1984 Journal #1

How do the motifs, setting, and language contribute to our understanding of the society? Address each area separately and in depth.
1. Motifs: There is a motif of "the dark eyes looked deep into Winston's own" (2). In the beginning of the novel, Winston feels conflicted as to whether the dark eyes are comforting or whether they are worth hatred. In the middle of the book, he knows that they are worth hating. However, by the end of the book, he is weeping with comfort from the dark eyes. This contributes to the understanding of the society by making us understand that many people in the society either love or hate the life that they are living. Some love it, others hate it, others don't mind, and others are conflicted. Some have these feelings toward Big Brother, but not toward the society. While others have these feelings toward society and not Big Brother. Still some have these feelings toward both. It's a conflicting society that has no rules but yet expects unspoken rules to be followed, but no one actually knows what these rules are.
2. Setting: The setting is in 1984 and it is in London, England. It is set at a time when totalitarianism has taken over the world and there are only 3 countries. This makes understanding the society easier because we can all historically relate to Hitler's Communist Germany and World War II. So it makes it relatable.
3. Language. The language that is used makes it very clear that we are no longer in the world of plain english. We have entered a world of INGSOC and Doublethink. These ideas are controversial and strange to someone not living in that society. This suggests that the society is highly different from our own and that it is completely Alien to us. It makes the society feel less real but it keeps it feeling like it could happen someday.