Symbols, Motifs, and Irony in 1984

SYMBOLS, MOTIFS, AND IRONY IN 1984

Iris, Alson, Selena, Indika

IRONY

E!

War is Peace; Freedom is Slavery; Ignorance is Strength

Explanation

Contradictions No such things as

Freedom Peace amongst countries

Proles don’t know the power they have Only ones who can overthrow the party

“A narrow scarlet sash, emblem of the Junior Anti-Sex League, was wound several times round the waist of her overalls, just tightly enough to bring out the shapeliness of her

hips.”

“Yes, always with Party members”...Scores of times she had done it.”

Explanations

Julia is a “devout member” but in reality, she is the opposite

Members aren’t supposed to be sleeping around

Julia has slept with “scores of men”

"'We shall meet in the place where there is no darkness,'... The place where there is no darkness was the imagined

future..."

Explanation

The place of no darkness is actually prison

Winston’s belief is completely opposite of reality

No darkness = Place where you can’t hide

"'You are prepared to give your lives?''Yes'

'You are prepared to commit murder?' 'Yes.'"

Explanation

Ironic because O’Brien is trying to remove them from the Brotherhood, but is initiating them into the Brotherhood instead.

MOTIFS

“The telescreen received and transmitted simultaneously. Any

sound that Winston made, above the level of a very low whisper, would be picked up by it, moreover, so long as he remained within the field of vision which the metal plaque commanded, he could be seen as well as heard.”

Explanation

Telescreen severely limits the freedom of people

No such thing as a place without Telescreen

“Four, five, six—seven times they met during the month of June. Winston had dropped his habit of drinking gin at all hours. He seemed to have lost the need for it. He had grown fatter, his varicose ulcer had subsided, leaving only a brown stain on the skin above his ankle, his fits of coughing in the early morning had stopped. “

Explanation

Ulcer = the pain the party causes Brought up during Party related activities

When he is with Julia, the ulcer disappears

SYMBOLISM

“Freedom is the freedom to say that Two plus two makes

four. If that is granted, all else follows.”

Explanation

Freedom of expression Say what you believe in Can spark a change of thought

But luckily no child appeared, and in the end she agreed to

give up trying, and soon afterwards they parted.

Explanation

Katherine = Ideal woman in the eyes of the party

Marriage is to create babies No baby = move on to next partner