Help, I’m Alive: Help, I’m Alive: 1984’s1984’s First First ThirdThird

FeracoFeracoSearch for Human PotentialSearch for Human Potential

8 February 20118 February 2011

Prufrock and OrwellPrufrock and Orwell• Do I dare / Disturb the universe?Do I dare / Disturb the universe?• Why was it that they could never shout like that Why was it that they could never shout like that

about anything that mattered? (70)about anything that mattered? (70)• And even when they became discontented, as And even when they became discontented, as

they sometimes did, their discontent led they sometimes did, their discontent led nowhere, because, being without specific ideas, nowhere, because, being without specific ideas, they could only focus on petty specific they could only focus on petty specific grievances. The larger evils invariably escaped grievances. The larger evils invariably escaped their notice (71-72).their notice (71-72).

What Was LostWhat Was Lost• The thing that now suddenly struck Winston The thing that now suddenly struck Winston

was that his mother’s death, nearly thirty years was that his mother’s death, nearly thirty years ago, had been tragic and sorrowful in a way ago, had been tragic and sorrowful in a way that was no longer possible. Tragedy, he that was no longer possible. Tragedy, he perceived, belonged to the ancient time, to a perceived, belonged to the ancient time, to a time when there were still privacy, love, and time when there were still privacy, love, and friendship, and when the members of a family friendship, and when the members of a family stood by one another without needing to know stood by one another without needing to know the reason…Today there were fear, hatred, and the reason…Today there were fear, hatred, and pain, but no dignity of emotion, or deep or pain, but no dignity of emotion, or deep or complex sorrows (30)complex sorrows (30)

Chapter 1Chapter 1• The first chapter:The first chapter:

– Establishes Winston as a viable protagonistEstablishes Winston as a viable protagonist• The world overwhelms us, so give us someone similarly The world overwhelms us, so give us someone similarly

powerlesspowerless– Shows us the contrast between ideology and realityShows us the contrast between ideology and reality– Teaches us to appreciate beauty in small bursts Teaches us to appreciate beauty in small bursts

while moving us into a “hunkered-down” mindsetwhile moving us into a “hunkered-down” mindset• Lays out a raw-nerved emotional landscapeLays out a raw-nerved emotional landscape

Chapter 1Chapter 1• This chapter also gives us glimpses of daily life This chapter also gives us glimpses of daily life

– both the routines (Two Minutes’ Hate) and – both the routines (Two Minutes’ Hate) and social conventionssocial conventions

• We see who thrives – and the dangers that threaten survival We see who thrives – and the dangers that threaten survival – Outlines Winston’s first real riskOutlines Winston’s first real risk– Foreshadows a ridiculous amount of the book’s final Foreshadows a ridiculous amount of the book’s final

chapterschapters• Basically, it’s really important, even if it Basically, it’s really important, even if it

seems like “nothing happens”seems like “nothing happens”

Chapter 2Chapter 2• The second chapterThe second chapter

– Establishes some more social structure – youth Establishes some more social structure – youth organizations, family systems, and so on – as well as organizations, family systems, and so on – as well as explaining more about thoughtcrime, slogans, etc.explaining more about thoughtcrime, slogans, etc.

– Includes devastating social commentary – our desire to Includes devastating social commentary – our desire to “re-savage” our young in order to mold them into ideal “re-savage” our young in order to mold them into ideal citizen/soldiers comes back to destroy us, because citizen/soldiers comes back to destroy us, because children can’t be trustedchildren can’t be trusted

– The hatred displayed by the Parsons children crystallizes The hatred displayed by the Parsons children crystallizes Orwell’s feelings regarding the demonization of foesOrwell’s feelings regarding the demonization of foes

– Winston is “already dead” – when better to start living Winston is “already dead” – when better to start living than now?than now?

What Dreams May ComeWhat Dreams May Come• The third chapterThe third chapter

– Gives us hints of Winston’s past Gives us hints of Winston’s past • The “dream” will eventually reveal a great deal about what The “dream” will eventually reveal a great deal about what

Winston won’t acknowledgeWinston won’t acknowledge• It’s our first real hint of pre-Revolution life’s actual natureIt’s our first real hint of pre-Revolution life’s actual nature

– Further examines the Ingsoc dystopia, Further examines the Ingsoc dystopia, deconstructing the methods used to keep the deconstructing the methods used to keep the populace in checkpopulace in check

– Helps reinforce the “dehumanization” motif that’s Helps reinforce the “dehumanization” motif that’s present in everything the party doespresent in everything the party does

Down the Memory HoleDown the Memory Hole• The fourth chapterThe fourth chapter

– Gives us a more well-rounded picture of Winston’s Gives us a more well-rounded picture of Winston’s purpose, and fills in the “sketch” we’ve formed of him purpose, and fills in the “sketch” we’ve formed of him through the first three chaptersthrough the first three chapters

