George Orwell’s 1984

1. George Orwell’s 1984 Part One

2. Ideas to Consider 1. What individual freedoms do you have that you particularly enjoy? 2. How would you feel if such freedoms were rescinded? Why? 3. Think of freedoms you are denied simply due to your social position. What is the reason for such denials, and how do you feel about them? 4. How would you say the future is portrayed in various media, namely in film? Why do you think this is the case? 5. What historical events would have informed Orwell’s writing of this novel? 6. What is your greatest fear or fears?....

3. A Quick Word on Etymology and Genre….. Etymology- study of the history of words, their origins, how their meanings have changed over time • UTOPIA- Greek origin “no place” “no such place” “nowhere” (Factoid- Utopia was coined by Thomas More in his 16th century classic, Utopia….) Utopia: a place/world where everything seems ideal or perfect • DYSTOPIA- dys- “ill” or “bad” Dystopia: a highly imperfect place/world where everything is nightmarish and dark.

4. A Quick Word on Etymology and Genre….. Dystopian literature- genre used to explore social and political structures in dark, nightmarish worlds 1984 portrays an example of a dystopian world ….. The protagonist of 1984 lives in a dystopia….

5. Characteristics of a Dystopia • Propaganda- spread of ideas/information for the purpose of a specific cause- method of control. • Information & thought are restricted. • Individuality & dissent are ‘bad.’ • A figurehead or concept is worshipped. • Citizens under constant surveillance. • Citizens live in ignorance /fear about the outside world. • Society- an illusion of an orderly world. • Citizens live in a dehumanized state.

6. Orwellian? • This word comes directly from Orwell’s writing in 1984. It carries a negative connotation (perception, feeling) and refers to anything involving systematic controlling/monitoring of the individual.

8. Part One, Chapter I • Winston Smith- protagonist- Common surname shows that he can symbolize ‘everyman.’ Also, Orwell was inspired by what English WWII prime minister who fought against the evils of totalitarianism? • Etymology of ‘Winston’- “joy town” (irony) • Opening lines- strangeness/darkness of Smith’s dystopianworld; ex: “clocks striking thirteen.” • Victory Mansion-name of Smith’s broken down building. (Victory Cigarettes, Gin…) • No electricity due to Hate Week (Basic necessities always in short supply).

9. Part One, Chapter I • Overall landscape- “grimy” and depressing. • Smith is ‘broken down’- seems older than 39- varicose ulcer, rough skin, wears ratty blue overalls as part of Party Uniform. • Big Brotherwatches everyone, everywhere. No one can escape the propaganda. • All citizens’ homes* have telescreens to monitor their every movement and read their thoughts. (*not necessarily the proles though…)

10. Part One, Chapter I • Winston’s secret act of rebellion- writing in his diary obtained in the “free market.” This is an act punishable by death or decades of work in a labor camp. • Note how difficult it is for him to actually write- no one seems to do it anymore. (Speakwrites are now predominant).

11. Part One, Chapter I • 4 main buildings of Airstrip One: Ministry of Truth (Winston’s place of work,) Peace, Love, Plenty • The Ministry of Truth- Minitrue* Concerned w/ news, entertainment, etc • The Ministry of Peace- Minipax* Concerned w/ war • The Ministry of Love- Miniluv* Concerned w/ law and order • The Ministry of Plenty- Miniplenty* Concerned w/ economic affairs *Their names in Newspeak, the language of Oceania

12. Part One, Chapter I • Party slogans- WAR is PEACE, FREEDOM is SLAVERY, IGNORANCE is STRENGTH • Setting- England, now Airstrip One in 1984- no one is sure of actual dates anymore; gov’t trying to wipe history/past clean. Airstrip One- part of Oceania, as Europe is now known.

13. Part One, Chapter I • Diary entry- Winston’s account of a disturbing war movie “flick” – only people who have a normal reaction are the proles • Proles-‘proletariat’ or member of the working class • Winston has flashback- thinks back to being forced to watch Two Minutes Hate at work- sees coworker with dark hair wearing scarlet (deep red) sash. She is a member of the Anti-Sex League. Winston seems to abhor her- has thoughts of murdering and raping her. (Should we trust Winston?)

14. Part One, Chapter I • Flashback continues- Winston remembers seeing coworker O’Brien (Inner Party member- social elite-) and sharing a look with him that seemed to say “I hate this Party too!”- huge turning point for Winston. • Reader meets Emmanuel Goldstein- “Enemy of the People”- mythical figure who led a revolution/resistance movement against the Party- the Brotherhood.He represents everything the gov’t of Oceania is against- freedom of thought, speech, etc...

