Nineteen Eighty-FourNineteen Eighty-Four

Orwell’s DystopiaOrwell’s Dystopia

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Literary SignificanceLiterary Significance

One of the most influential political novels One of the most influential political novels of our centuryof our century

Added vocabulary to our everyday speechAdded vocabulary to our everyday speechFascinating plot and vivid charactersFascinating plot and vivid charactersAlthough the year 1984 has passed, the Although the year 1984 has passed, the

questions Orwell leaves us with remain questions Orwell leaves us with remain relevant todayrelevant today

Historical BackgroundHistorical Background

Written in 1949 – Orwell dying of Written in 1949 – Orwell dying of tuberculosis – wanted to perfect political tuberculosis – wanted to perfect political writing as art.writing as art.

WWII ends in 1945 – Orwell still left with WWII ends in 1945 – Orwell still left with questions. Personal experiences that he questions. Personal experiences that he had (Imperial Army in Burma, fighting in had (Imperial Army in Burma, fighting in Spain against General Franco) led him to Spain against General Franco) led him to mistrust politics except for Socialism.mistrust politics except for Socialism.

A definition of SocialismA definition of Socialism

““A system based on public ownership of A system based on public ownership of the means of production and distribution of the means of production and distribution of wealth”.wealth”.

People have the power/governments work People have the power/governments work for the peoplefor the people

More even distribution of wealthMore even distribution of wealth INGSOC is meant to stand for English INGSOC is meant to stand for English

Socialism – does it?Socialism – does it?Karl Marx if you want to know moreKarl Marx if you want to know more

More Historical BackgroundMore Historical Background

Great parallels between the text and Great parallels between the text and Stalin’s history. Clearly the inspiration for Stalin’s history. Clearly the inspiration for Big Brother.Big Brother.

Russian Socialist Revolution (1917) – Russian Socialist Revolution (1917) – Lenin becomes leader (Bolshevik Party).Lenin becomes leader (Bolshevik Party).

At first, great reform including five-year At first, great reform including five-year plans for economy, collectivisation of plans for economy, collectivisation of farms, nationalisation of industry, liberation farms, nationalisation of industry, liberation of thought and art.of thought and art.

More Historical Background cont’d.More Historical Background cont’d.

Intellectuals around the world inspired by Intellectuals around the world inspired by Bolshevism.Bolshevism.

Lenin dies in 1924, Stalin becomes leader. Lenin dies in 1924, Stalin becomes leader. He is charismatic, but tyrannical. He is charismatic, but tyrannical.

Stalin purges party intellectuals to get rid Stalin purges party intellectuals to get rid of competition.of competition.

Key opponent was Trotsky – represented Key opponent was Trotsky – represented by Goldstein. by Goldstein.

Even More Historical BackgroundEven More Historical Background

Stalin’s opponents forced into exileStalin’s opponents forced into exileStalin begins the KGB – crucial to Stalin begins the KGB – crucial to

retaining his power, much like the Thought retaining his power, much like the Thought PolicePolice

Clearly, Orwell is envisaging a world that Clearly, Orwell is envisaging a world that has continued along this path. Real has continued along this path. Real Socialism (supported by Orwell) has been Socialism (supported by Orwell) has been subverted.subverted.

ThemesThemes

Dangers of TotalitarianismDangers of TotalitarianismThe Attack on PrivacyThe Attack on PrivacyThe Control of LanguageThe Control of LanguageThe Destruction of HistoryThe Destruction of HistoryThe Attack on SexThe Attack on SexThe Value of MemoryThe Value of MemoryThe Appreciation on the PastThe Appreciation on the PastThe Fallibility of the Human Mind The Fallibility of the Human Mind

Symbols/MotifSymbols/Motif

Urban decay (motif) Urban decay (motif) Big BrotherBig BrotherPaperweight/rhymePaperweight/rhyme ““The Place Where there is no Darkness”The Place Where there is no Darkness”Red-armed prole womanRed-armed prole womanWinston’s diaryWinston’s diary

Analysis of Major CharactersAnalysis of Major Characters

Remember that other than themes, Remember that other than themes, character analyses are among you more character analyses are among you more common essay questions.common essay questions.