– Helps us understand what the Ministries do (or at least Helps us understand what the Ministries do (or at least hints at their true purposes)hints at their true purposes)

– Shows exactly how history can be “written” rather than Shows exactly how history can be “written” rather than recordedrecorded

– Reveals a great deal about the Party’s “psychological Reveals a great deal about the Party’s “psychological profile” – its pathological need to be profile” – its pathological need to be flawlessflawless, its all-, its all-consuming and unceasing hungers, its blatant consuming and unceasing hungers, its blatant contradictions and inefficiencies, and its compulsive contradictions and inefficiencies, and its compulsive desire to dominate anything and everythingdesire to dominate anything and everything

Thoughtcrime Will Thoughtcrime Will Be Impossible…Be Impossible…

• The fifth chapterThe fifth chapter– We meet Syme and Parsons, which gives us a We meet Syme and Parsons, which gives us a

spectrum-wide view of the people the Party controlsspectrum-wide view of the people the Party controls– We begin to really understand Newspeak’s nefarious We begin to really understand Newspeak’s nefarious

naturenature– Winston continues ruminating on the bizarre reality Winston continues ruminating on the bizarre reality

of Oceanian existence – the false faces they wear of Oceanian existence – the false faces they wear and the false stats they swallowand the false stats they swallow

– We start seeing hints about how life was before the We start seeing hints about how life was before the RevolutionRevolution

– The girl is back…and then she’s gone againThe girl is back…and then she’s gone again

How Seldom He How Seldom He Thought Of HerThought Of Her

• The sixth chapterThe sixth chapter– Provides us with more insight into Winston’s Provides us with more insight into Winston’s

psychological profilepsychological profile• We’ve wondered why he seems so obsessed with sex and We’ve wondered why he seems so obsessed with sex and

love; now we understand why he’s deeply lonelylove; now we understand why he’s deeply lonely– Paints an explicit picture of the way the Party has Paints an explicit picture of the way the Party has

twisted human instinct, particularly when it comes to twisted human instinct, particularly when it comes to love and sexualitylove and sexuality• Still more confusion about why the Party actually bothers to Still more confusion about why the Party actually bothers to

do all of thisdo all of this– Katharine’s not dead, but she’s not hereKatharine’s not dead, but she’s not here

They Could Never Shout Like That About They Could Never Shout Like That About Anything That MatteredAnything That Mattered

• The seventh chapterThe seventh chapter– Gives us more information about the proles, who Gives us more information about the proles, who

have received cursory mentions previouslyhave received cursory mentions previously– Also goes back into life before the RevolutionAlso goes back into life before the Revolution– The chapter – along with the next one – is one of the The chapter – along with the next one – is one of the

most important in terms of foreshadowingmost important in terms of foreshadowing– Everything from the song playing in the Chestnut Everything from the song playing in the Chestnut

Tree Café to Winston’s quotes – “I understand Tree Café to Winston’s quotes – “I understand HOW…” – is incredibly critical, and should not be HOW…” – is incredibly critical, and should not be forgotten or passed overforgotten or passed over

It’s a Beautiful ThingIt’s a Beautiful Thing• The eighth chapterThe eighth chapter

– Takes us into the Prole village, and all of its weird Takes us into the Prole village, and all of its weird quirks – its exposure to war, its lottery and trivial quirks – its exposure to war, its lottery and trivial concerns, its connection to a past that obsesses concerns, its connection to a past that obsesses Winston but seems unimportant to them Winston but seems unimportant to them

– Essentially allows Winston to try his hand at time-Essentially allows Winston to try his hand at time-travelingtraveling• Some attempts are less successful (Old Prole Man) than Some attempts are less successful (Old Prole Man) than

others (Charrington’s shop)others (Charrington’s shop)– Winston also finds the paperweight, an important Winston also finds the paperweight, an important

symbol of a lost heritage – one last piece of beauty in symbol of a lost heritage – one last piece of beauty in an ugly worldan ugly world

Life in Hell (or London)Life in Hell (or London)• From the instant the clocks strike From the instant the clocks strike

thirteen, we know this book is going to be thirteen, we know this book is going to be troubletrouble

• Either the laws of time have been Either the laws of time have been screwed up somehow, or the society screwed up somehow, or the society we’re about to study has been we’re about to study has been permanently militarizedpermanently militarized– We suspect it’s the latter when Winston We suspect it’s the latter when Winston

enters “Victory Mansions”enters “Victory Mansions”

