About George Orwell’s works
In this section we provide an overview of some of Orwell’s most famous works and their relevance for today’s society.
Down and Out in Paris and London (1933)
This book is a semi-autobiographical account recounting the experiences of poverty that the author experienced during his time spent in both cities. It is split into two sections, the first detailing his time spent in Paris and the second focusing on his experiences in London.
In Paris, Orwell begins by living in a hotel attic and then moves to a cheap boarding house. He works various jobs in the city, including dishwashing and later as a plongeur, which involves cleaning up after other employees. He is exposed to the harsh realities of the life of the poor and homeless in the city, such as when he meets a fellow tramp who has resorted to eating dog food for sustenance. He also describes the poverty and squalor of the city, as well as the harassment from the police.
In London, Orwell takes up lodgings in a doss-house and takes on menial jobs such as dishwashing and scavenging. He befriends a tramp called Bozo, and together they look for work and food. They also visit the Tower Bridge Casual Ward, a charity for the homeless, where Orwell describes the poverty and desperation of those who have been forced to turn to the charity for help.
The book is significant to today’s society as it serves as a reminder of the grim reality of poverty. It also serves to highlight the need for improved social welfare systems and better support for those living in poverty. The book also serves to remind us of the power of literature to reveal truths about society, as well as to spark debate and discussion about existing social issues.
Keep the Aspidistra Flying (1936)
This novel follows the story of protagonist Gordon Comstock, a young, middle-class man living in 1930’s London. Gordon rebels against the values of his class and his family by giving up a successful advertising career to become a poet and live in poverty.
The novel is set in the period of the Great Depression, and explores the class differences, financial anxieties, and cultural expectations that defined the era. The title of the novel is a reference to a popular song of the time, which is used throughout the novel as a metaphor for Gordon’s struggle to survive without giving up his dreams.
The novel is about the difficulty of maintaining one’s idealism and sense of self in a world that is increasingly hostile to individualism and creative endeavours. Gordon’s struggle to make ends meet while still pursuing his dreams of writing poetry is a metaphor for the difficulty of living a meaningful life in an oppressive and conformist society.
The novel is significant to today’s society as it highlights the importance of maintaining one’s individualism and creativity in a world that is increasingly dominated by consumerism and conformity. Gordon’s struggle to survive and remain true to himself is a reminder that even in a world of increasing homogeneity, it is possible to find meaning and joy in pursuing one’s own values and dreams.
Today’s society, like Gordon’s, is increasingly dominated by materialism and consumerism, and the novel serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining individualism and creative pursuits in the face of these pressures. It reminds us that it is possible to find joy and meaning in life, even in the face of financial hardship and cultural expectations.
Homage to Catalonia (1938)
This is a non-fiction book that chronicles Orwell’s experience and observations of the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939). The book is an important part of Orwell’s literary and political legacy, as it provides a unique first-hand account of the war.
The narrative begins with Orwell’s arrival in Barcelona in December 1936, when he decides to join the POUM militia and fight on the side of the Republicans against Franco’s fascists. During his time in the trenches, Orwell experiences the dangers of the front lines and the atrocities of the war. He is later wounded in battle and evacuated to a hospital in Barcelona.
When Orwell returns to Barcelona after recuperating, he discovers that the city has changed drastically and is now under the control of the Communist Party. This sudden shift has resulted in the suppression of POUM and other non-Communist groups. Orwell and other POUM members soon find themselves targeted by the authorities and become victims of a political witch-hunt.
The narrative culminates in Orwell’s escape from Barcelona and eventual return to England. By the time of his return, Orwell has come to the realization that the war had become a conflict between two equally oppressive forces, and that the Republican cause had been betrayed by the Communists.
The book is significant to today’s society because it is a powerful reminder of the dangers of authoritarianism and the importance of standing up for freedom and justice. It also serves as a cautionary tale about the perils of political manipulation and the consequences of allowing ideologies to override human rights. In this way, Homage to Catalonia serves to remind us of the importance of standing up for our beliefs and fighting for a better future.
