20th November 2019

Continued Essay Practice

Statement: The most important texts are those that criticise the present

Intro: An important text are those that make us think, keep us engaged and achieve its purpose and that’s exactly what a book, criticizing the present, does. We become interested and attached to the book if we are able to draw conclusions that relate back to today’s world. It also helps us become more aware of things happening around us and how to look out for them. The book, Nineteen Eighty-Four, written by George Orwell, explores the consequences of manipulation and control in order to serve as a warning to today’s society. In abe to serve this warning, it creates a made-up society and criticizes the year 1984 and in some way, it is still relevant today. In doing this it makes us really think and reflect the book back into reality which gives this book its importance and is the reason I agree with the statement, the most important texts are those that criticize the present. Orwell gives the criticizing in the form of manipulation which is shown through the use of the thought police, the creation of the new language and the use of technology in the form of telescreens.

Quotes:

  • “The man’s face was suddenly contorted by a sort of spasm…. it was only a twitch, a quiver, rapid as the clicking of a camera shutter… that poor devil is done for”
  • “The smallest thing could give you away. A nervous tic, an unconscious look of anxiety, a habit of muttering to yourself … There was even a word for it in New- speak: FACECRIME, it was called.”
  • “the word UNCOLD meant ‘warm’, while PLUSCOLD and DOUBLEPLUSCOLD meant, respectively, ‘very cold’ and ‘superlatively cold’.”
  • “consciously introduce unconscious and then once again to become unconscious of the act of hypnosis they had just performed.”
  • “it is terribly dangerous to let your thoughts wander when in range of a telescreen. The smallest thing could give you away.”
  • “kept his back turned to the telescreen, it was safer, though as he well knew, even a back could be reveling.

Join the conversation! 1 Comment

  1. Great intro and great quotes!

    The only thing now (and this can, but does not have to be in your intro) is a reference to the present day realities that were foreshadowed by Nineteen Eighty-Four.

    I’m loving where you’ve reached in all this, Jess. Your quotes are magnificent. Can I add them to my list (I’ll credit you)

    C

    Reply

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