1984 analyze help!

[faith]

Im reading 1984 for an English literature course. Im supposed to hand in an analyze op aproximatly 350 words. I think the book is quite difficult patly beauce of the complicated subject and partly becauce of Orwell using a lot of world I dont understand.

Since here on this forum is a whole section dedeicated to Orwell I thought I would aska u for help. What themes, symbols, motives etc do u think there are in the book? I would be grateful for your opinions! (And I WILL think for myself too.)

Thanx, Laura

[litjunkie]

It is heavily focused on Socialism. You might take a look at the way in which socialism is examined in regards to communism.

[earth]

I'd analyze propaganda + it's uses, which was a major theme of the book as well.

[subterranean]

It's about how plotical system affect someone's life and personality and it's also about how someone try to fight the system in his onw way as hard as he could though he finally failed and aceepting the system is eventually the best solution.

[imthefoolonthehill]

I would analyze the spelling of the average poster in this place...

or maybe not...

so... you could focus on the implications of a world without privacy, a world without freedom of speech, or a world without freedom of thought. You could focus on the elimination of objective truth... or thousands of topics... I wrote 20 pages comparing this book with another... you can do 350 words... it shouldnt kill ya.

[subterranean]

suppose you can also focus on a society without love, a society which runs by pragmatism.

[simon]

George Orwell thought that language kept people down, could be used as an opressor. That thorugh the manipulation of language like collaterale damage instead of death would keep the people under Big Brothers control and it seemed to work.

[subterranean]

i suppose in a society under a system such as in 1984, all products of human culture are instruments to preserve authority, such as languages, paitings, art preformances, even the morning excercise.

[BSturdy]

The theme of language is an important theme in 1984. 1984's 'Newspeak' features Big Brothers censors gradually paring words from English - mirroring the down-trodden life that the people of Oceania lead. Orwell expressed himself wonderfully through language and I very much doubt he was against it per se. That language is hijacked/censored by the party/Big Brother from the people is as significant as the lack of privacy. Orwell demonstrates that liberty of thought and expression are nurtured by language.

Along with Brave New World by Aldous Huxley mentioned elsewhere on the forum, the short story 'The Machine Stops' by E M Forster (1909) is another version of futuristic dystopia that is very worth reading.

"Quicker" he gasped "I am dying - but we touch, we talk, not through the Machine"

[Stanislaw]

I think the Newspeak would be an interesting thing to analyze in the story, it is basically how the party is introducing control and making it impossible to spread anti-party propoganda.

[Scheherazade]

Although the book heavily concentrates on political issues, I would go for human nature. Despite the oppression and bans, people manage to show their thinking and feeling sides... Even those who embrace the Big Brother's teachings unquestioningly. One can see instances of ambition, passion, love, loneliness, curiosity throughout the book... It seems like what Big Brother only achieves is channelling these human traits rather than destroying them...

[BSturdy]

Scheherazade - Whilst I think my observation is valid Stanislaw is more correct in terms of Orwells objectives

Stanislaw - can you pls reccomend one of Stanislaw's works that is available in the uk?

[nns]

If you choose to focus on the Language (newspeak), which is one of the major and most fascinating aspects of the novel, perhaps you may want to read one of GO best known essays: Politics and the English Language (you can find it at www.assumption.edu/dept/history/His130/PoliticsAndLanguage.html)
Besides, if you are required to analyse 1984 in 350words, you'd better get acquainted with the newspeak: you are going to need it. :nod:

[Stanislaw]

LOL, how true nns! and best of luck BSturdy with your lem search!