Dystopian Journal 3

Topic C

Orwell wrote 1984 in order to portray a warning to those people in the future. It also criticized the Totalitarian regimes by pointing out the oppressive ways in which the government in 1984 (Ingsoc) treats its citizens. Orwell wrote about how the totalitarian regimes would control all aspects of life, including what you did, what you felt, even what you thought, to a certain extent. The citizens would not be free at all, they would not have any rights of there own, and they would not be able to do anything without explicit consent from their respective governments. I think that the authors vision was very believable for his time, but has lost some of its luster over the decades. The reason why is because the author wrote it after the Nazi regime fell and when the Soviet regime was gaining power. Orwell was worried that the other countries would be swallowed up by totalitarian governments, and was worried about them ,especially his home country of Britain, where, by the way, the novel takes place. If a major totalitarian government came to power, there is no doubt that they would control their citizens similarly to that of how Ingsoc treats the proles. The hope that the author inscribes within the novel is the hope that not everyone will succumb to the totalitarians rule. He hope that some people will have the will, strength or even gall to stand up to the government and fight for what they believed in.

249 words

Propoganda

I think that this propaganda poster is refering to those people, (I believe it was women, since they were recruited en masse in order to construct the weapons of war during WW2), who were constructing the weapons for the soldiers. It would be widely accepted, because the poster is not trying to be demanding of anyone, it places a person in danger if the weapon that was created does not work. This is meant to play on the emotions of the workers to make sure that they do not make any mistakes during the construction of various weapons. The audience would not feel manipulated or controlled since they would want to work to the best of their ablitity in order to ensure the safety of the soldiers, more often their husbands and sons. Like said before, it plays of the emotions of the workers. I think it is appropriate for the society, because it is geared towards americans, and the american society is democratic, so it won't say anything that will force it's population into action, but rather motivate them. I think the slogan will stick in the mind of the women workers, for if that situation actually happend, it could mean the death of a loved one.

Dystopian novel group analysis

Pattern: Winston is constantly living in fear. He always comments on how any kind of action that seemed to radical as a folly and dangerous. He always sees certain things as follies, and yet he commits them anyway, such as the writing in his journal, or going off to see Julia. He is not supposed to do the things that he does any way as well, for it is against the views of Big Brother, so his death or torture is a real possibillity. "He could not help feeling a twinge of panic. It was adbursd, since the writing of those particular words was not more dangerous than the initial act of opening the diar; but for a moment he was tempted to tear out the spoiled pages and abandon the enterprise all together" (Orwell 19)

Why does Orwell use a character who lives in fear rather than a courageous hero? What message is Orwell trying to say by using a weak protagonist? What significance is there about the journal or Julia.

Orwell uses Winston to show that even those who live in fear of another can rise up and challenge authority with the right catalyst.

Journal Entry 2 1984

Topic A

"'I know what you expect me to say,' he said,. 'You expect me to say I'd sooner be young again. Most people'd say they'd sooner be yong, if you arst 'em. You got Your 'ealth and strengthwheyou're young. When you get to my time of life you ain't never well. I suffer something wicked from my feet, and my bladder's jest terrible. Six and seven times a night it 'as me out of bed. On the other 'and there's great advantages in being an old man. You ain't got the same worries. No truck with women, and that's a great thing. I ain't 'ad a woman for near on thirty year, if you'd credit me." (Orwell 78)

This came as a final response to an interview that Winston was trying to do. Winston was trying to interview an old man in order to find out what truly happend in the past. The reason why is because "life before the Revolution was completely different from what it is now" (Orwell, 76). Winston wanted to find out if there was anyone else out in the world that could give a different story about the early 1900's, since he knew that the information in the history books had been tampered with. One of the changes made to the textbooks was when Julia was taught that "the Party had invented the airplanes" (Orwell 127). However, the novel then later states that "(In his own schooldays, Winston remembered in the late Fifties, it was only the helicopter that the party claimed to invent[...]" (Orwell 127) This shows the change that the textbooks went through. So, Winston tried to find someone who could tell him of the past, but no one left was around to tell him, some only gave him insignificant details. It is in this way that the Party fulfills one of its Key phrases: IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH. Everyone doesn't know truly what the past was, since Ingsoc can go and change the history whenever they want. This helps the government of Ingsoc keep the populace under control, since they glorify the party, and condemn all others. The government then encourages the people to worship the information handed to them, and punishes any people who do not show enough zeal with death.

