George Orwell 1984 Research Paper

1984, causes a thought of the past, when times were easier. However that is not the case in George Orwell's novel. It was written in 1949 and was therefore written before the year 1984. Orwell was using this novel to predict the future of the world. He believed there would be three superpowers left and they’d each be holding part of the world. This book is placed in Air Strip one of Oceana, London. This Oceana is a dystopia, it is an overruling force many would consider evil. 1984 is a terrifying idealization of a possible control of the world. Orwell uses multiple themes, motifs, and symbols to scare the reader of a possible future. 1984 has an extensive arsenal of themes that can be identified. Totalitarianism, the overruling force, plays the most important role in Orwell’s depiction. Big Brother plays the part of dictator, however he is never confronted or met, he is depicted throughout the entire book. “Big Brother is watching you”. (2) Along side of dictatorship, psychological manipulation is used to keep citizens worshiping the Party.
Doublethink is something used by the party to keep people thinking that the party is a recherche government. There is also Reality Control. The Party uses the Ministry of Truth to change the documents from the past to fit what the party says. “He who controls the past controls the future. He who controls the present controls the past” Many themes were used that would fit under these and are seen commonly throughout this novelization. Orwell uses a series of recurring objects to highlight the importance of societal impacts Doublethink is a very common motif, it is the acceptance of or mental capacity to accept contrary opinions or beliefs at the same time.
It is used throughout the novel in a way that it shows that people think on the outside that the party is a honorable government but on the inside hate their guts.Urban Decay is often used because of the party’s focus on war and keeping everyone obedient there is a very major drop in how the cities function, rather than a normal bustling city there are barely any shops, everyone is very cold to each other, and the buildings are crumbling. The people refuse to speak to each other unless its business, everyone is foul. There are almost no stores to shop at, and the ones that are there are under high surveillance and there is not much being sold. The world is under complete control and kept
down. Symbolization is used often. Orwell uses symbols to bring the story to a new depth and understanding for the readers. He uses Victory cigarettes to symbolize how the world is crumbling and Winston is simply trying to keep it together. Victory cigarettes are basically tobacco rolled in everyday paper. They taste like vomit and burn your mouth. Victory Vodka represents the burn of oppression the Party instills in the people. The vodka is a cheap item civilians can purchase to help them cope with the world. It is a very high percentage of alcohol so it burns on the way down. Winston’s journal is a symbol of rebellion. He writes in it when he can get away from telescreens. He writes his opinion about the party and how he feels knowing full well he is committing thought crime and could be murdered for it. Symbolism is a significant literary device used in Orwell’s novel. 1984 is a terrific novelization of a possible future outcome of a dystopia. It was written to scare readers of a possible future if there was another world war. Orwell uses a set of themes, motifs, and symbols to bring further terror into the reader, in hopes they would act out against this possible endgame.