Reality in "1984"

Book Review # 111016

English > Analysis
Literature > English

Reality in "1984"

An analysis of the ontological implications of reality in George Orwell's "1984".

3,687 words () | 12 sources | MLA | 2007 United States

Paper Summary:

The paper paints a picture of those in George Orwell's "1984" who live in a distorted world where what they see, hear, feel, smell and taste is not actually what "is." The paper explains that through torture or the anticipation of torture, the Party forces the citizens of Oceania into a new reality where the individual becomes a robot that mindlessly obeys the state in order to perpetuate the totalitarian cause. The paper focuses on the character of Winston who loses his memory, sex drive, emotions and ability to think for himself. The paper highlights that Orwell's greater point in writing "1984" is to demonstrate that, on multiple ontological levels, the being--the self--is existentially incompatible with the dictates of a totalitarian society.

From the Paper:

"After perusing this scene, the reader starts wondering: What is reality, and can the state distort one's perception of reality? Popular culture dictates that reality is separate from imagination and that those who cannot distinguish the two are insane. Consequently, we believe that reality is objective and empirical--it is solely what we see, hear, feel, smell, and taste. However, those in George Orwell's 1984 live in a distorted world wherein what they see, hear, feel, smell, and taste is not actually what "is." They may feel love but instead interpret it as hatred for the state, they may be ignorant about the world around them but nonetheless feel enlightened by this ignorance, they may see oppression but instead take it as liberty, and they may hear lies about history but nevertheless construe these lies as truth."

Sample of Sources Used:

Amadae, S. M. Rationalizing Capitalist Democracy: The Cold War Origins of Rational Choice Liberalism. Chicago, Illinois: The University of Chicago Press. 2003.
Bartel, Roland. "Growth and Regression through Language": The English Journal, Vol. 72, No. 6. http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=00138274%28198310%2972%3A6%3C44%3AGARTL%3E2.0.CO%3B2-E. pp. 44-46.
Carter, Michael. George Orwell and the Problem of Authentic Existence. Totowa, New Jersey.: Barnes and Noble Publishing Company. 1985.
Connelly, Mark. The Diminished Self: Orwell and the Loss of Freedom. Duquesne, Pennsylvania.: Duquesne University Press. 1987.
Ebenstein, William. Totalitiarianism: New Perspectives. Holt, Rinehart, and Winston Publishing. 1962.