Prison

Prison

1. SETTING

   • 'Sound of marching boots'
     • Boots coming= anticipation-fear as no one knows who they will bring/take- haunting sound
   • 'did not know how long.. no clocks .. no daylight' 'windowless cell
     • Complete exclusion- unsure of time throughout-Party can even control time- life is becoming more and more restricted and less his own- idea time has stopped- only mattered when he was waiting to be captured.Isolated/confined and controlled no connection with outside environment.
   • walls of glittering white porcelain'
     • Contrasts walls with porcelain- delicate and fragile- idea so controlled by fear no need for strong walls- suggests light is bouncing off it-so bright it is blinding
   • flooded it with cold light'
     • Negative flooded' and 'cold'- nothing comforting- everything is excessive (flooding) and they are drowing- all encompassing
   • 'four telescreens on each wall'
     • High surveillance in such a secure place=unnecessary. Even now want to control them- satirical makes them seem like dangerous criminals
   • 'against its outer wall.. below ground .. above it'
     • Uncertainty continues and is increased throughout ministry- seemingly once inside ministry things are revelaed- OPPOSITE more uncertainty means increased vulnerability and dependance on people- Party wants to maintain fear of unknown . listing of all possible options emphasises this.

2. PRISONERS

   • 'Party Prisoners .. slient and terrified
     • Fact that political prisoners have more fear- opposite of justice system as we know it. Rebelling against morals and human nature is better than disagreement with government. These are given the 'position of trust;- juxtaposition
   • 'good terms .. nicknames .. forebearance'
     • Not a place of justice- corruption-'Insults.. fiercely .. impounded obscene' Semantic field of criminality and corruption- building up an image of awful people- contrasts with difference in treatment.
   • 'The poet Ampleforth shambled into the cell' 'recall one instance.. the word God'
     • Relates to his essay on literature- and the constraints it has on it from government and media. He viewed poets as having more freedom literary wise-whereas even here they have been captured- extent ofrestriction- thus Ampleforth represents literature and the constraints the dystopia excersises.
     • Not even knowing why he was arrested shwos how Party can arrest for any reason- LAWLESS INJUSTICE of the sate- contrasts with image of 'showless' and 'weak frame' for tiny error- satirical and scary how scary things lead to brutal torture- God shows attitudes towards religion- BB is god- no other power.
   • 'Parsons walked into the cell' 'it was my little daughter .. pride'
     • Short syntax at the end of a long of a long paragraph- dramatic- ads to surprise- most unexpected person for 'thoughtcrime- has to be pure loyalty- delusion
     • Institute of FAMILY overruled- pride shows his stupidity-
   • 'don't you think? Or ten years? 'fair hearing-Oh I trust them for that!'
     • Lots of questions- sympathetic- only did what was expected- naievity- . Even he recognises it is only based on 'thoughts which you can't help'
       • Trust in party- again neievtiy- :Links to Stalinist Russia- Moscow show trials- represents trust we have in government
       • 'No distinction between the thought and the deed' STALIN
   • 'momentary chil .. skull .. murderous unappeasable hatred'
     • prisoners predict W's future- builds tension- W slowly makes sense of the things around him- Hatred is ambiguous show show they manipulate emotions
   • 'furious deafening roar'
     • Such a reaction to one of innnocent compassion shows how HUMANITY is opressed and depicted as a punishable crime. juxtaposed with 'two halves of dental plate fell out his mouth' - such a graphic image of hius torture in order to repuls reader
       • Links to Police brutality- ability to demoralise and abuse for no reason.
   • 'Remain .. Face the door .. make
     • Short exclaimations- imperatives- only doing this to assert power- overall;y agressive and violent for something small- contrasts with 'whimpering or squeaking'- Like a dead animal/ baby- something weak/ vulnerable- shows how Party prey on weak.

3. ROOM 101

   • 'Room 101'
     • Constant repetition shows its increasing significance- people's strong reactions build it up to be a fate worse than death- 'shrivel' 'turn a different colour' -Has physical effects- Builds it a reputation of something horrific.
     • Mention began as a whisper- becomes more and more frequent as W's fate = more and more unavoidable
   • 'I have a wife and three children.. cut their throats in front of my eyes'
     • This and his 'shade of green' indicate Room 101s horror- he would rather subject his family to murder- foreshadows W betraying Julia
     • Reduced to 'howling like an animal'- DEHUMANISATION
     • 'Disturbing Imagery- FAMILY institute gone- every man for himself. Links to prisoners reaction to this- 'sit quietly' - only care for thrmselves
   • 'flung himself on his knees .. Hands clasped together'
     • Such desperacy contrasts with W's acceptance of his capture. Visual representation of citizens begging for mercy- no compassion.

4. MINISTRY

   • dazzled by lights .. surrounded by dials' 'white coat .. hypodermic needle'
     • Short sentences- speeding up pace- sense of futuristic technology- CONVENTION. such medical terminology indicates physical torture- menacing/ intimidating- semqantic field of closeobservation/ scrutiny
   • 'Light that seemed stronger than usual was falling on his face'
     • Idea everything is intensified 'falling' - nothing graceful- light itself is helpless- harsh- bright light means not only is everything is exposed but scrutinised/
   • '6070 Smith W'
     • Adressed by numbers and letters- no identity/ value or significance- DEHUMANSATION Links to Jews in concentration camps- not addressed by names.