GEORGE ORWELL (1903-1950)
Eric Arthur Blair, the boy who would soon become George Orwell, was born in eastern India in 1903 as a son of a British colonial civil servant. After he spent his first year in India, where his father was stationed, his mother brought him and his older sister, Marjorie, to England and settled in Henley-on-Thames. His father however, rarely visited, and as a result, Orwell did not have the opportunity to know his father well until he retired from the service in 1912. Even after the that, the pair was never able to form a strong bond; instead, Orwell found his father to be dull and conservative. (biography.com; 2013)
Like many other boys in England, Orwell was sent to a boarding school. However, as his parents could not afford the full fees, Orwell was on a partial scholarship and quickly noticed that the school treated the richer pupils more favourably than the poorer ones. Also, he was often left out by his peers, and found resilience in books; what he lacked in personality, he made up for smarts. Conversely, Orwell won scholarships to Wellington College and Eton College to further his studies.
After completing his studies at Eton, Orwell however, found himself at a dead end. As his family did not have enough money to pay for a university education, he joined the India Imperial Police Force in 1922 and was stationed in Myanmar for five years. After five years, in 1927, Orwell resigned from his post and returned to England with the intention to resume his career as a writer.
At first, Orwell struggled to get his writing career started. It was not until 1933 did he finally publish his first major work, Down and Out in Paris and London- a memoir that focuses on the theme of poverty in urban areas. Shortly before its publication, Orwell adopted the pen name “George Orwell,” which marked the beginning of his compassion towards all things concerning English. Offering dark insights from the waning days of British colonialism in Burma (Myanmar), Orwell’s next novel, Burmese Days (1934) was the novel that stimulated his interests in political matters, hence inspiring the political overtone of his future novels.
In 1937, Orwell traveled to Spain, where he fought as part of a group in the Spanish Civil War. For this reason, Orwell and his wife, Eileen, were indicted on treason charges in Spain. Fortunately, the charges were brought after the couple had left the country.
For the remaining twelve years of life, other health problems had plagued Orwell upon his return to England. For years, Orwell had been undergoing periods of sickness, and in 1938, he was officially diagnosed with tuberculosis. At the time he was initially diagnosed, there was no effective treatment for the diseases, hence only receiving adequate ministrations a year prior to his death.
To support himself against tuberculosis, Orwell took on all sorts of writing work. Not only did he write numerous essays and reviews over the years, developing a renowned reputation for producing well-crafted literary criticism, in 1941, he “worked on propaganda for the BBC.” However, with rising tensions over World War II, Orwell found himself acting as a propagandist to advance the country’s side, and loathed his job. He resigned in 1943 and became a literary editor of the Tribune, a weekly left-wing magazine, as well as a prolific journalist, writing articles, reviews and books. (BBC: n.d.)
Orwell is best known for his two totalitarian bestsellers; Animal Farm and 1984. After struggling for a decade in a rough battle against tuberculosis, he passed away on January 21st, 1950. Though he did not have the most effective career as an author, his ideas and opinions in his novel continue to live through the riveting pages of his masterpieces. Orwell’s works, especially the aforementioned Animal Farm and 1984 are still commonly read and studied to this day. In 2008, The Times ranked him second on a list of “The 50 greatest British writers since 1945.” (The Times: 2008)
Like many other boys in England, Orwell was sent to a boarding school. However, as his parents could not afford the full fees, Orwell was on a partial scholarship and quickly noticed that the school treated the richer pupils more favourably than the poorer ones. Also, he was often left out by his peers, and found resilience in books; what he lacked in personality, he made up for smarts. Conversely, Orwell won scholarships to Wellington College and Eton College to further his studies.
After completing his studies at Eton, Orwell however, found himself at a dead end. As his family did not have enough money to pay for a university education, he joined the India Imperial Police Force in 1922 and was stationed in Myanmar for five years. After five years, in 1927, Orwell resigned from his post and returned to England with the intention to resume his career as a writer.
At first, Orwell struggled to get his writing career started. It was not until 1933 did he finally publish his first major work, Down and Out in Paris and London- a memoir that focuses on the theme of poverty in urban areas. Shortly before its publication, Orwell adopted the pen name “George Orwell,” which marked the beginning of his compassion towards all things concerning English. Offering dark insights from the waning days of British colonialism in Burma (Myanmar), Orwell’s next novel, Burmese Days (1934) was the novel that stimulated his interests in political matters, hence inspiring the political overtone of his future novels.
In 1937, Orwell traveled to Spain, where he fought as part of a group in the Spanish Civil War. For this reason, Orwell and his wife, Eileen, were indicted on treason charges in Spain. Fortunately, the charges were brought after the couple had left the country.
For the remaining twelve years of life, other health problems had plagued Orwell upon his return to England. For years, Orwell had been undergoing periods of sickness, and in 1938, he was officially diagnosed with tuberculosis. At the time he was initially diagnosed, there was no effective treatment for the diseases, hence only receiving adequate ministrations a year prior to his death.
