance is Strength

George Orwell “Big Brother is Watching You!”

Born June 25, 1903 in Motihari, India Died January 21, 1950 in London, England Real name Eric Blair Parents were financially secure, but not

wealthy; father a low level official of British government in charge of India.

Moved back to England when 8

Orwell, cont.

Went to fashionable prep school – felt out of place.

Received scholarship to Eton – mediocre grades.

Chose a career in Indian Imperial Police in Burma – disliked.

Returned to England and rented a room to write.

Orwell, cont.

Lived among the poor to research them. Chose to write under the pseudonym George

Orwell (George very British name: St. George; Orwell name of river near parents’ house)

Politically oriented as a democratic socialist – grew to hate communism and totalitarianism.

1984 - themes

Dehumanization: stripping people of their individuality.

Isolation Repression Loneliness Social class disparity: great differences in

financial and social classes. Abuse of power

Themes, cont.

Totalitarianism as a dangerous system of government

Control: physical, psychological, plus the control of information and language

Encroaching technology

Symbols

“A place with no darkness” Beetles Chess Pieces The paperweight Diary Dreams Golden country Rats Razor blades Telescreens

Symbols

Big Brother St. Clement’s Church The red-armed prole woman

Terms

Propaganda: information, ideas, and/or rumors deliberately spread in order to hurt a group of people or a nation.

Socialism: a social organization that endorses collective ownership of property, etc.

Totalitarianism: a government of total control of all aspects of society

Utopia: a perfect society; an ideal place

Terms, cont.

Dystopia: a society characterized by human misery; the opposite of utopia.

Irony: Use of words or situation to express something other than the literal meaning – not expected.

Paradox: a statement or situation that contradicts itself. It seems absurd, but is really true. Example: I always lie. If it is true, it must be false.

The World of 1984

Main character is Winston Smith – seemingly stands alone against a corrupt world.

Parallels the Stalinist Soviet Union and Hitler’s Nazi Germany as seen through the extensive use of propaganda.

Examples: (Nazi propaganda: “If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it.”

“The broad mass of the nation will more easily fall victim to a big lie than to a small one.”

Big Brother: at very top

Next: the Inner Party

Next: the Outer Party

Next: the Proles – 85% of pop.

Social structure of society in 1984

Think about the word government.

Turn to the person on your left and answer the following questions:

– Who or what is government?– What does-or what must-government

do?– What different kinds of governments

are in the world today?– How does government affect you

personally?