Let’s go back to back with everyone’s favorite dystopian novel, 1984
There are plenty of examples of irony in 1984 by George Orwell. The novel itself, on the surface a satire on negative Utopian novels, contains enough truth to frighten even the most diligent head-in-the-sand citizen. The novel’s hero is a middle-aged, out-of-shape, not-so-attractive, varicose ulcer possessing, pencil-necked geek and the novel’s heroine is a promiscuous, concerned only about the present, rebel from the waist down (Winston Smith’s words) trollop in her mid-twenties.
The controlling party’s name Ingsoc, a derivative from the English socialists party, possesses no resemblance to actual socialism in its treatment of the working class. The party’s idealized hero is called Big Brother, yet the party has managed to eliminate familial love. The Ministry of Truth fabricates lies; the Ministry of Love specializes in torture; the Ministry of Plenty causes shortages; and the Ministry of Peace wages war.
Intro Music
The party maintains control with the ironic use of doublethink: the ability to think two completely contradictory thoughts at the same time, believing both to be true. The irony in 1984 by George Orwell is embodied in the party’s slogan: War is Peace; Freedom is Slavery; Ignorance is Strength.
Quote: War is Peace; Freedom is Slavery; Ignorance is Strength (26).
Classroom Application
Analysis: In addition to being ironic, the party’s slogan is an oxymoron, a statement which on the surface is contradictory, but in reality contains truth. The party slogan holds different meanings, depending on who’s reading it, making it an intelligent example of verbal irony: for the inner party it means as long as Oceania is at war, the masses are able to direct their anger at an enemy and not at the party; the inner party enjoys its freedom insomuch as it enslaves the masses, be it outer party members, proletariats, or workers in the war zone; as long as the masses remain ignorant to the truth, the party remains strong.
Those not understanding the machinations of the inner party believe peace can only be achieved by conquering the world and eliminating the enemies of the party and of Oceania. They believe that to act freely would lessen Oceania’s strength and lead it to possible doom. They believe that any deviation from the party weakens the nation, preferring to remain ignorant.
Life Lesson
I fully accept, believe, and approve of one’s ability and right to hold contradictory thoughts in his or her brain. For example, when students take their cell phone out in class, I hold them in the same class as the spawn of hell. When I’m attending a teacher professional learning, it’s not only acceptable to take out one’s phone, but it’s a necessity. Does that make me a hypocrite? Yes. But that’s not really what’s going on in 1984.
Links
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8 Short Stories and Novels that Exemplify the Dangers of Big Government Blog Post
- Science Fiction Lesson Plans
- Short Story Catalog at ELACOMMONCORELESSONPLANS.com
- Poetry Collections at ELACommonCoreLessonPlans.com
