Zsolt Czigányik_Cultic Heroes in Everyday Discourse: A Brief Analysis of the Cults of Shakespeare and Orwell

what is a cult?

• an interdisciplinary phenomenon, intersecting with sociology, religious studies, political science, and anthropology

• studies the social function of an author and their work

the three parts of a literary cult

• unconditional reverence

  • the author is seen as flawless and superhuman

  • there is a "willing suspension of rationality" in the face of the author's perceived genius

  • Shakespeare: reverence is directed at his literary quality and the "myth of perfection"

  • Orwell: reverence is directed at his political insight and foresight → he is seen as an "intellectual hero" and a virtuous opponent of tyranny

• ritual celebrations

  • can be verbal (e.g., hymns, praise) or physical (e.g., pilgrimages, relic worship, observing sacred times)

  • Shakespeare: has strong rituals—pilgrimages to Stratford-upon-Avon, the rebuilt Globe Theatre, and jubilees (e.g., the 1769 Stratford Jubilee)

  • Orwell: the main "sacred time" was the year 1984 itself, which sparked conferences, a film, and political commentary (e.g., Margaret Thatcher's 1983 New Year message)

• characteristic way of language use

  • the author's name, characters, and phrases enter everyday language as a framing device to understand the world

  • this is where the Orwell cult is most powerful and distinct

the Orwell cult

• his pen name became a common adjective: "Orwellian"

• his work provides a powerful framing device which shapes how we discuss politics and authority

Key Components of the Orwellian Narrative:

• totalitarian demand for loyalty: suppression of intellectuals and individualism

• omnipresent state power: surveillance ("Big Brother," "telescreen"), rewriting history

• linguistic manipulation: "Newspeak," "doublethink," "doublespeak"

Evolution of the Orwellian Narrative in the 21st Century:

• 9/11 and the Patriot Act (2001): criticism of the growth of government power within democratic societies began

• Edward Snowden Leaks (2013): revealed the vast scope of US government surveillance → caused a massive spike in sales of Nineteen Eighty-Four and correlated Google searches for "Orwell" and "surveillance"

• election of Donald Trump (2016): shifted focus to linguistic manipulation → use of the term "alternative facts" by his administration was widely labeled "Orwellian," causing another spike in the book's sales

The "Big Brother" Metaphor:

• the most prevalent term from the Orwellian narrative

• used to refer to any authority figure or organization seen as intruding on privacy

• its use can simplify complex issues by focusing criticism on a single entity (e.g., the government, a company) rather than on systemic problems

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