1984 Critical Lens Essay

Adam Huang
AP Literature and Composition
Critical lens: New Historicism
February 23th, 2017

1984: A book of George Orwell and 20th Century History
The last book of George Orwell, 1984 is always considered by scholars to be a “Life Summary of Orwell”. However, the book is not merely about what George Orwell has experienced. More importantly, the book presents a mirror to Soviet Union and other similar political institution in his time, and a future prediction of the so-called “Communism” world. Through the utilization of minor characters, compelling story line, and the sophisticated characterization of the major character, 1984 maintains its place in the great literature canon.
Part One: Critical Lens
Undoubtedly, 1984 has a compacted relationship

They could only become dangerous if the advance of industrial technique made it necessary to educate them more highly”(Orwell 103). In the novel, Winston stresses many times that Proletarians which composed 80% of the whole population in Oceania, is the only hope to counter the revolution. Although Winston don’t see any passion for revolution among the proletarians, he becomes more and more attach to the community, because it makes him feel real freedom without the telescreens. However, this entry of the proletarian world brings to an end, when Winston and his girlfriend Julia are caught in Mr.Carrington’s shop. “Mr Charrington was still wearing his old velvet jacket, but his hair, which had been almost white, had turned black. He was still recognizable, but he was not the same person any longer”(Orwell 110). The believed that proletarian community is free from the control of the party ultimately leads to the failure of Winston Smith. Readers lament that Winston may manage to survive if he have never put trust on those proletarians. Will the result be much better, if Winston persuade his colleague to rebel, then utilizes the mass proletarian population? The answer is probably no. In fact, Winston have never tried to revolutionize the society. His initial intention, given by Orwell, is only to escape from the brutal reality and find himself a place of freedom. It is unlikely for him to persuade those emotionless robots for

In the novel, though Big Brother’s name often shows up in the book, he never truly appears: there isn’t any detailed description of Big Brother. This certain level of ambiguity make the literature deep and worth discussing, enhancing the literary merit of the novel. “But since in reality Big Brother is not omnipotent and the party is not infallible, there is need for an unwearying, moment-to-moment flexibility in the treatment of facts”(Orwell 104). Such an idea encourages Winston Smith to rebel and escape the society in the following chapters. Thus, the ambiguity also somehow promotes the development of the story in the