Detailed Note on 1984 – Common Module Texts and Human Experiences

Resource Description

Syllabus Terminology
Anomaly – a deviation from a common form – abnormal – Winston’s approach of life
Paradox – a statement which is contradictory yet expresses a truth – O’Brien’s duplicitous nature – from a friend of Winston to a man yearning for control – Also the Ministry Names – built on Paradox
Inconsistencies – lacking in harmony between different parts – Julia conforming to society in the Two minutes hate – the constant change of war – demonstrates the constant threat to society
security which the Proles are prone to – reason for protection from the paty
Individual & Collective Human Experiences
Human Quality & Emotions – Behaviours & Motivations
Assumptions & Challenge of Beliefs
Purpose
Style
Structure
Context – due to the rise of Stalin, Nazism & Totalitarian war  a dystopian nightmare was
established

Themes
Dangers of Totalitarianism
– Orwell witnessed the lengths at which governments would go to in order to assert their
dominance over an individual
– He uses 1984 as a vessel to alarm the Western culture of regarding the dangers of
Communism – by seeing the rise of Stalin, Hitler etc
– Orwell was disturbed with the widespread oppression which he observed in communist
countries & he decided to portray a totalitarian regime in 1984
– Using Winston Smith as a timidly, rebellious character to provide a discovery on how the
party truly control their section of the planet
– The Party exercise their control over the existence of Oceania, not only sexually but also
through the monitoring of people through Telescreens & the subversion of history through
the Ministry of Truth – “War is Peace”
Psychological Manipulation
– The party barrage their subjects with psychological stimuli to overwhelm their minds
capacity to think of do
– Constant propaganda “big brother is watching you” – constant scrutinance
– They also manipulate the children of the family to act as “Junior Spies” where a sense of
hopelessness and deprivation of one’s self occurs – the family structure is paradoxical due to
the fear inflicted by the children onto the parents – demonstrates a stark contrast in human
lives
– Suppression of sexual desires occurs where the individuals are made to believe that their
human desires, what makes them individuals, are only a means of supporting the party
– Leads to the isolation
– The oxymoronic Triplings of “War is peace & Freedom is slavery” – confronts reason but the
verbal irony reinforces the regime’s grip on power

– The use of propaganda distorts the minds of individuals in Oceania – Winston’s Job at the
Ministry of Truth is to alter historical facts & propagate them through the country
– This is further expressed in the two minutes hate and with mottos of BB is watching you