1984
1984 is a political parable. George Orwell wrote this novel to
show society what it could become if things kept getting worse. The
first paragraph of the book tells the reader of the "swirl of gritty
dust....The hallway smelt of boiled cabbage and old rag mats." Just
from these few lines Orwell makes it clear that there was absolutely
nothing victorious abuot Victory Mansions. Every image the reader
recieves from Winston Smith is pessimistic. Hate week, for example, is
a big event in Oceania. The citizens prepare for it like Christmas.
Instead of jolly songs with family and friends over punch, Hate week is
celebrated with fists in the air while chanting about death, Goldstien,
and whatever the party wanted the citizens to disgust.
Winston hates the party and Big Brother. He hates the "pure"
ones, also.
Everthing about Winston's life drives him closer and
closer to a suicidal point each day. What makes things worse, hte Party
makes Winston think that he is crazy for wanting to be free to think
and for wanting to remember. These simple things are taken for granted
today.
George Orwell devilishly illustrates the brutality that man can
be capabel of when he is given such power. The people of Oceania are
forced to love Big Brother. There is possibly no one that loves Bill
Clinton, besides his family. there are several that love to makes fun
of him, but on the political mainstream love is not involved as it is
in Oceania.
The setting in itself is an extremely important part of the
novel.
Winston lived in a "dark, gray drab jungle." Posters of Big
Brothr were everywhere. The telescreen could see and hear asmost
everything that Winston did. However, Winston could hide from it long
enough to write in his diary even though he knew he would get caught
eventually. Winston was alienated before Julia. He didn't have much
contact with other people; he was constantly hungry both physically and
emotionally.
However, it is ironic that Winston enjoys the work he
does but he hates the falsification.
1984 is a satire of the upper class. The members of the Upper
class believe that they have supeiority over the common people. They
are always wanting more than what is given to them. Very much like
O'Brien telling Winston in hte Ministry of Love that it wasn't good
enough just for him to say that 2+2=5; he had to believe it with his
entire being,
to know that 2+2=5 or 3 or whatever the party said.