1/24/2019 8 Comments George Orwell 3Author’s Name Dates Alive: 25 June 1903 – 21 January 195 George Orwell (orig. Eric Arthur Blair) Location: Great Britian
Major Works: 1984, Animal Farm Major Themes: totalitarianism, society wins, socialism Novel Choice Plot Summary: The main character, Winston Smith is living in a totalitarian hierarchy society that completely oppresses its people, he begins to realize what the government is really doing and begins to write down in a journal, the hatred he has. Eventually he works up the courage to try and join “the brotherhood,” a resistance force that is told doesn’t exist. But it does. Soon after he meets a girl named Julia who he falls in love with and together they join the resistance (Julia also hates the government or INGSOC). Soon after, they are betrayed by the person who inducted them into the brotherhood and are tortured and abused, mentally and physically until they betray each other (something that was they said would never happen) succumbing to the same government that suppressed them, thereafter a realization is made that they both love big brother. (the god-like leader of the regime). Analysis of Main Characters: Winston Smith: the main protagonist, he begins to realize how horrible the world he lives in is and joins a secret society to try and change it. Ultimately he fails and succumbs to the regime. Julia: Another protagonist, she falls in love with Winston and together, they join the resistance. They are both subsequently captured, tortured, and brainwashed until they betray each other ending their relationship. Mr. Charrington: the person who betrays Winston and Julia to the “thought” police. Mr. O’brien: The man who inducts Winston and Julia into the secret society, he is also their captor and torturer. Theme: Danger of Totalitarianism How did the author’s life influence his writing in this novel? (2-3 paragraphs) George Orwell was a very pessimistic man, he did not approve of the western democracies of Britain and France (thinking of them as exploiters of the poor masses) nor did he approve of the home grown Fascism of Germany and Italy. He despised communism and was an anti-totalitarian. He believed in a socialist society that wasn’t utopian, but a society that, in his mind worked better than anything else. Putting his odd political views aside, George’s (or should I say Eric’s) book had a lot to do with the war in Europe especially relations between the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany. He imagined a world where the world was under control by stalinist ideology. Much of the book’s details are based off of the Soviet union’s practices as well as Imperial Japan’s. The “thought police” based off of the NKVD (soviet secret police) and the idea of a “thought crime” based off of the Japanese secret police who arrested citizens who weren’t “patriotic” enough. His works after 1939 (the spanish civil war) were mainly to show the dangers of a totalitarian society that controls the world. Many parallels can be drawn between 1984 and Stalin's Russia such as what I mentioned before, the secret police who arrested anyone for anything. Other similarities such as the division of society (a small number of rich elite and a large number of poor masses) and the heavy censorship of the press are easily identifiable. The past altering job the Winston has in 1984 is also based in reality, Stalin edited multiple pictures to “get rid of” people in them who had gone against the party. Even Emmanuel Goldstein who is the number one enemy of the state is based off of a person from real life. He is based off of Leon Trotsky who became the enemy of the state. There was always a fear that Trotsky would throw a coup and overthrow Stalin, this is exemplified in the book as there is always the fear that the “enemy” Emmanuel goldstein would return and destroy everything that is loved. The secret “brotherhood” is based on the resistance in the soviet union as people valiantly fought against the regime that was controlling them. George Orwell’s famous book 1984 was mainly based upon his ideas of politics as well as the war raging in Europe only miles away. He feared a takeover from a communist or fascist regime and this is exemplified in the book that many feared would bring about the end of the free society all of us know and take for granted. Works Cited: “George Orwell.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 29 Dec. 2018, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Orwell. Google Search, Google, www.google.com/search?q=1984&safe=active&rlz=1CAIXET_enUS832&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwih8_npm_DfAhVOTd8KHbr5DEEQ_AUIDygC&biw=1366&bih=641#imgrc=k7iRq0B2eVw6OM: By: Jason Z.
8 Comments
Matthew P
1/31/2019 09:38:16 am
Which of the 3 factions is the most powerful?
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Jason Zimmitti
1/31/2019 10:15:08 am
Unfortunately, the story does not have an answer to your question. All 3 super-states are equal in every aspect. They're armies, weapons, and technologies are mostly the same. no two states can take down another so your question is pointless and please stop reading over my shoulder thank you.
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Isabella Luis
1/31/2019 09:43:35 am
How was the government oppressive to its people, and what exactly were the “thought police”? You did connect them to police in Japan during WWII but it’s stil a bit confusing.
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Jason Zimmitti
2/4/2019 03:56:26 am
The “thought” police are kind of like the secret police in today’s dictatorships. In 1984, they are so effective at their jobs that it seems as though they can read everyone’s thoughts to know whether or not they are dissenting
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Alex Wagner
1/31/2019 09:56:13 am
What does the Government do in the book that makes Winston want to rebel against it? Does it connect to George Orwell’s views of the western democracies?
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Jason Zimmitti
1/31/2019 10:06:23 am
The government is always taking away everyone's rights so that there is no freedom to do anything. While in my opinion this book is not about George Orwell's themes of western democracies, it is about the dangers of totalitarian regimes and what could happen if they take over the world
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Matt Marano
1/31/2019 10:08:45 am
Why was he against totalitarianism yet for a strict stalinist society?
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Jason Zimmitti
2/4/2019 03:57:56 am
George Orwell had weird views of government that I can’t really explain, he wanted some but not too much of you understand what I’m saying
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