1984
1984 is a political parable. George Orwell wrote the 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...
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