Written task 2 – Anne de Bree, 6a
Outline
The question that has been chosen is: How could the text be read and interpreted differently by two
different readers? For this critical analysis, George Orwell’s fictional novel 1984 will be used. This task
refers to part 4 of the course: Literature Critical Study. The three key points are:
 Explain the fact that the meaning of a text is determined by the reader
 Explain why every reader reads and interprets a text differently
 Give examples from the novels that could be interpreted differently by its readers
Task
A text can be read and interpreted differently by two different readers. This is because the meaning
of a text is determined by the reader. Each and every reader is different. There can be differences in
cultural background, experiences, education, age, gender and personal status. Therefore, all readers
read a text differently and they make a unique interpretation of a text. This is also the case in George
Orwell’s fictional novel 1984.
The meaning of a text is determined by the reader, because each reader has another personal
attraction to the novel. Actually, the writer wants to make you feel personally attracted to the novel.
He writes down feelings and thoughts of the protagonists very detailed. The reader might recognise
this specification from his own experiences. If a reader has in some way the same thoughts or
feelings as the protagonist, he can replace himself in the protagonist and he will find a part of himself
in the protagonist. This will make a novel extremely memorable for its readers, because readers will
be comparing themselves to the main character. The reader will start thinking about what he and the
protagonist have in common and he will remember that. Therefore, each reader creates a different
meaning for a text. For example, in the fictional novel 1984, there is a very detailed description of the
feelings and thoughts of the protagonist Winston. For example his thoughts about secrets. ‘’If you
want to keep a secret, you must also hide it from yourself. You must know all the while that it is there,
but until it is needed you must never let it emerge into your consciousness in any shape that can be
given a name.’’ Some readers will have in some way a personal attraction to this quote because of
their experiences in life. Some readers might be keeping a secret themselves and they recognise
Winston’s feeling of fear that someone discovers the secret. They will compare their secret with
Winston’s secret in 1984. Because they are personally attracted to the protagonist, they will
determine a different meaning to this quote than readers who don’t have an important secret. This
quote is also evidence for the fact that Winston is very suspicious and that he trusts nobody. Readers
will also replace themselves in the novel.
Another reason for the fact that readers determine meaning in novels is that readers create an image
for themselves. This often happens in descriptive language. The writer describes a character or his
surroundings very detailed, which will stimulate the imagination of the reader to think deeper about
the descriptions and use them for the creation of images in their minds. Even though the writer
creates many details, there is always space for the reader’s own creativity. Therefore, each and every
reader will create his own unique image, and the text is read and interpreted differently by its
readers. The reader himself can always decide which image he creates anyhow. He will start to think
about this images and he will give a meaning to them. For example in 1984 Big Brother is described
very detailed: ‘’It depicted simply an enormous face, more than a metre wide: the face of a man of
about forty-five, with a heavy black moustache and ruggedly handsome features.’’ Although this
description is very clear, each reader will create an own image of Big Brother in his mind. You don’t
know if Big Brother really exists or if it’s just one big lie made up by the Party. Some people will
create an image of a strict man looking down on you, others will create an image of a group of
people who have all the power.
The different interpretation of the novel has partly to do with age. When people read it in the time it
was written (1948), the country was at war. Those people would know the feeling of being watched
and controlled by the government. They would also recognise the propaganda in the book like: “War
is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength.” and ‘’Big Brother is watching you.’’ People who
experienced the war will compare Big Brother’s propaganda with the propaganda of Hitler. They will
also remember the contradictory points of view by the Nazis; they said their purpose was to bring
peace and wealth, but in the end their governance brought war and poverty. This can be compared
to the contradictory Ministry of Peace, the Ministry of Plenty, the Ministry of Truth and the Ministry
of Love, who concern themselves with war, starvation, lies and torture.
Some people will be aware of the political power of a small group of men. They will make the
interpretation that George Orwell had the purpose to make a political statement. Other readers will
also think he wanted to warn society for such a situation. Especially people who read it in the time it
was written, since England was in the middle of the Second World War. Others will just think he
wanted to write an exciting fictional novel, with no hidden message.
A reader determines meaning in novels, but also each reader determines a different meaning in
novels. Every reader feels a different personal attraction to a text and they consider their own
experiences and thoughts when determining meaning of that text. Of course, each reader has other
experiences and thoughts, so the readers will all interpret the text differently.