Keep the Aspidistra Flying
Elizabeth
English 241
George Orwell: Reflection or Ridicule
On reading Keep The Aspidistra Flying by George Orwell, I initially thought that Gordon Comstock was not a reflection of George Orwell, rather, he was just an over dramatic and exaggerating anti capitalist. Upon reading further, however, I now believe that George Orwell reflects some of his own views onto Gordon Comstock’s character. Although rather exaggerated, I believe Orwell, having written about social injustices and totalitarianism in previous novels such as 1984, writes by reflecting his views about the mind control of money and escaping imperialism through his characters. Some critics (A) agree with my most recent interpretation however, other critics, I’ll call them Critic B, believe that Orwell writes Gordon Comstock not as a reflection of views on consumerism and the mind control that money derives on people who “give in” but rather as just a character based on anti capitalist standpoint. Critic A, following my second interpretation, believes that George Orwell portrays his views through Gordon Comstock, the main character of this novel. These views include the idea that money controls people, which is why Gordon rebels by quitting his job at a respectable advertising company, to work at a low paying book store. Often times throughout the novel, Gordon is seen cursing at the aspidistra plant, which we later find out is representing consumerism or the “tree of life” (239), which Gordon associates with giving into the “money god”. Orwell expresses his views on hating consumerism and people who have good jobs through Gordon when he writes, “money-worship has been elevated into a religion.” (43), which is dramatic in the sense that he relates having money with God. Orwell portrays unfriendliness as justifiable if you have no money, when he writes, “Of course it was money that was at the bottom of it, always money. You can’t be friendly, you can’t even be civil, when you have no
English 241
George Orwell: Reflection or Ridicule
On reading Keep The Aspidistra Flying by George Orwell, I initially thought that Gordon Comstock was not a reflection of George Orwell, rather, he was just an over dramatic and exaggerating anti capitalist. Upon reading further, however, I now believe that George Orwell reflects some of his own views onto Gordon Comstock’s character. Although rather exaggerated, I believe Orwell, having written about social injustices and totalitarianism in previous novels such as 1984, writes by reflecting his views about the mind control of money and escaping imperialism through his characters. Some critics (A) agree with my most recent interpretation however, other critics, I’ll call them Critic B, believe that Orwell writes Gordon Comstock not as a reflection of views on consumerism and the mind control that money derives on people who “give in” but rather as just a character based on anti capitalist standpoint. Critic A, following my second interpretation, believes that George Orwell portrays his views through Gordon Comstock, the main character of this novel. These views include the idea that money controls people, which is why Gordon rebels by quitting his job at a respectable advertising company, to work at a low paying book store. Often times throughout the novel, Gordon is seen cursing at the aspidistra plant, which we later find out is representing consumerism or the “tree of life” (239), which Gordon associates with giving into the “money god”. Orwell expresses his views on hating consumerism and people who have good jobs through Gordon when he writes, “money-worship has been elevated into a religion.” (43), which is dramatic in the sense that he relates having money with God. Orwell portrays unfriendliness as justifiable if you have no money, when he writes, “Of course it was money that was at the bottom of it, always money. You can’t be friendly, you can’t even be civil, when you have no