1984

Independent Reading Assignment: 1984

Title: 1984 by George Orwell

Author and Era:

Originally the novel was named, “The Last Man in Europe”, seemingly fit for this book but was changed due to it’s publicity aspect. The publisher, Frederic Warburg, suggested a change to ease it’s marketing and Orwell chose “1984”. The motive behind the title of the novel is still uncertain, as it may be an “allusion to Jack London’s novel, “The Iron Heel”, in which the political movement reaches its height in 1984” (Aubrey). Or the novel may just be a simple change of the last two digits of its publishing date.

Orwell’s inspiration to write 1984, was primarily due to reflect his passion for his opposition towards “totalitarianism and for democratic socialism” beginning since the Spanish Civil War. “The Edwardian world of his childhood in Henley for the "golden country" (; his being bullied at St. Cyprian's for feelings of victims toward tormentors; his life in the Indian Burma Police and his experiences with censorship in the BBC for models of authoritarian power” were all significant influences on his work. His work with BBC, for example, led him to detest the essence of a Totalitarian government as his work was carefully observed for any slanders or etc. His “Ministries of Truth and Information” were inspired by places such as the University of London.

1984 was used by Orwell to convey his perception of the historical trends of the British Empire. During 1948, Britain glorified their triumphs rather than stressed the importance of their dying economy. “Oceania” seemed in its essence to be the future of Great Britain, with its naval entity. Through his experience and perception of the era during that time, Orwell does not write to predict, rather he writes to as a warning to the present situation. (Aubrey)(Shelden)(Smith)

Style:

George Orwell uses his typical style with a third person narrative to tell an articulate and easily understandable story with little...