George Orwell Essay Research Paper Many authors

George Orwell Essay, Research Paper

Many authors relate their writing can be connected to their own life experiences. For instance the author George Orwell has written many essays that are in direct relation to his own life. And one another note his novels such as 1984 are in relation to the time period in which it was written. The environment in which a person lives can have a direct effect on how the outcome of their writing is.

George Orwell is in fact the pen name of Eric Arthur Blair. He was born June 25, 1903, in Motihari, Bengal (India). When he was educated at Eton College. After leaving their in 1927 he served with the Indian Imperial Police in Burma. India was such an important part of his life because both of his parents were members of the Indian Civil Service. After a short term with them he moved to Paris for two years and then back to England. Orwell then moonlighted as a school teacher, private tutor and a bookshop assistant. During the Spanish American War he fought in the POUM militia on the Republican side, and during World War II he served as a home guard. After the stints in the army he became a talks producer for an Indian Service of the BBC. Then he went on to join the Tribune and later on was a special correspondent for the Observer. By January 1950 Mr. Orwell s life had been lived and he passed away (www.extrapris.com/store/orwell.html 1).

Novels and documentaries written by Orwell have since established him as an important and influential author of the century (Levity.com 1). Down and Out in Paris and London was published in 1933. This short story was about his years of living in poverty after leaving Burma. Burmese Days(1934), was about Orwell s days with the Imperial Police in Burma. Then in 1938 he wrote Homage to Catalina, it is a documentary about his experiences in the Spanish Civil War. There he was wounded and forced to run for his life by communists (Levity.com 2).

By 1940 George Orwell had his big break. Animal Farm was released in 1945, this novel is a clever way of attacking Stalinism. His other big success was 1984 which was first released in 1949. Fear of being overrun by the government were the main ideas of this novel. In 1968 Collected Essays, Journalism, and Letters of George Orwell was published.

The world was a very busy place during the years that George Orwell lived his life. In 1907 Great Britain joins a defense pact with France and Russia, this formed the Triple Entente( History 8). Orwell was only 4 years old and already threats of war during his lifetime were affecting him. By the time he was 11 World War 1 had started. In 1915 Gandhi returned to India to lead non-violent protests against the British rule (History 15).

During WW1 there are serious food shortages, rationing and higher prices are a result. At age 15 Orwell had just lived through one of the many wars in his life time. Ten years after the end of World War 1, 62 nations join a say no to war pact named Kellogg-Briand. The main countries included the USA, Italy, Great Britain, and Japan.

By 1930 the Nazi Party came in second in their election (History 31). Tensions in Europe were rising again and this time Hitler was in the middle of it. Then the Spanish Civil War took place, this is were the story Homage to Catalina took place. The Nazis attack the Jews in 1938 this is the largest act of anti-semitism ever. The next year Germany invades Poland, then Britain and France declare war on Germany. 1940 Winston Churchill becomes the Prime Minister of Britain, he replaces Neville Chamberlain ( History 41). World War II ended in 1945, the casualties exceeded 50 million people. Then in 1948 Gandhi is assassinated after India finally becomes

Independent of Britain (History 49) .

The book 1984 starts out with Winston Smith he is a part of a totalitarian world. This book takes place either in or around the year 1984. The world Winston Smith is living in is one where the government has control over everything. The people are under some sort of trance where everything the government does is the right thing and they will stick by them no matter what. It wasn t always like this, or so the people think. The government has taken away all their past memories and the people have no recollection of any past circumstances.

There are three main parties in the Country of Oceania The Outer Party, which Winston is a member of. The Inner Party and The Proles (Commoners and Workers) are the other two. While at the daily two minute hate which is a propaganda film that is repeated daily, Winston catches the eye of O Brien who is a member of the Inner Party (Gerenser 1). Winston starts to think that this man might have the same thought of the government that he does. While daydreaming about this Winston fails to notice he has written DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER numerous times all over the diary he had purchased. This can cause some trouble because Big Brother is their government figure, going against them at anytime is almost guaranteed death.

That night Winston has a dream he dreams of his mother and sister. Because of his greediness he had let them starve in the war. Then he dreamt of the girl in the records department where he worked. When he is awakened by the morning two minute hate he seems to have thoughts that relate back to his childhood. But it is a brief memory, everything after that has been a produc