Word Count: 261

Journal entry 1 1984

English Dystopian Novel Journal 1
Winston is the main character in the story 1984 who takes action against the government put in place in the novel, known as “The Party”. Winston is just an ordinary Outer Party Worker who works in the Ministry of Truth for a living. Before he even realizes it, he starts to go against the teachings that Big Brother, the novel’s Totalitarian dictator. As he goes to a shop in the poorer section of Air Field One and he then proceeds to buy a diary. Winston then writes in it, at his own risk.
Winston is victimized in the story in various ways. For starters, he is in constant worry that he is being watched and that his thoughts are monitored. Basically all of his freedoms, freedom of speech, writing, and even thinking have been deemed bad in this dystopian society. He is also one of a lower class, and as such is not treated as well who is in the Inner Party.
So, in order to put up a bit of resistance against the government, Winston decides to write in the book. At first, he is worried about the diary, but he slowly gets more and more used to it, as he eventually writes in its pages “DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER!” in all capital letters. This marks as the beginning of the conflict against The Party.
Winston believes that doing this is utterly meaningless. He believes that he is writing in order for another generation to read what he wrote in his time. Unfortunately, he believed that the Thought Police would eventually find the book and destroy its existence, so he did not have much confidence in it.
The Consequences for his actions is death. It is because that if anyone, a child, women, friend, or just a regular stranger finds any hint of anti-Big Brother in Winston, he is charged with being a thought criminal. Thought criminals are then sent to either death, or twenty-five years in a forced labor camp.
Word Count: 339

Journal entry 7.5 Stranger

Sorry, this is really the journal set for February 27, the one after the "create your thesis" blog. I thought that the thesis thing was the next journal, so just letting you know which one this journal is.

I believe that Camus creates a part one and a part two in order to highlight a change that happens inside of Mersault. In the first part, he was more uncaring, and did not mind anything unless it was for his own benefit, but in the second part, he realizes the importance of other peoples opinions, whether they benefit him or not.

One parallel idea that is in both of the parts is this air of uncaring about Mersault. In the first part of the novel, Mersault is frequently seen not doing things unless it is for his own benefit, such as when Raymond offered him a cigarette, Mersault took it because he did not have a cigarette at the time. This is also when he refuses to acknowledge other peoples feelings and respond to them. In the second part of the book, he goes through a little bit of a change. He still does not care about what others think of him, but he starts to acknowledge how others feel. This is justified by how Mersault almost felt like crying during his trial, because he could feel how much everyone hated him.

Camus achieves a certain effect by creating two different parts with similar ideas. It shows that Mersault comes to a realization about life. That he does not need to care about what others think of him, but he should acknowledge what they have to say.

Journal entry 8 Stranger

I beleive that Mersault comes to the conclusion that everyone acts the way that they want to act, and that it was their beliefs that fuel the actions. This is defended by how he stated that he felt like crying at his court hearing because he felt that everyone hated him. After coming to the realization before his execution, he discovered that they were just acting based on what they believed in, and that he should not care about what others believe about him. That is why he hoped to see a crowd of angry people at his execution, since he no longer cared about what others believed in.

I think Camus doesn't want people to come to the same conclusion. I think he wants people to benefit from this book and be able to express themselves more openly. This comes from the fact that the person who acted very intrapersonal ended up dead after a trial. Mersault could have saved himself if he was more emotional and cared about what others believed in. Then he might have been more sincere at his Maman's funeral, and about how Marie wanted to marry him. Camus wants people to be more open with their emotions.

I believe that Mersault was happier though, at the end of the novel. The reason why is because he no longer complained about the day, he reminisced about what he liked, and found no spite. He also stopped talking about the sun so much.

Journal 7 Stranger

Since I was absent from your class for two different days, I do not know if I can create a very effective thesis, but I will try to construct one to the best of my ability.

As for the other journals, I'll talk to to you about them tommorrow morning before.

Thesis: People must show themselves openly, not stay under the cover of their desires.