The origin of George Orwell

Created by: The Gr3at Creation

Gabrielle Brown: Life of George
Orwell

George Orwell, born as Eric Arthur

Blair in 1903, was an influential
English writer and journalist. He
lived during a time of significant
political and social upheaval. Orwell
early experiences as a colonial
police officer in Burma shaped his
views on imperialism and
inspired his first novel, "Burmese
Days." He later fought in the
Spanish Civil War, which
further fueled his opposition to
totalitarianism and his commitment
to democratic socialism.
Gabrielle Brown: Life of George Orwell

Orwell most famous works,

"Animal Farm" and "Nineteen
Eighty-Four," were written in the
late 1940s and continue to be
widely read and studied today.
These dystopian novels explore
themes of political oppression,
surveillance, and the abuse of
power. Orwell writing style
was characterized by its clarity and
directness, making complex ideas
accessible to a wide audience.​
Gabrielle Brown: Life of George Orwell

Throughout his life, Orwell was a

vocal critic of totalitarianism,
whether it be the rise of Stalinism
in the Soviet Union or the growing
influence of fascism in Europe. He
believed in the importance of truth
and the need for individuals to
resist oppressive regimes. Orwell
works continue to resonate with
readers, serving as a reminder of
the dangers of authoritarianism
and the importance of defending
democratic values.​
Arianna Blake: Time of George Orwell
 The Gladstone and MacDonald Pact:
 In 1903 there was an agreement made between Herbet Gladstone, the Chief Whip of the
Liberal Party, and Ramsay MacDonald, secretary of the Labour Representation Committee,
that in 30 constituencies, the Labour Party and Liberty Party would not stand against each
other. This would avoid the risk of having to split their vote. This agreement resulted in
contests against the Conservative Party.
 In 1924, at the 1923 general election both parties campaigned on the issue of free trade. The
Conservative Party campaigned to introduce protective tariffs (which are designed to shield
domestic production from foreign competition by raising the price of imported commodity),
but lost its parliamentary majority. Although, it still remains the largest party in the House of
Commons. The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United
Kingdom. The formation of the first Labour minority government was enabled once the
Liberals agreed to it in 1924, under the leadership of Ramsay MacDonald, who was their
Prime Minister and it lasted only a little over 9 months.
 In 1929, another general election was held and Labour won the greatest number of seats, but
they did not have the parliamentary majority. The liberals who were now far weaker allowed
the formation of a second Labour government by not aligning with the Conservatives to defeat
the new Government. These events were some of the most prominent within George Orwell’s
time.
Candice Phillips: Information
Communism is an ideology that
advocates for the abolition of
private property and the
establishment of a classless society
where the means of production are
owned and controlled by the
community as a whole. It aims to
create a society where resources are
shared equally among all
individuals, eliminating social
hierarchies and promoting
cooperation. However, in practice,
communism has often led to
authoritarian regimes and the
suppression of individual freedoms.
Candice Phillips: Information

Totalitarianism refers to a political

system in which the government
has complete control over all
aspects of public and private life. It
is characterized by a single ruling
party or leader who exercises
absolute power, often through the
use of propaganda, censorship, and
surveillance. Totalitarian regimes
seek to eliminate dissent and
maintain control through fear and
manipulation. They suppress
individual rights and freedoms,
imposing strict conformity to the
ruling ideology.
Candice Phillips: Information

Capitalism is an economic system

based on private ownership of the
means of production and the
pursuit of profit. It encourages
competition and free markets,
where prices are determined by
supply and demand. Capitalism
promotes individual initiative,
innovation, and economic growth.
However, it can also lead to income
inequality and exploitation, as
wealth and power tend to
concentrate in the hands of a few.
T’Asia Jackson: Define the term
“Allegory”
This is a story, poem, or
picture that can be
interpreted to reveal a
hidden meaning,
typically a moral or
political one.
T’Asia Jackson: Tell why Animal
Farm is an Allegory to the Russian
Revolution.

Orwell's allegory for the

Russian Revolution, Animal
Farm, illustrates how the
effective use of propaganda
enables the dangerous
manipulation of the masses.
Because communism
replaces individual freedoms
with governmental control,
people in these countries are
more vulnerable to being
manipulated.
Slide 12 cont’d
 Orwell uses the dogs to symbolize how governments use military force to
intimidate society. Stalin used brutal military force to strike fear into his
people. Stalin made the military kill people publicly. If he suspected
subversive activity, “Anybody suspected of disloyalty was murdered, or put on
public show trials at which they pleaded guilty to crimes they could never
have done”(Stalin: Purges and Praises). Many citizens targeted by Stalin
confessed to impossible crimes. Similarly, Napoleon uses the dogs for
intimidation. He would have the dogs kill any untrustworthy animals. The
dogs represent the KGB. Squealer uses the dogs to intimidate the animals into
believing him. The animals congregate to discuss the construction of the
windmill. Squealer was trying to teach the animals about tactics and, “The
animals were not sure what the word meant, but Squealer spoke so
persuasively and the three dogs who happened to be with him growled so
threateningly that they accepted his explanation without further questions”
(58). Squealer explains to the animals how to use tactics. The animals, unsure
of what the word meant, are not going to believe him; however, the menacing,
growling dogs persuade them to. Similarly, Stalin used fear to get the people
of Russia under his control and influence. The KGB would be at his right hand
and ready to hurt anyone if necessary, depicting Orwell’s argument of an
The End of Presentation