15. Part One, Chapter I • Emmanuel Goldstein’s thoughts, beliefs are all rumored to be written down in the book- a collection (“compendium”) of –anti-Party or anti-Big Brother thoughtsthat the Party feels is highly ‘dangerous….’ • EG- object, the focus of the daily Two Minute Hate exercise. • Winston continues to reflect on his ‘moment’ w/ O’Brien- writes DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER all over his diary…..

16. Part One, Chapter I • Anyone guilty of committing a thoughtcrime is “vaporized” or “annihilated.” • Winston continues to reflect on his ‘moment’ w/ O’Brien- writes DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER all over his diary…..

17. Laws are enforced by the Thought Police, who arrest and “vaporize” anyone who even thinks disruptive thoughts History is constantly rewritten so that the predictions of Big Brother will never be wrong Citizens are constantly asked to show their allegiance by engaging in rallies and meetings to support Big Brother Hatred for the enemies of Big Brother is encouraged through the use of propaganda The society of Oceania is constantly at war with other countries: Eurasia and Eastasia --- or so Big Brother says. More…

18. Chapter 2 • Winston answers the knocking at his door. It is his neighbor Mrs. Parsons, the wife of his coworker, Tom Parsons. • Notice they address each other as ‘comrade’- a word typically associated w/ the Communist Party or even Socialism. • The Parsons’ flat is just as dingyand broken- down as Winston’s.

19. Chapter 2 • Tom is the average citizen- a ‘model’ or ideal Party Member- does everything he should, questions nothing. • The Parsons’ children- like all children in Oceania- are Spies, indoctrinated at a young age to report on everyone- who could be a threat- including their parents. • They accuse Winston of being a “Traitor” and “Thought-Criminal.” • Parents are actually scared of their children now.

20. Chapter 2 • Parson children are upset b/c they did not get to see the hanging of the Eurasian ‘criminal’. (Oceania at war w/ Eurasia- supposedly) • Watching public executions is a popular activity in Oceania. • Back at his apartment, Winston thinks back to a dream he had in which O’Brien had said to him “We shall meet in the place where there is no darkness…”

21. Chapter 2 • Yet another way the Party/Big Brother controls the people- rationing of material goods…. • Winston hears more from the telescreen: the amount of chocolate being given out (rationed) is to be reduced- 30 g to 20g. • Winston sadly realizes that his thoughts in the diary cannot last: his thoughtcrime WILL be the end of him. “Thoughtcrime is death”

22. Doublethink– the ability to believe two contradictory things at the same time (“reality control”) Newspeak – the language of Oceania Ingsoc – Oceania’s totalitarianform of government (English socialism) Police Patrol- like a secret police stalking citizens Thought crime– thinking anti-party thoughts Inner Party/Outer party– those closest to Big Brother and those on the outside- (O’Brien is Inner; Winston is Outer) Proles – the lower classes who live in a separate part of the city A few terms from 1984

23. Chapter 3 • Winston dreams (flashback) about his family, specifically his mother, father, and sister. It appears they are gone- a victim of one of the purges in the fifties. (veiled allusion to …?) • It is not clear why/how they died: all we can tell is that Winston seems to be alive b/c they are dead. They saved him in some way. “They were down there because he was up here….” -in some way the lives of his mother and sister had been sacrificed to his own.”

24. Chapter 3 • Dreamy sequence continues…Winston sees coworker (girl w/ scarlet sash) in Golden Country. He is not aroused by her body but by what about her exactly?....- her rebellious nature, seeming willingness to oppose the Party • Cut to telescreen again- Winston has to perform Party-ordered weird exercises “Physical Jerks”- We learn he is a member of the Outer Party. • Winston continues to reflect- Oceania has always been at war in one way or another….

25. Chapter 3 • The Party controls all thoughts- can even ‘change’ people’s memories of the past. Reality Control/Doublethink: “Who controls the past controls the future.” • How have Winston’s thoughts become dangerous? What does he know that all other average citizens do not?

26. Chapter 3 • “The past, he reflected, had been destroyed.” The Party/Big Brother destroys facts- ‘falsifies’ the past. The past has become mutable. The Party said that it had never been in an alliance w/ Eurasia. Winston remembers that Oceania had been in an alliance w/ Eurasia as short a time as 4 years ago- dangerous knowledge for Winston to remember….