Response to Goerge Orwell's 1984
Essay by review • January 3, 2011 • Book/Movie Report • 587 Words (3 Pages) • 1,268 Views
Upon my reading of the novel 1984, I was fascinated by George Orwell's vision of the future. Orwell describes a world so extreme that a question comes to mind, asking what would encourage him to write such a novel. 1984 took place in the future, but it seemed like it was happening in the past. George Orwell was born in 1903 and died in 1950; he has seen the horrific tides of World War І and П. As I got deeper into this novel I began to see similar events of world history built into 1984.
The main thing I saw in this book that brought me back to historical events, was the control of people for corrupt and selfish purposes. At the end of World War І Japan began to capture areas in Asia and the Pacific that had valuable materials such as coconut copra, rubber and quartz. The inhabitants of captured territories where more or less given the status of slaves. I saw the same events taking place in 1984; wars were being fought in disputed areas which contain valuable goods, but the main reason for war was for cheap slave labor. When Winston and Julia are in Mr. Charrington's room Julia brings out a surprise "It's real tea. Not blackberry leaves." "There's been a lot of tea about lately. They've captured India, or something," (1) Oceania is a world where quantity is more important than quality and quality goods are hard to get a hold of because it is reserve for greedy inner party members.
Another instance of a concept that brings me back to historical events is the strong connection between the Oceanian society and the German Nazi society. After World War І Germany was still in a stage of depression, Adolf Hitler promised a way out. So he began his brainwashing campaign and used load speakers and radio broadcasting. He started destroying books that opposed his views and murdered people that stood in his way to power. To keep control over society the inner party also used the same tactics. They formed a secret organization (known as the brotherhood) to stop any treat to the party. And built departments (Ministry of Love, Truth and Plenty) to keep the party in power, the party even eliminates or re-writes parts of history if needed.
During World War П communication improved, Hitler came to power by using communication; he used load speakers, radio broadcasting and slogans to promote his views. In 1984 the Party uses a male figure (Big Brother) to promote its
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