George Orwell
Orwell was heavily
influenced by the spanish
civil war (1936-39)
Where General Franco
(supported by Hitler and Mussolini)
began a coup to depose the elected government
The outcome of the Spanish civil war
tested the military power of Germany
and Italy and pushed the world away
from the peace movement
1984: Context
Written in 1948, where:
- the british economy was poor
- The British Empire was disolving, but newspapers were reporting triumphs
- USSR was becoming a peacetime foe.
A government/political authority
that demonstrates absolute and
centralized control.
An imaginary place (often in the future)
where the condition of life is extremely bad:
deprivation, oppression and terror
A government that maintains a strong miliary force
1984: The Novel
Takes place in "Oceania"
-A future British Empire (?)
- Has U.S. implications: currency =$
Winston Smith
Stands seemingly alone
against a corrupted world.
O Brien
= oppressive party
Is depicted as "Old British" ruling class
-All seeing and knowing
-Ultimate power and authority
The world of 1984
parrallels Stalinsit Soviet Union
and Hitler's Nazi Germany
- Betrayed by a Revolution
- Subordination of individual
- leader worship
Big Brother
Can be compared to Stalin
and Hitler
"joycamps" // Concentration or work camps
"thought police" // Gestapo; SS
"Youth League" // Hilter youth
Use of Propaganda: "Victory Mansions", "Victory Gin"