Ib Written Task 2; 1984
Martijn Pas Candidate No. 2613-033
Written Task 2
HL
Part 3: Literature - texts and contexts
The Relation of Certain Social Groups From the Novel ‘1984’ With Real Social Groups. The lower working class. In a totalitarian environment, they can be best described as the group of people without a voice, a group that has to live according to the rules of the totalitarian regime, which often rules with an iron fist. In an authoritarian system, this group does have a larger sphere left for a private life. People from the working class in such a system still cannot interfere with the government, but at least they live a life which lies more in their own hands. In the book ‘1984’ by George Orwell, the social group called ‘The Proles’ has a lot of characteristics in common with the working class in an authoritarian system, where the Outer Party looks like the working class in a totalitarian system. This written task will explore the differences and similarities these groups have, such as ideologies and their role in society. Orwell describes the Outer Party as a group of people performing jobs for the ministries, living in fear every day they get arrested by the thought police and watching their steps, since they are watched upon 24/7 by telescreens which can be found everywhere. Out on the street, at work and even at home they are filmed. If they do something wrong, or express they do not agree with what the Party says, they can be arrested. And when they get arrested, chances of survival are slim. This situation clearly agrees on some fronts with the working class in a totalitarian system. These fronts include that both groups are watched continuously by the government and that their political ideas may not differ from the government ideals. On top of that, when people think differently, and show it in public, they can be arrested, tortured and shot. This is described by Orwell in his book as ‘vaporizations’1, and can be compared to events which
Written Task 2
HL
Part 3: Literature - texts and contexts
The Relation of Certain Social Groups From the Novel ‘1984’ With Real Social Groups. The lower working class. In a totalitarian environment, they can be best described as the group of people without a voice, a group that has to live according to the rules of the totalitarian regime, which often rules with an iron fist. In an authoritarian system, this group does have a larger sphere left for a private life. People from the working class in such a system still cannot interfere with the government, but at least they live a life which lies more in their own hands. In the book ‘1984’ by George Orwell, the social group called ‘The Proles’ has a lot of characteristics in common with the working class in an authoritarian system, where the Outer Party looks like the working class in a totalitarian system. This written task will explore the differences and similarities these groups have, such as ideologies and their role in society. Orwell describes the Outer Party as a group of people performing jobs for the ministries, living in fear every day they get arrested by the thought police and watching their steps, since they are watched upon 24/7 by telescreens which can be found everywhere. Out on the street, at work and even at home they are filmed. If they do something wrong, or express they do not agree with what the Party says, they can be arrested. And when they get arrested, chances of survival are slim. This situation clearly agrees on some fronts with the working class in a totalitarian system. These fronts include that both groups are watched continuously by the government and that their political ideas may not differ from the government ideals. On top of that, when people think differently, and show it in public, they can be arrested, tortured and shot. This is described by Orwell in his book as ‘vaporizations’1, and can be compared to events which