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The Representation of Love in the Dystopian Novel 1984
Ryan Lala Rangga Senjaya, Isti Siti Saleha Gandana English Language and Literature Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia
ABSTRACT This study aims to investigate the representation of love in George Orwell’s 1984. The data were collected from Part Two and Part Three of the book, focusing on the main characters: Winston Smith and Julia. The present study employs Rimmon- Kenan's (1983) Narratology and Sternberg's (1986) love theory as its analytical tools. The analysis shows that love is represented as three different concepts in the story: perseverance, hope, and a way of rebelling. The analysis also reveals that love is represented as the core element which contributes to the existence of rebellion in the novel. However, because of how strong the government in a dystopian setting is, love is impossible to maintain for a long time. This appears to suggest that, in a dystopian setting, any kind of hope to win against the government seems impossible to achieve. The present study is expected to provide an alternative analysis to literary works belonging to dystopian genre.
Keywords: representation, dystopia, love, romance, George Orwell’s 1984
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INTRODUCTION (1997), refers to a way to provide Literary works comprise of various meaningful information by the use of genres that become the core of the language to others. Yet, how a writing. Genres such as mainstream particular idea is represented depends fiction and romance tend to have a on the intention of the writer. For happy ending in their stories (Orr & example, in dystopian novel, some Herald, 2013). Dystopian genre, on elements may appear different since the other hand, does not provide the in a dystopian world, the reality has readers such a hopeful content. Sar gone awry. Therefore, many and Murni (2012) state that this kind dystopian novels explore the negative of genre tells readers about a chaotic portrayal of a society that has one and despairfilled future that could horrible flaw. However, dystopian happen because of mankind genre is not all about power and themselves. George Orwell’s 1984 is rebellion. There is also another theme an example of a dystopian novel that that can appear in the dystopian genre, comes as an apprehension toward the such as the theme of love or romance. future conditions. In 1984, the society Generally, the idea of love or is portrayed to be under the rule of a romance in utopian literature refers to totalitarian government which forbids romantic love between the main the existence of private lives, private characters that lead to a happy ending. relationships, and any kind of On the contrary, in a dystopian novel, activities that do not give any the idea of love or romance can be contributions to the ruler. represented in different ways, such as Through the struggle of the becoming a weapon in order to main character in the story, Orwell control people. That is to say, represents the idea of control and romance is portrayed as something resistance as one of the core themes in dangerous which can harm people. the dystopian novel. That is to say, Nevertheless, love can also be representation has an important role represented as something else, such as in constructing a story. the beacon of hope for people who Representation according to Hall lived in the dystopian world. The
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interaction between each element in investigate the representation of love dystopian novel is something that in the dystopian novel 1984. builds the attraction of this genre. Thus, it also enriches the dystopian LITERATURE REVIEW novel with issues which can be Representation explored. Representation is a broad concept Regarding this, a number of which comes in a variety of forms. studies have analyzed dystopian Representation, as explained by Hall novels. Such as the study conducted (1997), refers to the process of by Wolk (2015). In her study, she meaning production through focuses on the role of technology in language. Thus, according to this American and British dystopian view, meaning is thought to be novels regarding cold war. The result constructed. There are no meanings of the study indicates that those who that simply exist in our surroundings, are in control of the latest technology since people need to produce it is capable of controlling the themselves. In order to enable the population. Based on the process, people are required to use aforementioned study, it can be symbols and sign in the form of inferred that a study regarding sounds, words, images, musical notes, dystopian novels is worth conducting, even objects, to represent concept, as it can shed light on other ideas, and feeling. Hence, language dimensions of life. Yet, there are and concept become important many elements of dystopian genre elements in representing the world. that have not been explored much, such as how the idea of love is Novel represented in a dystopian novel. Novel is a literary work which is Therefore, by using the frameworks popular among people before the rise of Rimmon-Kenan’s (1983) of modern movies. Eagleton (2004) narratology and Sternberg’s (1986) defines novel as a piece of prose theory of love, this study aims to fiction which is written in a reasonable length. Ciaffaroni (2009)
