#aplang14readingthework

Anybody want to share their greatest fear?

There’s a lot of things the society and government in 1984 does to dehumanize its citizens, most of it to control. To control the people, to make them do what they want, to control technology and use it against the people is a nightmare. Orwell’s writing not only tells a great story and expresses a lot of themes, but also makes a warning about how this could happen in real life. War and control of the people is very real in some parts of the world. The world run by a single Party (ha) is terrifying. In fiction, mind control and brainwashing is usually something that is done by someone with superpowers that was born on a different planet or was poisoned by radioactive waste, but Orwell molds a form that does it with ruling through language or the lack of. The rewriting and erasing of history actually changes the minds of the people in this world – and that’s true power.  

Naturally, as an art student, I took away a lot of imagery from 1984. Orwell paints the picture with his diction and moves. The Orwell style is a quite one that seems impressionable and memorable. Much like an artist, his power of language is his breadth – demonstrating his still and style. Powerful language such as Orwell’s is even more important in regards to the plot and themes of 1984. The government using language to corrupt thought and control the citizens is a great parallel for Orwell.

Also, I couldn’t help but have “I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor” by Arctic Monkeys stuck in my head (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pK7egZaT3hs ) because of their lyric “Dancing to electro-pop like a robot from 1984. From 1984!”

"The healing process that I and the country so badly needed would continue, and my sense of excitement and anticipation was becoming visceral in a way that would not have been possible had I still been drinking." Puller makes a good metaphor comparing himself to the country that both needed help after the war. The acceptance of the loss and devastation was a real problem at this time. But just like Puller, the country accepted death.

"Oddly, even in the midst of my euphoria I began to turn again to my Vietnam experience and to the unresolved issues concerning it that my drinking had kept in abeyance. with a clear head for the first time in years, I felt robust and alive but also painfully compelled to come to terms with my past." This is a big turning point where he starts to accept death and move on. He thinks about his past, but is also logical in realizing death happens to everyone and there is no escape from it.

"At four o'clock in the morning, with the house silent and almost totally dark, I was now in a world of my own, and I wondered if I would ever rejoin the world of the living. I was now drinking to eliminate all feeling rather than drinking to feel good, as I had for so many years, and I knew that I lacked the energy to continue the charade for much longer." A true point of sadness that happens to many after such loses. Death has consequences for the living as well.

"My mother withheld any sign of approval of Toddy's and my relationship, but I was thrilled that Father proffered his so readily. Later, as we prepared to leave, he walked us out to the car and made a point of telling Toddy that she was always welcome in his home with or without any of his children, and I knew that he had gained another fan for life." The themes of father and son relationship also occur here and the theme of family as well.