Studied by 2 people
describe the context of Orwell’s early life
he was born "‘Eric Blair’ in 1903 in Bengal, and moved to England a year later. His father retired to be with his family, but moved away as an officer for the great war in 1917
attended St Crypian’s boarding school, and his experiences of punishment and emotional manipulation there provided a model for Winston’s “re-education” in 1984
describe the influence of propaganda on Orwell’s writing
during WWII, Orwell worked for the homes guard as a radio writer and producer. His wife worked in the government censorship department. These provided inspiration for the fictional Ministry of Truth
Orwell was concerned about the positive view of the USSR in English media after 1941, influencing Oceania’s swift change of allies
Describe Orwell’s experience of the Spanish civil war
he fought for the republicans and was shot by a fascist sniper in 1937. However, he realise that the left was just as dangerous as the right as many of the Spanish communists began to turn on their former allies. when he retuned to the UK, media would only support the republican side and refused to publish his eyewitness statement
what did Orwell believe regarding political structures and equality
he was a socialist, and believed that only through the state taking the wealth and power of the ruling class and redistributing it could society become equal and just
he believed that capitalism was dangerous because it could easily mutate into fascism
criticized the communist belief that the intellectual elite should govern
list the 3 most significant literary influences on 1984 and briefly summarise each one
When the Sleeper Wakes, written by H.G. Wells in 1899, set in a centrally controlled state in the year 2100
We, written by Zamyatin in 1924, praised by Orwell for its “intuitive grasp of the irrational side of totalitarianism,” and the first dystopian criticism of the future of the USSR. the plot involves a main character who keeps a diary to maintain his sense of individuality
Brave New World, written by Huxley in 1931, involves “solidarity service” which is similar to a two minutes hate
2 quotes from Berkes on the role of language
“language becomes a mind-control tool, with the ultimate goal being the destruction of will and imagination”
the role of Newspeak is to “restrict understanding of the real world”
quote from Newsinger (2018) about women in Orwell’s view
“unfortunately one of those male socialists who were opposed to every oppression, except that of women”
2 quotes from ‘Two different kinds of dystopia’ by O’Duffy
a narrator who doesn’t know it all “underlines the unpredictability of the dystopian world”
“While the characters in The Handmaid’s Tale have little hope to dwell on, they are at least able to dwell on it”
2 quotes and one summarised argument from Webster
“the seeds of unthinking conformity are everywhere”
“it is through the destruction of language that the individuals ability to think independently is eroded”
1984 is not prophetic of the future but a satirical warning of erosions of freedom and language
2 quotes from ‘Dystopian dust - a mote to trouble in the mind’s eye’ by Smithers
“no matter the man or the institution, all will turn to dust”
“the relationship that indicts both of them, is one that is mired in dust: surrounded in death”
quote from genesis 3:19 about dust
“for dust thou art, and shalt to dust return”
3 quotes from Howell on language and hope
“linguistic manipulation is fundamental to the society’s creation of a population which is complicit in its own oppression”
“Orwell suggests that people can lose their sense of this and come to accept even that which they know to be untrue”
through the appendix, “Orwell expresses some optimism of the possibilities of resistance”
quote from Lynskey (2019) showing role of 1984 in modern world
“the book we turn to when truth is mutilated, when language is distorted, when power is abused, when we want to know how bad things can get
quote from Orwell on his socialism
“I became pro-socialist more out of disgust with the way the poorer section of the industrial workers were oppressed”
quote from Orwell on collectivism
“collectivism leads to concentration camps, leader worship, and war”
quote from Orwell showing pessimism, written in a letter to a friend
“each winter I find it harder and harder to believe that spring will come”
