Revision document produced by an A* English Literature A-level student containing key quotes, relevant historical and literary context, and critic quotes for every theme in ‘1984’. This will save a student from countless hours of researching which could instead be used for practising essay skil...
“Big Brother is watching you” The Nazi Party used the Hitler Youth to Hannah can “sense the cameras” and “the *Winston is “a victim of a totalitarian
- Surveillance is dualistic (both overt and covert) indoctrinate children at their most watchers behind the cameras” (When She structure which he cannot escape
with physical forces instilling fear e..g spies + impressionable and separate them from Woke) completely” (Berggren)
bombs vs elements of panopticism their parents - some members denounced
- Citizens are indoctrinated with this slogan - Big their parents when they behaved in ways “You can’t call your life your own” in Efrafa “Big Brother in Oceania affects the
Brother is presented as an omnipresent observer not approved of by the Reich. and “in return you have safety” (Watership behaviour of the observed at all times as
and unknown force which demonstrates a more Down) he is presented as an omnipresent
mundane, psychological form of control The SS were one of the most feared observer” (Berggren)
organisations in Nazi Germany, with “Over-priced cell, slotted almost at
“Always the eyes watching you and the voice enveloping thousands of members who wore all-black random into the cliff face of the apartment “The Party adds interaction between
you” (Big Brother) uniforms, ran the concentration camps building” - imprisonment, overcrowded, citizens as a controlling mechanism”
and eliminated Hitler’s political opponents. trapped in position in society, (High Rise) (Berggren)
- Interaction in the end breaks down
Telescreen Orwell’s ‘Thought Police’ were also “What do you know that we should know?” Winston’s ambition for privacy as he
“There was no way of shutting it off completely” * modelled on Stalin’s NKVD, who oversaw - propaganda from televisions, no privacy realises he cannot trust even his
- 1984 shows what can happen to a society when all political assassinations, had a key role in or trust, evokes guilt (Is This Your Day to closest friend
notions of personal freedom are removed political repression and carried out the Join the Revolution?)
- The private space of individuals is limited/abolished Great Purge. “Winston’s ambition to achieve privacy
by ensuring that there is not a safe or possible way to “They observed you behind the mirror and and individual expression in a society that
feel secure with one's actions or opinions at any time Totalitarian governments, such as Stalin marked your body language” - emotions forbids both of these things ultimately
- Loss of privacy isn't a punishment but in fact present and Hitler’s, had “iron curtains” around become a performance and are forced in leads to his breakdown” (Berggren)
in every aspect of their daily lives – all privacy is their populations, suppressing their order to please the regime (Is This Your
dismantled no matter how innocent a citizen is freedoms and strictly controlling their Day to Join the Revolution?) Winston has created “a rare kind of
actions - explains why 1984 explores privacy for himself in a society where
“You had to live… in the assumption that every sound you mass torture, imprisonment and perpetual privacy and certain opinions lead to
made was overheard… every movement scrutinised” monitoring by the authorities. severe punishment” (Berggren)
- The Party uses elements of panopticism to keep its
citizens obedient by removing the sense of privacy Today, social media collects every
and trust for each other - populace actually controls gesture, purchase, comment and feeds an
their own fear through their belief in continuous omniscient presence in our lives that can
surveillance and conforms predict our every presence.
“You could not control the beating of your heart, and the
telescreen was quite delicate enough to pick it up”
“Whichever way you turned, the telescreen faced you”
,- Technology is used to instill fear and create
uncertainty as it allows the Party to scrutinize its
citizens; there is an extreme dismantling of privacy
Concealed Emotions (Facecrime)
“The expression of quiet optimism which it was advisable
to wear when facing the telescreen”
“To dissemble your feelings, to control your face, to do
what everyone else was doing, was an instinctive reaction”
- Sense of privacy is very much absent in Oceania
as citizens can be arrested by simply projecting a
suspicious facial expression or thinking the wrong
thoughts - citizens lack the privacy needed to
construct their own thoughts + therefore cannot
rebel
“Wearing on his face the look of grim enjoyment which was
considered proper during the Physical Jerks”
“A single flicker of the eyes could give you away”
“Your worst enemy, he reflected, was your nervous system”
“Not to let one’s feelings appear in one’s face was a habit
that had acquired the status of an instinct”
Society of Informers
“She might be an agent of the Thought Police”
- With the continued existence of the Party,
surveillance has transferred from formal
systemisations to an integrated form of cultural
suspicion which is constant
The Times would praise how some “child hero” had
“overheard some compromising remark and denounced his
parents to the Thought Police”
- The Party’s most powerful weapon is those who
have been indoctrinated; it keeps its members
, obedient through the loss of privacy and trust
“It was precisely the amateur spy who was the greatest
danger of all”
- The Party makes it a person’s sacred duty to
monitor others which assists their control over the
populace and removes any sense of camaraderie;
this leads to isolated citizens whose loyalty is only
to the Party
“Always yell with the crowd… It’s the only way to be safe”
- The constant surveillance prevents transgressions
and causes judgement in society to become the
norm - culture of fear
Privacy
“The ancient time… when there was still privacy, love and
friendship”
“Privacy… was a very valuable thing”
Methods of Surveillance
“Ear trumpets for listening through key-holes”
“You could be certain that the number of your attendances
at the Centre was carefully checked”
“There was always the danger of concealed microphones”
Thought Police
“suicidal impulses of this kind” such as that he “allowed his
thoughts to wander”
“Thoughtcrime was not a thing that could be concealed
forever”
- While Winston believes he has found a private
place in his apartment to write his diary he is still
controlled by his fear of his peers and the Thought
, Police
“Nothing is efficient in Oceania except the Thought Police”
“A Party member lives from birth to death under the eye of
the Thought Police” with everything “jealously scrutinised”
- Thought criminals could endanger the sanctity of
the Party therefore capturing them is their priority
“There is only one offence”
“He knew now that for seven years the Thought Police had
watched him like a beetle under a magnifying glass”
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller revisionwithrose. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for £9.99. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
