Criticism of ?1984?

Paper Summary:

George Orwell's novel "1984" is certainly one of the seminal works of the twentieth century. As such, "1984" has been the subject of much literary criticism. This criticism has identified certain main themes in the novel. One main theme of "1984" is totalitarianism, although critics disagree about whether the book is modeled after past totalitarian societies, is a theory of totalitarianism, or both. Another major strain of critical thought is that "1984" is an anti-Enlightenment novel. Thie essay reviews seven literary critics' interpretations of the theme of "1984". All seven writers identify the main themes as one of the two main themes mentioned above.

From the Paper:

"Irving Howe also interprets 1984 as a totalitarian novel based upon events in recent history. As Howe states, "No other book has succeeded so completely in rendering the essential quality of totalitarianism" (324). What that means, in practical terms, "is that in a totalitarian world man's life is shorn of dynamic possibilities" (Howe 324). Everything is controlled; nothing is left to chance. The powers that be determine the course of one's life. Like Rahv, Howe equates Goldstein with Trotsky (326). Howe, however, is less interested in the actual parallels between Stalinism and the government of Oceania. What he is particularly interested in is the relevance 1984 has to a modern audience. Howe argues that Orwell's novel is a warning to non-totalitarian societies that they must be ever vigilant."

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