George Orwell ~ literary mastermind.

by Calum Blundell

_{Eric Arthur Blair (1903-1950), better known by the 'pen' name George Orwell, was an author with a varied literary repertoire, he was a diarist, novelist, writer of critical essays and reportage. Besides that, he is arguably one of the greatest chroniclers of 20th century culture.}

Calum Blundell tells us of the influence George Orwell has on this youth of today.

What first lured me to Orwell’s work was my english literature teacher, whom knowing in what regard I held the world recommended ‘Down and Out in Paris and London’. He explained that this book was an insight into the world of poverty , put into context and laid bare. This was the initial attraction - the chance to grasp understanding of something that I actually knew and experienced very little of. After the final page was turned, the real infatuation began, I immediately wanted to experience and reveal more of the workings of the world through Orwell’s work. Works in which we can find a lust for justice and vigour for truth.
‘Down and Out in Paris and London’ iterates the desperate catch twenty-two situation that is poverty. It shows how laissez-faire Capitalist governments keep the ‘lower-classes’ shackled in perpetual debt and struggling to exist. The fact that this book, despite being compiled in the years running up to 1933, (a time of global economic depression) it is still very insightful and relevant to the world in which we live today. This fact certainly hits home when you mention the word recession. A sign that poverty, unemployment and underemployment still haunts us today.
George Orwell’s style of writing, with such importance put on clarity in language have made the unseen and harsh realities of life even easier to empathise, not only because he paints a clear picture reporting his encounters, but due to his ability to make apparent that whilst being poor is an awful thing, the poor have a good outlook on life. It illustrates their kind heartedness and small reasons to be happy, bringing real meaning to the phrase the “best things in life are free.”
Whilst this book focuses on the wrongs in life it still manages to remain light-hearted and easy to read and remains an important reminder that times have not changed, the struggle goes on.

Finding comfort in humanity.

The second book I had the pleasure to read was one of Orwell’s works of fiction, the novel ‘Animal Farm’. This story is a comedic account of a rebellion of the animals on a small English farm, a revolution for the animals with the aims of more food, less work and a better standard of living. However the original aims of the uprising were soon distorted over the years as the pigs (who in the novel were the smartest of the animals, finding it easier to pick up skills such as reading) engage in a battle for power ending in the exile of one and the empowerment of another. This results in an entirely new doctrine, putting the animals in the same situation as before, master and servant, only the humans are now replaced by pigs. The entire novel is essentially a satire of the Bolshevik revolution, which resulted in something similar to that of rule by pigs, a controversial topic at it’s time of writing.
Once more we can see Orwell’s jovial approach to a touchy subject, which whilst similarly portraying the injustice and wrong that unfortunately took place, is still a delight to read.
The foremost beneficial attribute that Orwell’s writing shares with any who read it, is the ability to put today’s social situations into context. After more than five decades his work is more relevant than ever, a great resource and tool in the aid of social consciousness. Amongst the pages of Orwell’s many masterpieces are ensnared a type of literary awakening, bringing about the stark realisation that in this world of suffering, something has got to give. For this reason alone I would recommend Orwell as a writer to anyone who finds comfort in humanity, not to mention his way of keeping the reader enthralled, entertained and enlightened.

George Orwell is truly an author for the people.
Each essay, novel or diary, whatever it may be, is written to bring about the realisation that our society could (whilst being far from a ‘Utopia’) at least be a lot more just for all.

Calum Blundell

_{Well said Calum! That's not you up there is it? ~ ed}

_{Fancy trying your hand at writing?}

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This article was created on Saturday, 7th February 2009.

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