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adds that novel is a global cultural long partner. In the movie Beauty and instrument that support in defining the the Beast (2017), it is shown that love time and space where we live, how we can lead to intimacy between people. speak with each other, what kind of Intimacy, as explained by Hatfield, feelings we have, and what kind of Traupmann, Sprecher, Utne, and Hay actions we do. For example, the Harry (1985), is a relationship between two Potter series, which is written by J. K. loving people who are entwined Rowling, is written when fairy tales deeply. The relationship between and fantasy are popular at that time. Belle and the Beast is an example of Additionally, there are many companionate love. At first, Belle was genres of novel. Genre, according to afraid of the Beast since he Chandler (2000), is a part of literature imprisoned Belle’s father for that divide literatures into several trespassing his castle. Yet, after types and give them names. Examples meaningful considerations and living of genres are crime, fantasy, romance, together for a while, they both science fiction, and many more. developed feelings for each other. Examining all these genres requires a Belle was attracted to the Beast knowledge of elements of novel, such because they share similar hobby of as plot, setting, and theme. reading. Acevedo and Aron (2009) further suggest that long-term Love relationships have a chance to To love someone means to dedicate experience romantic love. Romantic one’s self to the other while forsaking love emphasizes being in love with a any kind of existing selfishness. certain individual, “the one”. Hatfield and Walster (1978) believe that people is capable of experiencing Three Components of Love two types of love: passionate love and Sternberg (1986) has a particular love companionate love. Passionate love is theory in which he explains that love a state of high obsession towards the comprises of three components: other. While the latter, companionate intimacy, passion, and love, is the feelings towards a life- decision/commitment. Sternberg
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(1986) called this theory as the physical attraction, sexual triangular love theory. He believes consummation, and any kind of that one’s love is affected greatly by situation that is connected to loving these three components. This theory relationships. This component proceeds to seek answer to why some becomes the origin of any urge or any love last longer than the others. form of arousal will lead people to Sternberg (1986) believes that this experience the passion component of theory provides people with the basic a loving relationship. Sternberg understanding of love among close (1986) believes that passion is relationships. obtained when one gains enough The first component, motivation that came from a intimacy, refers to the feelings that relationship. In a loving relationship, can be found in a loving relationship, passion can be seen as the hot side of for example, closeness, the relationship, since it is believed as connectedness, and bondedness. a fuel to ignite the part of which is Sternberg (1986) clarifies that important to move the relationship intimacy is comprised of feelings that forward. will make one experience the warmth The last component that of a loving relationship. Intimacy is Sternberg (1986) provide is obtained from the emotional decision/commitment component. investment that has been put into the This component refers to two types. relationship. In a loving relationship, The first one, it refers to the short term intimacy can be seen as the warm side of the decision that one takes when he of the relationship, since it provides or she decides to love someone. The the ones who experience it with the second one, it refers to the long term warmth which emerges from the that one committed to with the feelings of closeness, connectedness, intention of preserving the love they and bondedness. have. This component, according to The second one is called Sternberg (1986), is ranging from the passion. Passion refers to any kind of mental actions which are involved actions that will bring one to romance, when making decision about any kind
