LANGUAGE IN INDIA

Strength for Today and Bright Hope for Tomorrow

Volume 24:10 October 2024
ISSN 1930-2940

Editors:
         Sam Mohanlal, Ph.D.
         B. Mallikarjun, Ph.D.
         A. R. Fatihi, Ph.D.
         G. Baskaran, Ph.D.
         T. Deivasigamani, Ph.D.
         Pammi Pavan Kumar, Ph.D.
         Soibam Rebika Devi, M.Sc., Ph.D.

Managing Editor & Publisher: M. S. Thirumalai, Ph.D.

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A Cultural Materialism Analysis of
Orwell’s 1984

Ajeet Singh, Ph.D. Research Scholar,
Archana Durgesh Verma, Ph.D. and Ashish Pandey, Ph.D.


Courtesy: www.amazon.com

Abstract

The paper examines a text through a cultural materialist lens to uncover its deeper meanings, particularly how societal control is exerted through institutions. It highlights the ways these institutions can lead to a state of subjugation, leaving individuals feeling powerless and marginalized. In essence, it seeks to illuminate the mechanisms of power that shape individual lives and limit autonomy. The author brilliantly used his imagination and proved that how a cultural control through constant monitoring can raise the power of government which ultimately converts into a totalitarian state. The novel 1984 (1949) is a novel with universal appeal and warns the reader that how a dominance of ideal and imposition of ideology can be so destructive for individual freedom and expression. Using fundamental ideas from literary theory, the study focuses on bringing cultural materialism to text analysis, showing how cultural domination compromises social welfare and individual freedom. It looks at how this dynamic widens the gap between the general public and the elite, emphasizing the structural injustices brought about by institutional power structures.

Keywords: 1984, George Orwell, culture, materialism, ideology, dominance, tele-screen

Introduction

Human civilizations are greatly influenced by culture, which reflects the identities and social behaviors of local populations. Although it promotes unity and a sense of belonging among individuals, it may also facilitate oppression and social division. In this sense, culture forms the basis of power relations, impacting the state's use of its authority and helping to preserve inequality. Eric Blair, the most iconic author of the twentieth century better known as George Orwell, the visionary and a perfect predictor of society who already propounded that the future generations will be controlled by popular media like Television and he showed how the powerful social magnates will control the capital, prestige, power and resources. He experimented with his far frightening work 1984, where he predicted an imaginary word in which the government is ruled Big Brother and how he controlled with his ministries, thought police and media.

The paper is written with aim to understand the Orwell’s point of view on how the cultural dominance and controlling the thinking of people become so devastating. Once you read the novel after understanding and implementing the literary theory of Cultural Materialism in comprehending the Orwell discourse through his characters and novel 1984.

This is only the beginning part of the article. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE IN PRINTER-FRIENDLY VERSION.

Ajeet Singh, Ph.D. Research Scholar
ajeetsingh.ugi@gmail.com

Archana Durgesh Verma, Ph.D.
archana1120@gmail.com

Ashish Pandey, Ph.D.
kumar16pandey@gmail.com

School of Humanities and Social Science, BBD University, Lucknow
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