The Grim Imagery Used In 1984

George Orwell’s prose fiction novel Nineteen Eighty-Four (1949) and Yevgeny Zamyatin’s dystopian novel We (1924) provide projections of the adverse effects of oppressive governments and how their insidious nature restrains one’s individuality and humanity. Both authors by exemplifying the fundamental human qualities of communion, morality, and connection highlight an individual’s experiences thus emphasising the repercussions they can have on them.

Our relationships and ways of communicating thoughts and emotions are vital aspects to our experiences which ultimately makes us human. Orwell, in his didactic novel 1984, constructs a totalitarian world that impedes an individual’s ability to have human experiences and furthermore form connections. Orwell highlights this through Winston as he “thought of the telescreen with its never-sleeping ear”. The personification of the telescreen as a ‘never-sleeping ear’ highlights the predicament that Winston faces as the constant surveillance disables him from expressing his emotions thus limiting his communion and personal experiences. The influence of relationships and connections on one’s identity is illustrated by Winston and Julia’s relationship. Orwell highlights the need for personal friendships and relationships through Winston’s emotion as “a kind of fever seized him at the thought that he might lose her”. The heat metaphor highlights how Winston’s pessimistic view of life has changed to optimism as he now has a woman in his life to care for. It stresses how the emotions of love and connectedness bring out the human quality of selfishness and fervour as Winston does not want to let go of a ‘precious’ part of his life which as a result leads to detrimental repercussions.

The detrimental repercussion of a person’s experiences is further highlighted through the intimate connection formed between Winston and Julia. Julia’s emotive tone as she questions Winston “Which would you sooner sleep with, me or a skeleton? Don’t you enjoy being alive”, uses a death metaphor to show the horror of isolation and disconnection as it reiterates how relationships and an individual’s morals make us human. Julia explicitly states how love and intimacy builds up Winston’s passion and eagerness to rebel against the party resulting in long-lasting consequences. The long lasting effects of an individual’s experiences are further emphasised through the changes Winston undergoes in room 101. Here, Winston experiences “the worst things in the world” where “O’Brien wrenched the loose tooth out by the roots”. The overtly grim use of imagery emphasises the extreme toll that Winston’s experience is having on him. The pain that he felt as his body was “falling to pieces” like a rotten “bag of filth” depicts the physical pain he faced thus symbolising the everlasting scars formed due to his human experiences of communion and connection.

Similar to 1984, We by Zamyatin explores the adverse effects of human experiences conveying how an individual’s relationships, morals, and surroundings can have lasting effects on the person. A person’s individuality and personality defined by their experiences ultimately shape them into the individual they are. In We, people are dehumanized into nothing more than numbers where the protagonist identifies himself as “I am D-503”. Zamyatin by satirically naming individuals as numbers highlights how no one has an identity similar to how everyone is termed ‘comrade’ in 1984. As a result, people feel that they are only small “integers amongst a sea of numbers” where they cannot form connections and lack care for other “numbers” as it seems insignificant. The look upon mankind through the lens of mathematical constructs leads to a sense of depthlessness as the insensitivity towards ones individuality highlights the impact on humanity and personal qualities.

Zamyatin further conveys the effects of human experiences through the sexually driven relationships between both D-503 and I-330 which mirrors Winston and Julia’s connection. D-503’s relationship intensifies as I-330’s manipulation has driven his lust and eagerness for her: “I cannot live without her. I could not bear it any longer! Where have you been?”. The cummulation of emotive cries highlights how his experiences with I-330 have developed dangerous feelings of love and lust which were previously non-existent. These ‘primitive feelings’ envelop D-503 where he rebels against the ‘One State’ thus emphasising the lasting effects of his experiences. Zamyatin further emphasises the consequences of an individual’s experiences through the development of D-503’s soul. The relationship that forms between D-503 and I-330 causes the development of emotions within him leading to drastic changes. Zamyatin first metaphorically describes D-503 as “a separate entity, a world” as he began as an exemplary citizen of the ‘One State’. However, as his relationships formed and connections strengthened D-503 began to “look like he was developing a soul”. The ironic statement accentuates how emotions and feelings ultimately makes us humans which is similarly emphasised in 1984 as the whole plot is driven by the parties’ desire to eradicate citizen’s ability to think and communicate. As a result, the experiences of sexuality and lust cause D-503 to develop feelings of selfishness, passion, and jealousy thus reiterating how our experiences shape us as an individual leading to lasting effects.