1987. Some novels
and plays seem to advocate changes in social or political attitudes or in
traditions. Choose such a novel or play and note briefly the particular
attitudes or traditions that the author apparently wishes to modify. Then
analyze the techniques the author uses to influence the reader's or audience's
views. Avoid plot summary.
In George Orwell's dystopian novel 1984, Orwell uses details, imagery, and an exaggerated situation to influence readers to support his idea that totalitarian governments are unsuccessful and that a socialist government is the best government type. He uses these elements to create the picture of a government that is run by power-hungry people who put their own interests before the peoples'. Furthermore, the negative image of the totalitarian government described influences readers to support his ideology that Socialism must prevail.
Orwell uses details to show the reader that the totalitarian form of government is unsuccessful. He uses specific details in the story to create a distrust among readers for the totalitarian system. For example, the last two lines of the party slogan "Freedom is Slavery, Ignorance is Strength" seems to show the reader that true freedom and strength arise from becoming a slave to Big Brother. By becoming a shell of a man with no independent mind, they are able to live on their own. Freedom, which is taken for granted by many, will be reduced to following a higher authority completely, turning a blind eye to whatever horrible actions they may do. This powerful line in the story echoes in Wilson's head, urging the reader to believe that the Big Brother political party is taking away inherent rights to humans.
In Book One, Chapter VII, it is explained that "In the end, the party would announce that two and two made five, and you would have to believe it... Not merely the validity of experience, but the very existence of external reality was tacitly denied by their philosophy". This section not only shows the ridiculousness of the mental control that the Party maintains over the citizens, but pushes the reader to realize that it is wrong and influential in a terrible way. Readers see that the double think aspect of the government is wrong. The thought that the government may have control over something that belongs to someone, like their thoughts, creates a touchy subject that many will not be okay with, thus creating opposition to totalitarian governments.
George Orwell also uses imagery of violence and associates the totalitarian governments with the negative connotation of these elements. Furthermore, the violence shown in the book leaves a more permanent impact on the reader as the violence can be emotionally scarring. This has a tendency to stick with the readers long after reading the book. There are many examples of this, such as the final abuse that Wilson encounters as his fear of rats is used against him. Rats are placed on his face to indulge. Wilson nearly passes out from the sheer fear that he experiences.
Elapsed time: 40 minutes
The opening to this is quite strong. You provide a context and a strong thesis that should be found in the following paragraphs. However, I did notice that into your second paragraph, you seemed to change your thesis so that is didn't answer the prompt as well. Now it seems that with the second paragraph that you are trying to prove that Big Brother is the cause for problems, not necessarily the totalitarian government. I also saw that you dropped the second part of your thesis regarding on how socialism is far more dominate. To make your essay stronger I would just drop that from the start if you don't touch upon it in the rest of your paper. You might want to keep in mind that on the AP exam you won't have access to texts so try not to depend on quotes to make your point.
ReplyDeleteHi Joyce! I also agree that your opening paragraph is very well written. I feel as those you are trying to equate Big Brother with the totalitarian government (which would answer the prompt) but I feel that the reader has to make too many inferences to get to this point. I think you may benefit with adding a more broad encompassing conclusion paragraph- but I understand the time limit and overall you did a good job!
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