Society

Society

1. LOWER CLASS

   • 'typical prole reaction they never'
     • Throughout the chapter he stereotypes the lower class as the party wants him to- with disregard and disrespect- he is clearly trying to escape from a a system of ideas which are thoroughly withheld
   • 'there was a whole chain of separate departments dealing with proletarian literature.'
     • Proles- not considered a threat but such precautions were taken to ensure they never become concious of their poverty.
     • Lower classes are often controlled through encouragementof behaviours such as gambling and drinking.
   • 'involved women of a despised and submerged class'
     • How they use proles to dirty and desanctify the intamacy in love making
   • 'Swarming disregarded masses'
     • Lots of uncared for people- poverty stricken nature of the world- still struggling- people pushed to the side-makes them sound like insects- sheer amount of them- no real importance
   • ''fresh outburst of yells... frightening power.. few hundred throats!'
     • Proles have a passion and drive party member s lack so fresh shows it to be different- refreshing- something new and welcomed vs. Robotic party nature-EXCLAMATORY-Excitement or frustration- They could easily rebel- but don;t shout 'about anything that mattered'
   • 'natural inferiors' 'proles are not human beings'
     • Must be kept in subjection like animals- very easily controlled by Party but 'cannot rebel until concious and muct rebel to become concious- endless dooming cycleShws the unfairness of the class system- not considered the same species- ironic as they have retained more of their natural instincts then party members have- just oppressed.
   • 'Went to work at twelve.. period of beauty .. married at twenty .. middle aged at thirty'
     • Bluntness of list shows how boring and dreary their lives are- Rushing through ages shows how short it also is- and insignificant- despite proles having freedom their abilities are surpressedand needs met to keep them in place- almost like children who won't develop.
   • 'divorce was permitted .. even religious worship would have been permitted'
     • This should make them free but without their conciousness they are still opressed. This shows repression is not from the rules imposed- but from what Party have done to our minds
   • Proles.. in holiday mood because of summery weather'
     • Shows how temperamental their mood is and easy to influence- changes like the weather- suggests that they can still be in a happy mood becuas ethey dont't relaise the opressive world they live in- oingorance is bliss- Winstons [roblem therefore is his conciencse
   • 'dangerous eccentricity
     • Prole woman embodies human feelings and way of life people like Winston have lost- yet she ks a passive figure performing dull chores-suggests there is no use for people like her anymore
   • 'The proles.. normally apathetic about the war.. lashed into periodical frenzies of patriotism
     • -Periodcial'- shows how their support for the party is temporary- mainly concerned for themsleves fist- frantic- no control/madness- 'lashed' connoted slavery- how lower class were treated
   • 'like an ant... see small objects but not large ones
     • Oblivious to bigger picture- insignificant- humans who are only ruled by their emotions- we can't be tpo oblivious or robotic.

2. WOMEN

   • Something that had to be done'
     • Both times when Winston recalls his sexual encounters- he feels like they are a chore- and portrays a constant lack of desire- His obsessions to shout derogatory terms is so strong he must press his eelids'- Such an uncomfortable experience but this is the misogyny that has been drilled into him.,
   • 'lips deeply reddened, her cheeks rouged'
     • Red connotes danger also sexual lust and desire. Winston has 'never before seen' a party member with 'cosmetics on her face- showing that women were deniewd the right to express hteir feminity-With the addition of things like comrade and J.A.S.L- it is clear Party wants to rid the distnction between men and women- and simply make everyone a slave to the Party.
   • 'She had become a physical necessity.. something he felt he had the right to'
     • Wiston’s attitude to Julia has changed. First it was simply young love, all positively perfect- represented by the utopian setting wherein they properly first met. After that, he becomes dependant on her- ‘necessity’ – whether this is because she share his political views or because of his love for her remains unclear. By blurring the reason of his feelings for her their relationship can be viewed as one less of love, and ore of convenience- linking back to the dystopian theme of no pure emotions in a dystopian novel-CONVVENTION? Becomes more misogynistic when referring to her-how he has gone from cherishing every moment they spend together to deanding it-shows indoctrination but also how his state o mind can easily become sinister and dark
   • ‘All children are swine’
     • No maternal instincts WOMEN- role of women has changed- n femininity r distinction or tenderness has gone.
   • ‘Almost ignored Julia...Winston could speak for her’
     • idea she is not seen as an individual- his wishes are also hers
   • ‘He wondered whether she took in washing for a living or was merely the slave of twenty or thirty grand children’
     • Women’s ecognised role in a family was a slave to family and children- role of a woman

3. YOUTH

   • 'menacing...pistol .. uniform... not all together a game'
     • - This is seriously a part of children's behaviour- Party's way of successfully securing a place in the future.
   • 'Set fire to an old-market woman's skirt
     • Distorted concept of pride- danger- inability to control his children-celebrates violence i children- how younger generation prey and are more powerful and vicioious then the older genreation.
       • Orwell himself killed people in battl- but was shocked at the casual referneces made to murder- and attacked this in his essays eg Inside the whale-1940.
   • ''Why can't we see the hanging
     • Desire for trivial, sweet pleasures. Rather they want to witness brutal torture. They are not just used to violence but are craving it, and desire it.
   • 'They adored the party'
     • Do not know any better- prey on the innnocent and the young and brainwash them- truly love and admire the party.
   • ‘The mpst savage yells of all came from the school children’
     • Furture generations only getting worse- Children are the strongest believers as they dont have a lot of seef awareness or intellect

4. UPPER CLASS

   • Richness and spaciousness of everything, the unfamiliar smells of good food, good tobacco...everything was intimidating’
     • Such a luxourious description proves to be a stark contrast to description of the victory mansions -Find luxury intimidating- feels lost and worthless in it
   • Cream-papered walls...white wainscoating...exsquisitley clean..walls...grimy from the contact of human bodies’
     • Stark contrast/ juxtaposition of living conditions – almost opposites -human bodies- DEHUMANISATION – very abstract way of describing them –doesn’t identify them as people just bodies
   • ‘The voice had stopped. Julia uttered a ...squeak of surprise...Winston..too much taken aback’
     • -Short sentence- makes it dramatic and creates a pause- in which the reader can appreciate the significance of what has just happened. -W + J’s reactions are very strong adding to how miraculous this event really is. – -Also serves as a clear indication that the lower classes, Even Winston, the main protagonist, is unaware of the true privaleges his class are denied- again showing the Party’s control.