George Orwell

1984 is a dystopian novel which follows the life of Winston Smith, a state clerk who is frustrated by the omnipresent eyes of The Party and its disquieting and omnipotent leader, Big Brother.
 Orwell explores the themes of mass media control, government surveillance, totalitarianism and how a dictator can manipulate and control history, thoughts and lives in such a way that no one can escape it. The novel also coined many new words and phrases which regularly appear in popular culture, such as ‘Big Brother’, ‘thoughtcrime’, ‘doublethink’ and ‘Newspeak’.
 The reader contains in-depth analyses of the major themes in 1984.
 
 Teacher's Resources available online: Answer Key - Audioscripts - Summing-up Activities
 
 1984 è un romanzo distopico anti-totalitaristico. Orwell esplora le tematiche del controllo dei mezzi di comunicazione di massa, della vigilanza capillare del Governo sui cittadini e di come esso possa manipolare la storia, le vite e persino i pensieri delle persone. Il romanzo coniò diverse nuove parole ed espressioni, quali ‘Big Brother’, ‘thoughtcrime’, ‘doublethink’ e ‘Newspeak’. Il reader contiene approfondimenti sulle principali tematiche presenti in 1984.

Chapter 1 – Winston Smith

Chapter 2 – Taking risks

&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp Extension: What influenced Orwell and 1984

Chapter 3 – In love

Chapter 4 – Thoughts of rebellion

&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp Extension: Main themes of 1984

Chapter 5 – Face to face

Chapter 6 – Room 101

&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp Extension: Appendix: the principles of Newspeak

Summing-up activities

Glossary

E X T E N S I O N MAIN THEMES OF 1984 The text explores various themes, though most of them revolve1 around its foremost2, which is a sort of warning about what could happen should a completely totalitarian regime take hold and gain too much power. Language. In Oceania, the Party wants to reduce the number of words people know in order to control them better. Orwell based this idea on the theory of linguistic determinism according to which we can only have thoughts for which we have words because we cannot have thoughts which do not correspond to a word. Words, in fact, are not tools to express thoughts, but rather conditions for thoughts. Manipulation of the past. The Party changes or deletes past records for two main reasons. On the one hand, it aims to eliminate any opportunities for comparison with previous and more pleasant events or memories to avoid disappointment and discontent with present reality. On the other hand, it cannot afford to be proven wrong or to be caught red-handed3 because this would erode4 the trust and reliability its citizens should have in their infallible leaders. Propaganda. Slogans, Party events and celebrations, committees, public hangings,Victory products  anything is an opportunity for the Party to 1. revolve: to move around a central point. 2. foremost: most important. 3. red-handed: in the act of doing something wrong or illegal. 4. erode: to slowly reduce or destroy. 76 

reinforce its reputation, power and control over every citizen. The constant updates on news   which are mainly threatening or positive, but never negative   also contribute to creating a sense of omnipotence of the Party, which can solve any problem, face any situation and protect everybody. Furthermore, the intelligent marketing campaign behind the two leader figures of Big Brother and Emmanuel Goldstein who help to give a face to an idea and thus to create a bond with it, also reinforces the Party  brand . Identity. It is fundamental that every citizen in Oceania is just a number, with no individual preferences, no personality, no distinctive traits5, and no personal thoughts. Differences pose6 questions, and the Party doesn t want questions, it wants plain and immediate acceptance. Thus, the Party s aim at eliminating every gender, personal and social variation, at rendering everyone and everything the same makes sense in its attempt to make everyone more inclined7 to accept whatever the Party says, does or suggests. Total control. Every citizen of Oceania is controlled both physically and mentally. Where anyone goes, what they eat, what they watch, what they do, how they keep themselves fit, who they meet and who they talk to is constantly monitored. Even their mind is controlled: in a more subtle way if they follow the rules (with telescreens, education, propaganda and training), and with pain and torture if they don t accept the supremacy of the Party. The Ministry of Love and Room 101 are where total control over someone s body meets the ultimate control over someone s mind, feelings and thoughts. Love and Hate. Details and subtleties8 are non-existent under the Party s rule, and thus all  minor  feelings are eliminated and restricted to the two main contradictory ones of love and hate. Everything is to be loved or hated, it can t simply be accepted, enjoyed, admired, tolerated, or disliked. The Party has eliminated love among people but not love for Big Brother, and channels all the frustration people feel against Emmanuel Goldstein. By providing people with two ideal figures to identify these two emotions with, the Party makes sure they are able to control their expression. 7. inclined: likely or wanting to do something. 8. subtlety: something that is slightly different from other, similar things. 5. trait: particular characteristic that can produce a particular type of behaviour. 6. pose: to cause something, especially a problem or difficulty. 77 

Narrativa inglese, livello B2 intermedio, romanzo anti-totalitaristico di Orwell che esplora temi come il controllo statale dei mass media.

1984 - Collana RAINBOWS

Level B2 • Intermediate - Collana RAINBOWS

1984

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