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of possible long-term commitment to component balance each other to lead a loving relationship. people to have their desired Decision/commitment component relationship. come from the chosen decision and commitment to one’s relationship. In Dystopia a loving relationship, Moylan and Baccolini (2003) decision/commitment can be seen as describe dystopia as the dark side of the cold side of the relationship, since Utopia where it is located in places this component is related heavily to worse than the ones we live in. the most important part that can test Furthermore, several characteristics one’s own patience to have a long- of a dystopian society that makes lasting love. them different from a utopian society Thus, these three components are the existence of a figurehead that hold an important role in a loving is worshipped by the society, constant relationship. Each component can be surveillance by the government, and said as a phase that one has to go the restriction of any personal through to achieve true love. Ranging activity, relationship, and from intimacy, the first phase anyone independent thinking. This makes the will go through to make one realize citizens live in an oppressed the appearance of love, passion, the environment where they cannot second phase which lead people to express themselves and they have to indulge more in their relationship, and be obedient if they want to be alive the third phase, and well. decision/commitment, that grant Dystopia is a literary genre anyone with an option whether to end that can be used to show that there is or nurture their relationship. To a possibility the world will become summarize, three components of love worse in the future. Sar and Murni are something that will come to exist (2012) support this argument since when one start to have a loving they believe that dystopia genre tells relationship. It is impossible for one the readers about a chaotic and of them not to exist, because each despairfilled future that could happen
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because of mankind themselves. is on the elements that are joined Thus, reading a dystopian literature together in constructing a narrative. can help people on preventing human- Moreover, Fludernik (2009) argues made disaster for happening in the that narrative theory relates to the world. For example, Aldous Huxley’s modern use of linguistics features; Brave New World (1932) shows how therefore, sentences are the main unit bad the condition is if everyone in the of analysis in narratology. Onega and world does not have individuality Landa (1996) also explain that anymore. Even though the world narrative theory deals with the finally achieves true peace, the price representation in semiotic systems to pay does not seem to be fair, since intended to create meaning by several humans are social being at their core. ways. Therefore, narratology can be They do not have any kind of unique related to linguistics and also characteristic that makes them representation, since narratology different from the other and their works around the study of language. communication is limited to their introduced by Tzvetan basic human nature, such as lust. Todorov in his Grammaire du Décaméron in 1969. A webpage from Narratology (Narrative Theory) Encyclopedia Britannica (n.d.) Narratology is a term related to explains that narratology’s theoretical narrative theory that derived from the core comes from the general word narrative. According to knowledge which narratives can be Fludernik (2009), narrative refers to found and shared through various daily situation concerning the act of media, such as oral and written telling something to somebody else. language, gestures, and music. On the other hand, narratology, or Felluga (2002) agrees with the above narrative theory as described by statement, since he believes that Fludernik (2009), is related with a narratology studies how narrative branch of knowledge focusing on construct how people view cultural narrative study. As a branch of artefacts and the world around them. knowledge, the focus of narratology Following these statements,
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narratology can also be involved in described as a communication the study of culture for its research process where narrative is used to subject also originates from people’s deliver a message to one another. culture. Rimmon-Kenan (1983) classifies Narratology uses text as its three basic aspects of narrative subject, which makes narratology can fiction: events, verbal representation, also be called as text-oriented theory. and the act of telling or writing. All of the elements of a text are Further, she gives each aspect a label explored by narratology in order to for convenience. They are story, text, find how the sentences turn into a and narration respectively. narrative. In academic field, These three aspects can be narratology is considered as a part of said as narrative main approaches that literary study. Moreover, it is also appear in literary works. related to the study of genre, Additionally, those three aspects semiotics, and poetics. In line with the branch into more aspects: the story study of genre, as stated by Fludernik aspect contains events and characters; (2009), narratology deals with the the text aspect contains time, differences between lyric, drama and characterization, and focalization; poetic. Narratology