“Until they become conscious they will never rebel, and until after they have rebelled they cannot become conscious.”
This is a very important observation made by the main character, Winston Smith, in George Orwell’s 1984. The statement helps the reader better understand how Winston feels trapped by the government and is desperately searching release. The author uses specific literary devices to emphasize the meaning of this quote and to draw the reader’s attention toward the sentence.
One very important technique displayed by George Orwell is the syntax of the segment. In the line prior the sentence in question, Orwell asks the reader a rhetorical question to spark their personal judgment of the proles with an underlying comedic tone. “Why was it that they could never shout like that about anything that mattered?” This question gives the reader a comedic way to look at the situation and still understand what Winston was trying to say. Then Orwell “answers” his rhetorical question by adding the above statement, which then lets the reader comprehend the frustration Winston experiences. Orwell syntactically arranged these two sentences in this order precisely for this reason and to help the reader feel what Winston is feeling.
Another key literary device is irony. This passage explains how the proles have the power to overthrow the Party but they do not have the mindset, or the organizational skills, required to do so. This is an extremely ironic situation since the hope for Big Brother to be overthrown rests in the hands of people who do not have the mindset to do such a thing. The irony of the statement helps illustrate the views of the Party and displays to the reader how the government controls the people. This statement is also ironic because it also happens to foreshadow the proles rebelling against the government. Orwell added this line to help foreshadow the proles defying the government and uprooting Big Brother. It is evident that it is foreshadowing this because it is as though this is their only hope to escape Big Brother and the government. It is ironic that this foreshadows this because Winston is saying that it will be impossible for the proles to rebel since they don’t comprehend doing something of that nature. Orwell uses irony to help foreshadow the proles rebelling against the government.
Therefore, George Orwell uses various literary devices in this sentence to help the reader understand the plot. After reading this line, the reader can relate to Winston because they feel his frustration and desperate quest for hope. The reader can also wonder if the proles will defy their expectations and uproot Big Brother and the Party. George Orwell inserts these techniques to emphasize the importance of this sentence.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
"1984" post3
“Don’t you see that the whole aim of Newspeak is to narrow the range of thought? In the end we shall make thought-crime literally impossible, because there will be no words in which to express it. “
This quote in the novel, “1984” by George Orwell, refers to a recurring theme throughout the story. George Orwell describes the central theme of how society in a totalitarian government can affect a person’s way of thinking. Orwell illustrates this theme by using multiple literary devices, such as irony and tone. Orwell’s use of literary techniques in this passage helps express the theme of the novel.
The tone in the text is a very important component which helps add to the general meaning. The tone of the speaker is very enthusiastic and sincere which demonstrates how he believes that his life work of Big Brother’s theories do good for society. Although Syme, the speaker, explicitly said that they are “narrowing the range of thought,” he still doesn’t realize the hypocrisy of the situation. George Orwell use of Syme is the novel was to demonstrate to the reader how people in this society think towards their government. At this point in the story the reader wonders how the people can conform to this kind of society and totalitarian government. Syme and his viewpoints represent the community as a whole and act as a foil to Winston. This representation then gives the reader a comparison between two ideas throughout the novel. The reader will then be able to better relate to Winston since he is so detached from conformity and society, because he pronounces the absurdity of the community. The tone of this quote lets the reader characterize the speaker and therefore draw conclusions of his purpose in the novel.
Another very important aspect of this particular passage is irony. Since Syme’s tone is very explanatory and enthusiastic, his attitude hence becomes dominant and authoritive. This extra emphasis is ironic because he is trying to explain his viewpoints to Winston as if Winston was the one who is not making sense. In the reader’s point of view, however, Syme is considered the one who does not make any sense and who is brainwashed by Big Brother. It is also ironic that the government is the organization funding this argument. In today’s world, countries tend to prosper when the people are happy and better educated, but in this society, the people are “vaporized” for being too smart and the government actually attempts to make the community unintelligent. This ironic approach is used by George Orwell to better establish to the reader how the government is ridiculous and unfair to the citizens. Also, the speaker believes that Big Brother and he are doing positive acts for the community by “eliminating thought-crime.” It is ironic that they think this because thinking can not be considered a crime in itself. This concept of “thought-crime” in the novel encourages the absurdity of the government and the manipulation of the people to accept this as being a crime. The use of irony in this passage further emphasis’ how a government can conduct a community in a way that desensitizes their way of thinking.
Therefore, the various literary devices used in “1984” by George Orwell stimulate the vivid theme throughout the novel. Tone and irony are just two techniques displayed in this passage to define the theme of a totalitarian society and its effects on an individual. The tone helps illustrate the conformist side of the story which then lets the reader relate more to Winston. Also the irony in the quote displays the absurdity of the government’s opinions and theories which therefore shows how the government manipulates the people. These literary devices stimulate the distinction of the theme in the novel.
This quote in the novel, “1984” by George Orwell, refers to a recurring theme throughout the story. George Orwell describes the central theme of how society in a totalitarian government can affect a person’s way of thinking. Orwell illustrates this theme by using multiple literary devices, such as irony and tone. Orwell’s use of literary techniques in this passage helps express the theme of the novel.
The tone in the text is a very important component which helps add to the general meaning. The tone of the speaker is very enthusiastic and sincere which demonstrates how he believes that his life work of Big Brother’s theories do good for society. Although Syme, the speaker, explicitly said that they are “narrowing the range of thought,” he still doesn’t realize the hypocrisy of the situation. George Orwell use of Syme is the novel was to demonstrate to the reader how people in this society think towards their government. At this point in the story the reader wonders how the people can conform to this kind of society and totalitarian government. Syme and his viewpoints represent the community as a whole and act as a foil to Winston. This representation then gives the reader a comparison between two ideas throughout the novel. The reader will then be able to better relate to Winston since he is so detached from conformity and society, because he pronounces the absurdity of the community. The tone of this quote lets the reader characterize the speaker and therefore draw conclusions of his purpose in the novel.
Another very important aspect of this particular passage is irony. Since Syme’s tone is very explanatory and enthusiastic, his attitude hence becomes dominant and authoritive. This extra emphasis is ironic because he is trying to explain his viewpoints to Winston as if Winston was the one who is not making sense. In the reader’s point of view, however, Syme is considered the one who does not make any sense and who is brainwashed by Big Brother. It is also ironic that the government is the organization funding this argument. In today’s world, countries tend to prosper when the people are happy and better educated, but in this society, the people are “vaporized” for being too smart and the government actually attempts to make the community unintelligent. This ironic approach is used by George Orwell to better establish to the reader how the government is ridiculous and unfair to the citizens. Also, the speaker believes that Big Brother and he are doing positive acts for the community by “eliminating thought-crime.” It is ironic that they think this because thinking can not be considered a crime in itself. This concept of “thought-crime” in the novel encourages the absurdity of the government and the manipulation of the people to accept this as being a crime. The use of irony in this passage further emphasis’ how a government can conduct a community in a way that desensitizes their way of thinking.
Therefore, the various literary devices used in “1984” by George Orwell stimulate the vivid theme throughout the novel. Tone and irony are just two techniques displayed in this passage to define the theme of a totalitarian society and its effects on an individual. The tone helps illustrate the conformist side of the story which then lets the reader relate more to Winston. Also the irony in the quote displays the absurdity of the government’s opinions and theories which therefore shows how the government manipulates the people. These literary devices stimulate the distinction of the theme in the novel.
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