Casey Carrigan
Mrs. Sejkora
AP English 12
23 Jan 2012
Orwell’s Fight for the Ideal
During the late 1940’s George Orwell gained recognition as an author that analyzed and effectively attacked totalitarianism through two of his most popular novels, 1984 and Animal Farm. These works discuss how a totalitarian regime rises to power and the means they use in order to maintain control. A common theme Orwell addresses is the similarity between most communist and socialist governments as their core being a totalitarian rule, a true fight for power and control versus a fight for egalitarianism. Orwell believes writing is focused on and molded by political purpose that is developed through personal experience. In both Animal Farm and 1984 Orwell relies on his life experiences and political inclinations to develop a critique the flawed employment of socialism and communism.
Orwell was strongly impacted by his time in Spain during the Spanish Civil War, where he learned about Russia and the truth of its rule, which was infuriating as it was considered a welfare state. The animals of Animal Farm begin an uprising against their master in a fight against their poor living conditions and to establish their independence and citizen influenced society. Many of the rules they implement following their independence parallel basic premises of Marxism. “Animalism” as Orwell describes it, creates a state where all animals are equal, similar to Marx ideal classless society. Although the basis for the society created by the animals is Marxist in theory, Napoleon uses the process of the revolution to benefit himself and develop his charismatic legitimacy. This manipulation of masses through lyrical ideas and visionary promises is similar to Stalin’s evolution as a leader along with following Russian leaders. With Russia’s common instability due to either social or economic issues the citizens were susceptible to idealistic futures promised by intriguing leaders. Napoleon’s song “Riches more than mind can picture, Wheat and barley, oats and hay, Clove, beans and mangel-wurzels Shall be ours upon that day” was his way of building an illusion of a carefree and perfect future for the animals who could work to realize his goal, independence (Orwell, Animal Farm 8).
Language is essential to the writing as it develops meaning and purpose within a text, according to Orwell. In 1984 outstanding manipulation by the government to not only rewrite history but to alter the language through the creation of Newspeak. With the ability to inhibit people’s ability to communicate and for the youth, their ability to think thoroughly, the government effectively brainwashes without having any contact with the person. “With every conceivable kind of information, instruction, or entertainment, from a statue to a slogan, from a lyric poem to a biological treatise, and from a child’s spelling book to a Newspeak dictionary” The Party forces their power upon citizens through their power to oppress them on a level of practically taking away the capacity to think beyond what is taught (Orwell, 1984 43). The Party’s specific and well thought methods of maintaining power are exaggerated into satire, and reminiscent of the majority of socialist and communist rules. “No event is ever correctly reported in a newspaper, but in Spain for the first time I saw newspaper reports which did not bear any relation to the facts” which is where he gained his realization of how far a government can go beyond just changing facts, they can change a foundation (Bennett).
Issues seen within totalitarian government regimes and the living conditions of the people are cause enough to provide motivation to reveal the situation. “One would never undertake such a thing if one were not driven by some demon whom one can neither resist or understand. For all one knows that demon is the same instinct that makes a baby squall for attention. And yet it is also true that one can write nothing readable unless one constantly struggles to efface one's personality” is evidence of Orwell’s motivation (McCrum). Orwell continuously changed and developed his political stances as they suited the time and their relevance to issues he deemed most important, he was always left-wing, it just varied to what degree.
Although Orwell was liberal and was vehemently opposed, as he said “against totalitarianism and for democratic socialism, as I understand it”, he was still seemingly conservative in his acceptance of people’s intellectual ability (Orwell, Why I Write). As socialist regimes come to power they immediately abandon the premise which they claim to be built on, the classless society is not achievable in its ideal entirety. This is where Orwell seeks a complete freedom but with a truly elected ruling power so that equality can be practically attained and order can be maintained. “He believed passionately in liberty, but also in condemning harshly the morally and aesthetically bad” showing how his past truly did mold his political views that he tried to base completely off of theories and evidence (Crick). The criteria the liberty must meet is discussed due to his bias which is based off of his lonely upbringing and serious nature, he sees no room for needs based too far from his realm of knowledge. Through 1984 and Animal Farm Orwell expresses his dissatisfaction with the operation and functioning of existing regimes that employed totalitarian rules, as well as expressing his vision of how a government should be run.
Works Cited
Bennett, John. "Orwell's 1984: Was Orwell Right?" Institute for Historical Review. 1986. Web. 12 Jan. 12.
Crick, Bernard. "George Orwell: Voice of a Long Generation." BBC. 17 Feb. 2012. Web. 23 Feb. 2012.
McCrum, Robert. "The Masterpiece That Killed George Orwell." The Guardian. The Observer, 9 May 2009. Web. 13 Jan. 2012.
Orwell, George. 1984. Orlando: Penguin, 1961. Print.
Orwell, George. Animal Farm. New York: Random House, 1946. Print.
Orwell, George. "Why I Write." 1946. Such, Such Were the Joys' Orlando: Harcourt, 1946. Print.