also focuses on and the narration aspect contains the typological and historical aspects levels, voices, and speech of a text. representation. In search of As a part of literature study, representation in literary works, some narratology can be adapted in of these aspects can be used to gain analysing a variety of literary works, better results, they are event, such as a fictional text. Accordingly, characterization, and focalization. RimmonKenan (1983) provides a term narrative fiction. Narrative RESEARCH METHOD fiction is the narration of a succession This study employs a descriptive of fictional events, or in other words, qualitative approach in order to how a fiction is being told. She further uncover the representation of love in explains that the term narration is the novel. According to Mack,
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Woodsong, MacQueen, Guest, and classified according to the three Namey (2005), qualitative research is components of love using Sternberg’s a type of scientific research which (1986) theory of love. aims to seek answer to questions by means of description. They elaborate RESULT the advantage of using qualitative Data analysis reveals that love is method by stating that qualitative constantly represented as research, which adopts open ended perseverance, hope, and a way of questions, can give more options to rebelling throughout the story. Those the researcher in answering the representations of love are questions. From the explanation, particularly shown through the qualitative method is chosen because characters’ attitudes and actions, it is suitable for the present study, which are intertwined with the phases which aims to uncover the of relationship they are in. More representation of love in the dystopian details will be further elaborated in novel. the next sections. Perseverance can be defined Data Collection and Data Analysis as continued effort or the The data for the study are collected determination to do or achieve through a close reading of the 1984 something despite difficulties, failure, novel (George Orwell, 1949). The or opposition (Merriam-Webster). In collected data are parts of the book experiencing love there should be which illustrate the romantic events enough commitment to go through the that happen between the main process of love. One has to face many characters, Winston Smith and Julia. ordeals to obtained the desired love The events themselves are chosen by even going as far as to break any set using the framework provided by of rules. Love is represented as RimmonKenan (1983) on perseverance through the characters’ narratology, in which this study efforts from how they want to start the focuses on the component of “event”. relationship to the way they maintain The data are then put into a table and said relationship.
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In the novel, Julia is the first always thinking of a way to rebel one to show her perseverance in against the Party. One day, Winston building the relationship. It is seen in meets Julia who change Winston’s the following excerpt. life. She becomes his hope by Excerpt 1. He flattened it out. On entering his dull life. Hope is defined it was written, in a large unformed as something good that is wanted to handwriting: I love you. (p. 108) happen in the future, or a confident Excerpt above shows Julia’s feeling about what will happen in the determination in conveying her future (Cambridge Dictionary). In this feelings to Winston. She even gives novel, hope is represented by events herself a small injury just to do a trick which raise Winston’s expectation of of slipping the small paper into the future. Winston’s pocket. Furthermore, this Winston’s feeling of hope kind of action is seen as breaking the begins when he feels something when law of The Party, since The Party he helps Julia to get up. As can be does not allow its Outer Party seen in the following excerpt. member to have relationship outside Excerpt 2. A curious emotion the ones which are allowed by The stirred in Winston’s heart. In front Party themselves. However, Julia’s of him was an enemy who was determination is enough to go against trying to kill him; in front of him, the rules, even if it means risking her also, was a human creature, in pain own life just to achieve her objective and perhaps with a broken bone. to have a relationship with Winston. Already he had instinctively started forward to help her. (pp. 105-106) Dystopian novels, especially Before, he was being wary of 1984, have a bleak setting where the her since he believes that she is the citizens live in sorrow while the member of the Thought Police. But government live in riches. Winston his curiosity gets a hold of him and he Smith is just another member of the helps her instead. Later on, after he Outer Party who lives his life while meets up with Julia and they decide to always being obedient towards the form a relationship, Winston’s hope is Party’s rules. However, in reality he growing because of it.
