1984 Coursework

“The little sandy haired woman gave a squeak of mingled fear and disgust.” This quotation suggests that Goldstein is feared and disgusted by individuals at the same time, like Big Brother. Goldstein is a principle figure. He was the primal traitor, the earliest defiler of the Party's purity, which is what makes him such a unique individual.

Big Brother is the leader of Oceania, under control of everything, including people’s thoughts, what they do and what they wear. Big Brother is feared in a stupendous way. He is authoritative. Nobody tends to do the wrong things since they fear the severe punishments they may get. Big Brother is described in such a frightening way because of the power that he has, the punishments he puts to people are exceptionally scary, so people try to stay away from doing anything bad or anything that will put their lives in danger. People don’t react to Big Brother because if they do they are punished severely, even if they look like they are thinking thoughts they are taken away in the dark of the night. He has so much control, he can do whatever he likes, including killing people for no reason, and that is just part of the evil and terror lurking behind Big Brother. The citizen's of Oceania know not to do anything against Big Brother because they know what Big Brother is capable of and they know that Big Brother can eliminate people in the dark of the night, without a trace in a sensationally efficient way.

The citizens of Oceania are not allowed to think the wrong thoughts, do the wrong things, this is because when people start thinking they might start thinking about their own life and what is going on around them and they might come out with some analysing thoughts, according to Big Brother. But and eventually they could also want to rebel against Big Brother. The punishments for disobeying Big Brother are instant death, in a extraordinary way or being sent to a labour camp for quite a few years. To makes sure that no one steps put of hand, Big Brother has these tele-screens on, literally every single wall of Oceania, which can see and hear what you are doing, 24/7. People who do go against Big Brother, e.g Goldstein and Winston, are aware of these dreadful punishments, but are still takin the risk to go against Big Brother. And if having these tele-screens placed on every wall of Oceania is not enough, Big Brother also has The Thought Police, which are feared just as much as Big Brother himself. Knowing this people are tempted to definantly obey Big Brothers demanded rules. The punishments he puts to people are exceptionally scary, so people try to stay away from doing anything bad or anything that will put their lives in danger. People don’t react to Big Brother because if they do they are punished severely, even if they look like they are thinking thoughts they are taken away in the dark of the night, and then Big Brother get rid of all the evidence which shows that that person ever existed, so it sounds as if that person never did exist.

Orwell uses senses, similes and metaphors to make the reader interested and makes them want to read on. It can make the story captivating and make the reader engaged; it creates an entertaining sense that can really get the reader on the writer’s side to make the story more successful. Examples of ways he does this is by, ‘the world looked cold’- it was showing how people felt and was expressing it by writing the world looked cold. ‘Enormous pyramid structure of glittering white concrete’- the writer describes just how stunning and splendid the building had looked and was just something was a treat to look at, an amazing sight of a colossal and tremendous building that has a sense of awe which creates a magnificent imagery and contrasts with the descriptions of the rest of Airstrip 1.This techniques helps the reader give us a better understanding of the story in more detail.

The effect that short sentences has on the readers is that it creates a sense of terror an suspense, leaving the reader to read on. Short sentences are very important as long, descriptive sentences, because they are very effective in what the reader is trying to say. “Only The Thought Police mattered,” is a exceptional example of a short sentence because it tells you one little detail which the reader can expanded on and come up with other thoughts and ideas which link back to The Thought Police. It delineates how important and how much force the Thought Police can endorse on anyone.So that particular sentence is a very obviously a short one, but with a massive affect on the readers nevertheless. Also Big Brothers three slogans: War Is Peace, Freedom Is Slavery, and Ignorance Is Strength, are also examples of short sentences. These are very important because it shows that Big Brother don't believe in people being free to choose what to do; they think freedom is slavery. As these slogans are short sentences, they are also powerful in there own intense way. They have a electrifying impact on the readers because they are terrifyingly good slogans to use in this kind of situation. “War Is Peace,” suggests that the only way to achieve peace is through war. “Freedom Is Slavery,” suggest that no matter where you go and who you are, you will always be a slave to someone. “Ignorance Is Strength,” suggests that no knowing or caring about anything is the most important thing you can have. They are repeated throughout to remind the readers hoe Big Brother controls Oceania an how he looks over at everything in the distinguishing society.

Writers use pronouns to introduce and talk about characters and make the text more engaging and compelling. Orwell creates a divide between the people and the organization, it’s an ‘us’ and ‘them’ situation (Big Brother and The Hate). He often mentions Big Brother and The Hate as ‘they’ and people, like Winston, as ‘us’. We can see from this that they seem to write against each other and makes the story look more appealing. Example of this would be that, in the last paragraph Orwell only mentions Winston as ‘he’ and makes the text look more scary filled. This creates a sense of suspense so the reader would want to read on. Pronouns create a sinister feeling but it is not always in a scary manner, but there is a feeling and sense of a exciting mystery in the story and also ambiguity

In conclusion, I think Winston lives in an unappealing, challenging society, where he has no control over anything, including himself. He has no free will, no option besides to listen to what Big Brother tells him and every other living soul of Oceania. The society is quite and creepy,  woebegone and dilapidated, a dark and miserable place, where most things happen unexpectedly, or without the citizens of Oceania knowing. It seems that everywhere that everyone goes is always being watched and heard, because of the theatrical tele-screens installed on literally every wall of every building, inside and outside! People are always being watched and heard, no matter where they are. But if they can't be seen, there is no escape from being heard, always being traced. All in all i think Winston has no real/social life outside of this strange world that he is living in, he can't socialise with other people, cant think a bout anything but how great Big Brother is himself. Winston can't change anything, can't change anything unless... he opens his mind, and for once, starts to think...

The image above is the front cover of 1984, straight away the reader can see what kind of book this will be, filled with emotion and consequences that can make them understand the character's feelings and maybe even make them experience what the character is going through. It also has the three slogans that Big Brother promote, but it is hard to understand that unless the reader has read the thrilling book and has a good idea of what those slogans are trying to say. The barbed wire and fences that demarcates how everyone is trapped in Big Brother's control.

A different front cover of the same book. This cover specifies hoe the environment of Oceania would be like. The poster in the background says, “Big Brother Is Watching You.” The poster is shown almost everywhere and seen as the poster seem to be staring at you, the eyes seem to follow you, it reminds the reader who the story is really based on, and who is in charge. Winston is also shown next to the “Bold Looking Girl,” and the reader may be able to assume there is a rift between them as they are back-to-back.