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Orwell: the Man, His Work and His Times

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Orwell: the Man, His Work and His Times WN'IT 15 : ORWELL: THE MAN, HIS WORK AND HIS TIMES Structure 15.0 Objectives 15.1 Biographical Details 15.2 Literary Works 15.3 Economic and Social Background of the Period 15.4 Political Concerns and World War I1 15.5 The Making of Nineteen Eighty-Four 15.6 Let Us Sum Up 15.7 Suggested Reading I (f 15.8 Answers to Exercises I - 15.0 OBJECTIVES In this Unit, we introduce you to the writer's life, to provide you with an idea of the range of Orwell's writing. We also intend to acquaint you with the realistic basis of Nineteen Eighrp-Four so that the novel is placed within its historical context. I By the end of this IJnit, you should be able to: relate Orwell's background to his writings; explain the genesis of Nineteen Eighty-Four ; tiescribe the economic and social background of England between the two World 'Wars; I 1:xplain Orwell's reasons for taking to political writing; and tlescribe the spread of totalitarian regimes in Europe in the post 1930's period. F -15.1 BIOGRAPHICAL DETAILS Born in 1903 in Motihari (Bengal), George Well was to have a continuing relationship with India. His father was working in the Customs and Excise service, Bengal and both his parents were of middle class Scottish origin. Orwell's real name was Eric Hugh Blair and he was the eldest of three children, the other two beings girls. George Orwell was a twm- de-plume ,a literary pseudonym which he adopted in 1932 when his first full-length book Down and Out in Pan's and London was to be published. But for many years he kept his two names apart, writing his personal letters under the name of Eric Blair. At some point, how~:ver, it became difficult to distinguish between the personal and the literary names and Ithe acquired name George Orwell took over. Orwell's early childhood was spent in India, of which there are few recorded memories. His ~xnsciousfeeling was of being a lonely child. In 1911 his mother took the children bach home to England, in the interest of their schooling. Most families in Anglo-India had to take this hard decision and the Blah were no exception. On return to England, Orwell was sent to a preparatory school, St Cyprians of which he had unhappy memories. These meniories surface both in his fiction, specially his novel A Clergyman's Daughter as well as h his criticism of educational institutions, more specifically in his autobiographical essay, "Such, Such were the Joys" which was published only in 1952 after his death. Later he went to Eton, one of the two most well-known public schools of England. Well was an intelligent and an intellectually alive student but he was not a very good sportsman. His health was also not very robust and he suffered from long spells of cold. Orwell grew up to dislike the public school stress on physical prowess, the strong rule of discipline which left little scope for innovation and resented the economic inequality evident in this institution. He himself was a scholarship boy and did not like the public announcement of his lower economic status. As a young boy he was inclined to re4all kinds of books, specially the ones which were considered unconventional like the novels of D.H. Lawrence or writings which expressed political views. Public schools have a very prestigious place in British life and most people aspire to send their sons to these schools even if it has to be done at an immense sacrifice for the rest of the family. But as it meant a great deal towards attaining public position and success, it was considered important. Many other writers, like Orwell, have been critical of the public school system yet it still continues to thrive. With his intelligence and ability, it would not have been difficult for Orwell to win a scholarship to Oxford or Cambridge. But Orwell opted out of going to a university. Instead, he joined the Imperial Police Service and went to Burma as a police officer in 1922 where he stayed till 1927 when he returned to England for a holiday. He resigned his job and stayed on in England. The years in Burma brought him into close contact with the evils of imperialism and forced him to confront the reality of England's situation. His ideals of freedom and equality, the liberal value structure which he had grown up with were at odds with the conditions in the Empire where people were divided into ruler and ruled along colour lines. There are two very well-known essays which describe the helplessness of the ruling race, and the manner in which power becomes a prison. It is likely that you have read "Shooting an Elephant" (see EEG 05 'Understanding Prose', Block 7) where an elephant has to be killed merefy in obedience to the power of a crowd and to avoid being laughed at. Orwell with brother otecer~ The ~~eofthe "pukka" sahib was one which destroyed the freedom of the individual. Therefore when Orwell returned to England on his fmt home leave, he decided to opt out of the loneliness and the guilt associated with the Empire. Also he found there were plenty of causes to be taken up at home in England. It was at this time that he decided to take up a literary career and spent some time in Paris. It would be some years before he would be able to support himself through writing alone. Omdl r The Man, Bls Work and Hls He: took up several jobs over the years. For many years, Orwell wrote a regular column for Thna, The Tribune , ran a village shop, reviewed books, worked for the BBC, taught in a school, and fought in the Spanish Civil War. All these years his health was a constant source of wony, and he travelled in search of warmer climates along with his wife Eileen. Eileen I died in 1945 while Orwell was away in Europe as a war correspondent. This was at a time 1 when the Orwells had decided to adopt a child. Despite Eileen's death Orwell went ahead 1 to adopt Richard, and giving up lifein London, moved to the Isle of Jura where life was 11 lonely and harsh. It was not easy to travel down to Jura but characteristically Orwell preferred the hardships. Over these years he continued to suffer from his lung ailment. Nineteen Eighry-Four was written during these years of illness. bellhad to be hospitalized on several occasions and just when he began responding to trealment, and had got married to Sonia Branwell, he died in January, 1950 at a fairly early age of forty- seven. 2. How much time did hellspend in India or Burma? What were his feelings about the British? ! ................................................................................................................................... 3. Why did Orwell resign from the Imperial Police Service? ................................................................................................................................... 4. What was hell's real name? 5. What were his views about the public schools? 15.2 LITERARY WORKS Orwell wrote several novels, a couple of poems, many journalistic pieces as well as literary criticism. He also wrote social and war documentaries. It is very likely that you are familiar with his essay "Shooting an Elephant" and may have read his novel Animal Farm. While "Shooting an Elephant" is an essay which can be read as a story, Animal Farm is a novel which can be classified as a utopia, an animal fable or a fairy tale. Both have political ideas at their centre. Politics remains the one strong common strand in Orwell's writings. Down and Out in Paris and London (1933) was his first book to be published. It is an account of his experiences in Paris whedfhe worked as a waiter to support himself and as a tramp in London. Poverty is the main theme. Orwell looks at.the filthiness of life very closely. Road to Wigan Pier was another documentary he wrote in 1937 for the Left Book Club. Describing the life of the miners and the unemployment in the mining district he I gives very graphic details. The very next year he went to Spain to take part in the Spanish 0rwdl:Tbc M.n,EbWorkd ! B)r lha Civil War and the result of this experience was Homage to Cafalonia (1938). His novels have been generally neglected except for Animal Farm (1945) and Ninereen Eighty-Four (1949). But his early novels lead to these two later novels. A Clergynuur's Elaughrer (1935) is about poverty and education. Keep the Aspidistra Flying (1936) again tillks about poverty and social discrimination. Burmese Days (1934) deals with the loneliness of a police officer in Burma and highlights the destructive nature of power. Cloning Up For Air (1939) is about hatred and war, written as it was just before the beginning of the Second World War. Chell's social and political criticism also finds place in his essays such as "England Your England" and "The Prevention of Literahue". It is interesting to note that he has written a very sensitive essay "Reflections on Gandhi". Besides these, he wrote several critical essays ranging from subjects like King Lear to popular thrillers like No Orchidsfor I I d4iss Blandish. He recognized the power which was wielded by popular literature and tonsidered it important enough for serious consideration. He also invented such categories rts "good bad literature", literature which may not always come up to the highest I iresthetic expectations but which continued to be read by ordinary people, expressed their I t:motions, and gave them something to identify with.
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