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In dystopian setting, the force that would tear the Party especially in 1984, almost every to pieces. (p. 126) citizen has been brainwashed by the The above excerpt proves that Party’s ideal. Some people, Winston does think of their love specifically Winston and Julia, still relationship as a tool to fight against able to think and act outside of what the Party in the beginning. It is shown the Party has set their citizens to do. in the sentence “Not merely the love In the novel, it is shown that Winston of one person, but the animal instinct, has been thinking of ways to crush the the simple undifferentiated desire: Party. One of them being doing a that was the force that would tear the rebel against them. Rebellion can be Party to pieces.” Winston believes defined as action against those in that he finally taking a step of fighting authority, against the rules, or against back against the Party. normal and accepted ways of behaving (Cambridge Dictionary). He CONCLUSION has been hearing information about As previously mentioned, this study the existence of a group of rebels aims to investigate how the idea of called Brotherhood who have been love is represented in the dystopian doing actions that go against the novel, 1984, by George Orwell. To Party’s ways. He is thinking of answer the question, it employs the joining them but do not know how. theory of narratology by One day, he meets with Julia and ever RimmonKenan’s and Stenberg’s since he formed a relationship with three components of love as its her, he thinks of their love as a tool to analytical tools. rebel against the Party. The study reveals that love is Excerpt 3. That was above all represented as three different what he wanted to hear. Not concepts throughout the story: merely the love of one person, but perseverance, hope, and a way of the animal instinct, the simple rebelling. These representations have undifferentiated desire: that was been able to be uncovered through the characters’ attitudes and actions
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which depict the idea of love. It is of the story. Different from the interesting to note that the idea of love utopian genre, which usually ends in dystopian world do not refer to the right after the love reaches its peak, in same concept of love in utopian the dystopian genre, the idea of love world. ends as nonlove. This condition is the Love as perseverance is result of the idea in which the shown first by Julia in her efforts to oppressed party will never win the build a relationship with Winston. battle in the dystopian world. Later on, both Winston and Julia’s Therefore, no matter how strong the love as perseverance appear during love is, it will not affect the end of the their effort to go against the Party’s story in any way, since dystopia is the law to live the way they wanted to. On dark side of utopia and that the the other hand, love as hope in 1984 outcomes are generally worse than in emerges as the beginning of rebellion utopia (Moylan & Baccolini, 2003). by Winston. Lastly, love as a way of rebelling relates to the previous idea DISCUSSION regarding love as hope in a dystopian Although throughout the story love is world. represented as perseverance, hope, With regard to the dystopian and a way to rebelling, in the end, story, the analysis reveals that in however, the characters’ love did not 1984, the idea of love is represented result in a happy ending. The idea of as the core element which contributes a better future vanished, and the Party to the existence of rebellion as the keeps on ruling the society the way it main conflict in the novel. The is. The nonexistent concept of a beginning of rebellion started at the perfect society and state is clearly the same time with the existence of first characteristic of a dystopian world. type of love in the story, which is Yet, the idea of having this perfect empty love (see Chapter 2 section society seems impossible in the real 2.3.4). It kept growing until it became world, since human beings are far consummate love and slowly from perfect. Unfortunately, various deteriorating into nonlove in the end examples of dystopian societies can
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be found in the world today, such as through cyber bullying (Smith, 2010). in North Korea and Gaza. Regarding It is already well-known that we are this, it is already known that up to the now living in the age of digital moment of writing this research, technology (Chatfield, 2016). People people who live in Gaza have been can access unlimited information and struggling with poverty, violence, communicate with other people intimidation, health issues, and easily. On the other hand, the benefit freedom. In the last few years they of technology, specifically regarding have existed under an Israel-imposed social media, seems to replace a siege. Similarly, citizen of North reallife relationship and can cause Korea is controlled through their fear negative emotion. While scrolling towards the government. The ruler through social media it is common to intentionally restricts technology in find people leaving negative or hate order to limit people’s freedom, comments toward others. including their choice of religion. The example of a dystopian Any rebellious act will lead them to condition that is close to us is the be executed. Moreover, a lot of excessive use of social media, which propagandas are spread every day in leads to the act of dehumanization the country by the media under through cyber bullying (Smith, 2010). government control (Jeffries, 2013). It is already well-known that we are The aforementioned cases are now living in the age of digital concrete examples depicting the technology (Chatfield, 2016). People concept of dystopia in the real world. can access unlimited information and However, even though there are not communicate with other people many totalitarian governments in this easily. On the other hand, the benefit world, we, to certain extent, can be of technology, specifically regarding said to be living in a dystopian world. social media, seems to replace a The example of a dystopian reallife relationship and can cause condition that is close to us is the negative emotion. While scrolling excessive use of social media, which through social media it is common to leads to the act of dehumanization
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