1984 From A Marxist Perspective

1984 From A Marxist Perspective

1. Class Struggles

   • Sections of Society
     • 2% "Inner Party"
       • Privilidged
       • Bourgeoisie
     • 13% "Outer Party"
       • Arguably a part of the proletariat.
     • 85% "Proles"
       • Marxist idea that the proletariat have no influence over society.
       • Proletariat overthrow Bourgeoisie in times of economic crisis
         • "If there is hope, wrote Winston, it lies in the Proles"
   • The social composition of society is revealing

2. Ideologies

   • Shown Through Propaganda
     • The party has tricked the lower members in society (particularly the proles) and convinced them that Big Brother's controlling ways is beneficial to them
       • Ministry of Truth recreates history to show the Party in a positive light.
         • "Nothing exists except an endless present in which the party is always right"
           • Marxist idea of ending history as a whole
       • The party sells the idea of "Junior Spies" by painting it in a away that makes people think that it's the best way to raise their children. In reality, it's a further way of controlling them.
       • In keeping with the Marxist idea that those in control of the means of production (capitalists) shape the rest of society.

3. Message of 1984

   • Written in 1949
     • If totalitarianism is not oppressed, aspects of the novel could be reality.

4. Author's Aims

   • According to Marxism, an author's social standing has a strong influence on their work.
     • Orwell described himself as coming from an lower-upper-middle class family.
     • His grandparents were wealthy but the prosperity did not pass through the generations.

5. Control Over Society

   • Ingsoc = Totalitarian society
     • 100% of the lives of the outer party is subject to surveillance.
       • Any sign deviation leads to potential vaporisation.
         • "Your one-time existence was denied and forgotten."
         • How capitalism controlled society = Manipulated them through Fear.
           • No laws actually set. Unspoken rules based on general fear.
             • Thought police work off fear to cause more fear
   • War
     • In believing there was a war, they (the outer party" were manipulated to accept less money and luxuries from the government.
       • Ministry of Plenty
   • Each action the party (capitalist) takes to control society strengthens them.
     • gain power through wealth

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