Ideals vs. RealitiesIdeals vs. Realities• We also get an immediate contrast We also get an immediate contrast

between the Party’s loudly-between the Party’s loudly-proclaimed and shining ideals and proclaimed and shining ideals and the harsh realities of Winston’s lifethe harsh realities of Winston’s life

• Contrast the perfect poster of Big Contrast the perfect poster of Big Brother with the cabbage smell and Brother with the cabbage smell and broken liftbroken lift

Utopia vs. DystopiaUtopia vs. Dystopia• Winston lives in a “dystopia”Winston lives in a “dystopia”• Utopia = combination of two Greek wordsUtopia = combination of two Greek words

– Alternately means “good place” or “no place”Alternately means “good place” or “no place”– The impossibility of the realized dream is built into The impossibility of the realized dream is built into

the word’s rootsthe word’s roots• Dystopia means “bad place”Dystopia means “bad place”• Authors invent dystopias in order to criticize a a Authors invent dystopias in order to criticize a a

current trend, societal norm, or political systemcurrent trend, societal norm, or political system– Remember – Orwell knows this is a worst-case Remember – Orwell knows this is a worst-case

scenarioscenario

Dystopian HallmarksDystopian Hallmarks• Some characteristics of dystopias:Some characteristics of dystopias:

– Propaganda is used to control the citizens of societyPropaganda is used to control the citizens of society– Information, independent thought, and freedom are restrictedInformation, independent thought, and freedom are restricted– A figurehead or concept is worshipped by the citizens of the A figurehead or concept is worshipped by the citizens of the

societysociety– Citizens are perceived to be under constant surveillanceCitizens are perceived to be under constant surveillance– Citizens have a fear of the outside worldCitizens have a fear of the outside world– Citizens live in a dehumanized stateCitizens live in a dehumanized state– The natural world is banished and distrustedThe natural world is banished and distrusted– Citizens conform to uniform expectationsCitizens conform to uniform expectations

• Individuality and dissent are badIndividuality and dissent are bad– The society is an The society is an illusionillusion of a perfect utopian world of a perfect utopian world

• How many of these apply to How many of these apply to 19841984, and how?, and how?

ControlsControls• We see a combination of three types of We see a combination of three types of

dystopian “controls” in dystopian “controls” in 19841984– Bureaucratic control: Society is controlled by a Bureaucratic control: Society is controlled by a

mindless bureaucracy through a tangle of red tape, mindless bureaucracy through a tangle of red tape, relentless regulations, and incompetent government relentless regulations, and incompetent government officialsofficials

– Technological control: Society is controlled by Technological control: Society is controlled by technology—through computers, robots, and/or technology—through computers, robots, and/or scientific meansscientific means

– Philosophical/religious control: Society is controlled Philosophical/religious control: Society is controlled by philosophical or religious ideology often enforced by philosophical or religious ideology often enforced through a dictatorship or theocratic governmentthrough a dictatorship or theocratic government

Dystopian ProtagonistDystopian Protagonist• For that matter, Winston meets the For that matter, Winston meets the

qualifications of a dystopian protagonistqualifications of a dystopian protagonist– He questions the existing social and political systemsHe questions the existing social and political systems– He believes or feels that something is terribly wrong He believes or feels that something is terribly wrong

with the society in which he liveswith the society in which he lives– He helps the audience recognizes the negative He helps the audience recognizes the negative

aspects of the dystopian world through his aspects of the dystopian world through his perspectiveperspective

• When Winston starts writing, he’s not just scared, When Winston starts writing, he’s not just scared, but lost – he doesn’t know who will read it but lost – he doesn’t know who will read it (although he figures it’ll be the Thought Police), he (although he figures it’ll be the Thought Police), he can’t be sure he knows the date, and he can’t be can’t be sure he knows the date, and he can’t be sure that the mere act of writing in the diary won’t sure that the mere act of writing in the diary won’t be enough to justify his vaporizationbe enough to justify his vaporization

• When the words do start pouring out, however, it’s When the words do start pouring out, however, it’s a guttural expression of damaged humanitya guttural expression of damaged humanity

• You can’t tell if Winston’s horrified by the sights he You can’t tell if Winston’s horrified by the sights he describes…and neither can hedescribes…and neither can he

Damaged HumanityDamaged Humanity

The Central QuestionThe Central Question• The Party remains in power, in large part, by The Party remains in power, in large part, by

damaging every aspect of humanity – our damaging every aspect of humanity – our ability to long for something or someone, our ability to long for something or someone, our desire to create and behave independently, and desire to create and behave independently, and so on – until they can repurpose that energy for so on – until they can repurpose that energy for negative purposes.negative purposes.

• We understand We understand howhow they do it – but they do it – but why?why?

All for Today…All for Today…• Go shout about something that matters!Go shout about something that matters!