Winston SmithWinston Smith

Late 30s, lonely, in poor Late 30s, lonely, in poor health, separatedhealth, separated

Alienated by his Alienated by his awareness/intellectualawareness/intellectual

Rebels - diary/JuliaRebels - diary/Julia Sexually frustratedSexually frustrated Needs to understand the Needs to understand the

pastpast Afraid of ratsAfraid of rats Is broken in the endIs broken in the end

""But it was all right, But it was all right, everything was all everything was all right, the struggle right, the struggle was finished. He was finished. He had won the victory had won the victory over himself. He over himself. He loved Big Brotherloved Big Brother." ." pg 300pg 300

JuliaJulia Young, beautiful, sensualYoung, beautiful, sensual Devious – plans trysts Devious – plans trysts

and pretends welland pretends well Small scale rebellionSmall scale rebellion Not intellectualNot intellectual Longs to be feminineLongs to be feminine O’Brien says she gives O’Brien says she gives

up easilyup easily Loses her sensuality at Loses her sensuality at

the endthe end

""she only questioned the she only questioned the teachings of the Party teachings of the Party when they in some when they in some way touched upon her way touched upon her own life. Often she own life. Often she was ready to accept was ready to accept the official mythology, the official mythology, simply because the simply because the difference between difference between truth and falsehood truth and falsehood did not seem did not seem important to herimportant to her." pg ." pg 154154

O’BrienO’Brien

Complex/paradoxicalComplex/paradoxical Burly and imposing, Burly and imposing,

wears glasses and wears glasses and adjusts them – adjusts them – “refined”“refined”

Tormentor/saviourTormentor/saviour

'''Do you remember 'Do you remember writing in your diary writing in your diary …'that it did not matter …'that it did not matter whether I was a friend whether I was a friend or an enemy, since I or an enemy, since I was at least a person was at least a person who understood you who understood you and could be talked to? and could be talked to? You were right. I enjoy You were right. I enjoy talking to you. Your talking to you. Your mind appeals to me. It mind appeals to me. It resembles my own resembles my own mind except that you mind except that you happen to be insanehappen to be insane.' .' pg. 271 pg. 271

Minor Characters of InterestMinor Characters of Interest Syme – represents the Party’s unwillingness to Syme – represents the Party’s unwillingness to

allow unique minds to exist. He is vaporised.allow unique minds to exist. He is vaporised.““One of these days, thought Winston with sudden One of these days, thought Winston with sudden

deep conviction, Syme will be vaporized. He is deep conviction, Syme will be vaporized. He is too intelligent… The Party does not like such too intelligent… The Party does not like such peoplepeople”.”.

Parsons – a typically orthodox man. His Parsons – a typically orthodox man. His imprisonment at the end reinforces the injustice imprisonment at the end reinforces the injustice of the systemof the system

“…“…one of those completely unquestioning, devoted one of those completely unquestioning, devoted drudges on whom…the stability of the Party drudges on whom…the stability of the Party dependeddepended." —pg 22 ." —pg 22

Clever Things to DiscussClever Things to Discuss

Newspeak – use in your essay and discuss as a Newspeak – use in your essay and discuss as a method of mind controlmethod of mind control

Proles – Winston/Orwell thinks they might be the Proles – Winston/Orwell thinks they might be the only hopeonly hope

Past artefacts and Winston’s obsessionPast artefacts and Winston’s obsession Expression of energy through 2 mins hateExpression of energy through 2 mins hate TelescreensTelescreens Winston’s memories and dreamsWinston’s memories and dreams What do Winston and Julia get out of their What do Winston and Julia get out of their

relationship with each other?relationship with each other?

More Clever Things….More Clever Things….

Children are evil – new generationChildren are evil – new generationThe inherent contradiction of party slogansThe inherent contradiction of party slogansTease out the relationship between Tease out the relationship between

Winston and O’BrienWinston and O’BrienGoldstein’s book – true or false?Goldstein’s book – true or false?Winston’s betrayal of Julia – the last of his Winston’s betrayal of Julia – the last of his

humanity?humanity?

Key QuotesKey Quotes

WAR IS PEACEWAR IS PEACE

FREEDOM IS SLAVERYFREEDOM IS SLAVERY

IGNORANCE IS STRENGTHIGNORANCE IS STRENGTH

BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOUBIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU

Key Quotes cont’dKey Quotes cont’d

““Thoughtcrime does not entail death: Thoughtcrime does not entail death: thoughtcrime is deaththoughtcrime is death.." —pg 27 " —pg 27

““Who controls the past …controls the Who controls the past …controls the future: who controls the present controls future: who controls the present controls the pastthe past." —pg 32 ." —pg 32

““If there was hope, it must lie in the If there was hope, it must lie in the prolesproles....” – pg 60 ” – pg 60

““We are the deadWe are the dead”.”.

Study TipsStudy Tips

Form a group. Each of you writes or researches Form a group. Each of you writes or researches as many essay topics as possible. Then discuss as many essay topics as possible. Then discuss how you would answer them. Write practices how you would answer them. Write practices and send them to your teacher.and send them to your teacher.

Ask your teacher for discussion/essay topicsAsk your teacher for discussion/essay topics Re-read the book!Re-read the book! Learn Newspeak – the language of this book is Learn Newspeak – the language of this book is

really importantreally important Learn key quotesLearn key quotes Create a timeline of eventsCreate a timeline of events