Animal Farm (1945)
Animal Farm by George Orwell is a classic novel written in 1945 that has a timeless message still relevant today. It is a satire about a group of animals who rebel against their human masters and take over the farm. The animals, led by two pigs, Snowball and Napoleon, create a new ideology of Animalism, which promises equality and freedom for all animals.
The animals develop a set of laws known as the Seven Commandments, which include that all animals are equal, no animal shall kill another animal, and no animal shall sleep in a bed. The animals work together to restore the farm and make it prosperous.
However, the pigs begin to take control and slowly start to break the laws. They change the Seven Commandments to suit their own needs, and the other animals become more and more oppressed and exploited. The pigs eventually become a tyrannical ruling class, and the other animals are left with no say in the running of the farm.
The novel serves as a warning to people that oppressive regimes will always try to exploit and control the masses. It is a cautionary tale that reminds us to be vigilant and to stand up for our rights and freedoms. Animal Farm shows how easily a society can be manipulated and how lies and deceit can be used to control the masses.
Despite being written over 70 years ago, the message of Animal Farm is still highly relevant today. The novel serves as a reminder to people in modern society to be aware of those who exploit their power and to stay aware of their rights and freedoms. Animal Farm is a timeless novel that will always be relevant in the fight against oppression and tyranny.
1984 (1948)
1984 is a dystopian novel by George Orwell, published in 1949. It is a warning of the dangers of totalitarianism, which was a growing fear in the wake of World War II.
The novel is set in a future world where the population is kept under constant surveillance by a powerful group known as the Party. The protagonist, Winston Smith, is a member of the Outer Party who works for the Ministry of Truth. Despite being a loyal Party member, he has begun to resist the oppressive regime and is determined to do whatever he can to overthrow it.
The plot of the novel follows Winston and his attempts to rebel against the Party. He meets a woman named Julia, who is also a member of the Outer Party and shares his resistance to the Party. They begin a relationship and together, they attempt to rebel and spread their beliefs. However, the Party is always one step ahead of them and they are eventually caught and subjected to torture.
The novel ends with Winston being broken and accepting the Party. He has betrayed Julia and believes the Party’s version of reality. This is meant to be a warning of the dangers of totalitarian governments and how they can manipulate people’s minds and break their spirits.
The novel is still relevant today as many governments around the world have oppressive regimes and continue to monitor and control their citizens. It is a warning of what can happen when a government has too much power and is not held accountable for its actions. It is also a reminder of the need to fight for freedom and resist oppressive systems.
Shooting an Elephant (1936)
‘Shooting an Elephant’ by George Orwell is an autobiographical essay describing the events of a day in Moulmein, Burma while he was working as a police officer in the British Imperial Police Force. The narrator is sent to deal with a troublesome elephant that had been ravaging a bazaar. He is conflicted about what to do, as he is aware of the Burmese people’s hatred for the British Empire and knows that shooting the elephant would only further fuel the resentment. After much deliberation, he decides to go through with the shooting, despite his better judgement.
The essay symbolically highlights the oppressive power of the British Empire and its effects on both the colonisers and the colonised. The narrator is aware that shooting the elephant would satisfy the Burmese people, but he is also aware that it would be seen as an act of oppression. He is caught between two worlds; he is a member of the British Empire but he is also sympathetic to the natives. The narrator’s dilemma is a representation of the subjugation of the colonised people and the moral dilemmas faced by the colonisers.
The essay is still relevant today as it highlights the power of imperialism and the moral ambiguities of colonialism. It illustrates the lengths to which the colonisers had to go to maintain their power, and the conflicting emotions of the colonised. It also serves as a reminder of the oppressive nature of imperialism and the need for people to stand up against injustice. The essay is a powerful reminder of the atrocities of imperialism and the importance of resisting oppression.
