Analysis of 1984 Novel
1984is a novel written by George Orwell and published in the year 1949. It is about the threats of autocracy and cautions against a world governed by censorship, surveillance, and propaganda. The novel’s central theme is totalitarianism, and George uses literary devices such as allusion, irony, and metaphors to enhance the message.
The central theme depicted in 1984 is totalitarianism. The novel shows dictatorship in its exact shape. Orwell directly witnessed how totalitarian government s in Spain and Russia would go to any length to keep their power. In his novel, he portrays the state where its government supports monitoring and controlling its people to an extent having a disloyal thought is a criminal offense. He narrates, “In the far distance the helicopter skimmed between the roofs snooping into people’s window.” (Orwell 2). The government’s psychological manipulation, physical control, and technology to control its people. It is evidenced with Oceania- a one-party system where everyone is involved in worshipping big brother. “Behind Winston’s back, the sound from the telescreen was still babbling ..the telescreen received ad transmitted at the same time, and any sound made by him would be picked.” (Orwell 5). This shows how the government would monitor its people.
Orwell applied several literary devices in 1984. In chapter 1, Orwell uses allusion to enhance the message in the novel. “He would tie her naked to a state and shoot her full arrows like Saint Sebastian” (Orwell 12). Further foreshadowing has also been used in several chapters of the book. Orwell uses foreshadowing to develop a confining environment and a sagacity of forbidding. “BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU, the title beneath it ran” (Orwell 2). Most songs in the novel give foreshadowing details. “They have stolen my heart …under the spreading chestnut tree…I sold you, and you sold me “ (Orwell 40).
The novel represents states drunk with power were trying to think differently, and giving different opinions meets torture. The defeat of Winston being one of the civilized means the susceptibility of these people and their values even in the current society.
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