To support himself against tuberculosis, Orwell took on all sorts of writing work. Not only did he write numerous essays and reviews over the years, developing a renowned reputation for producing well-crafted literary criticism, in 1941, he “worked on propaganda for the BBC.” However, with rising tensions over World War II, Orwell found himself acting as a propagandist to advance the country’s side, and loathed his job. He resigned in 1943 and became a literary editor of the Tribune, a weekly left-wing magazine, as well as a prolific journalist, writing articles, reviews and books. (BBC: n.d.)
Orwell is best known for his two totalitarian bestsellers; Animal Farm and 1984. After struggling for a decade in a rough battle against tuberculosis, he passed away on January 21st, 1950. Though he did not have the most effective career as an author, his ideas and opinions in his novel continue to live through the riveting pages of his masterpieces. Orwell’s works, especially the aforementioned Animal Farm and 1984 are still commonly read and studied to this day. In 2008, The Times ranked him second on a list of “The 50 greatest British writers since 1945.” (The Times: 2008)
PARALLELS BETWEEN ORWELL'S LIFE AND ANIMAL FARM
It has been suggested by Morris Dickstein and other contemporary literary critics that the incorporation of Orwell’s character and political viewpoints is what characterizes Benjamin, a cynical donkey. Throughout the entire novel, Benjamin is more of a spectator than a participant. It is only until Boxer’s murder does he end up “prancing around them [the animals] and stamping the earth with his small hoofs” (Orwell, 2008, pg. 81), showing disdain towards the pigs’ condemnable act of fraudulence. While Benjamin makes cryptic remarks and is detached from almost everything that happens on the farm, one has to wonder whether his morose state of mind in the latter part of the novel is partially due to his early apathy and inaction. A prominent difference between Benjamin and Orwell however, is that Orwell actually spoke out against the injustice he saw (as evidenced by the writing of Animal Farm) as well as traveling to Spain to “fight against Fascism.”
As an impecunious student at St. Cyprian’s, as aforementioned, Orwell was never favoured by the school in comparison to pupils who came from affluent families. As he said in an interview that, as a child, he found the “educators cruel and harsh,” with the “environment at the school as cold and inhumane.”Orwell also reported that its “power-hungry “leaders” reinforced class distinctions and believed education was nothing more than cramming students’ heads full of facts.” Orwell claimed that it was at St. Cyprian’s when he first encountered the kind of authoritarian system that he later satirized in Animal Farm. Though the oppression that he experienced at school was obviously not nearly as savage as what Napoleon inflicted on farm animals, he saw the school system in the same kind of oppressive system that “dehumanized” (or animalized) those who came in contact with it.
Many events in Orwell’s life allowed him to develop deep affection and sympathy for animals. Throughout his life, Orwell struggled with the weak and tubercular lungs that would finally fail him; his illness was not correctly diagnosed until 1949, the year before he died. Like Boxer in Animal Farm, who eventually dies from overexerting himself and injuring his lungs, Orwell was a determined fighter, like the name “Boxer” implies. However, due to different experiences, unlike Boxer, Orwell was not an illiterate "beast" who “could not get beyond the letter D.” (Orwell, 2008, pg. 21) Conversely, Orwell’s love for the outdoors and animals took root through “regular family outings and long walks through fields and woods.” (Rodden, 1999, pg. 93)
Nevertheless, Orwell also expresses his concerns over class inequality and the exploitation of the working class through Mr Pilkington, whom is regarded as a symbol of western European countries. Towards the end of the book, when the pigs are dressed in Mr Jones’ clothes and are dining with the neighboring farmers, Mr Pilkington raises his glass in a toast: “If you have your lower animals to contend with... we have our lower classes!” (Orwell, 2008, pg. 92) Though this clearly suggests that all totalitarian governments are fundamentally the same in a sense that they are all ideologically corrupt and rely on oppressing/exploiting individuals to maintain their power, what did Pilkington approve of in Napoleon’s treatment of his “lower animals?” Orwell had observed the same treatment of the poor and working classes on several occasions in his life. Now, in his allegorical novella, he could create a fantasy story that would show the inherent cruelty in political systems that oppressed the "lower class."
As an impecunious student at St. Cyprian’s, as aforementioned, Orwell was never favoured by the school in comparison to pupils who came from affluent families. As he said in an interview that, as a child, he found the “educators cruel and harsh,” with the “environment at the school as cold and inhumane.”Orwell also reported that its “power-hungry “leaders” reinforced class distinctions and believed education was nothing more than cramming students’ heads full of facts.” Orwell claimed that it was at St. Cyprian’s when he first encountered the kind of authoritarian system that he later satirized in Animal Farm. Though the oppression that he experienced at school was obviously not nearly as savage as what Napoleon inflicted on farm animals, he saw the school system in the same kind of oppressive system that “dehumanized” (or animalized) those who came in contact with it.
Many events in Orwell’s life allowed him to develop deep affection and sympathy for animals. Throughout his life, Orwell struggled with the weak and tubercular lungs that would finally fail him; his illness was not correctly diagnosed until 1949, the year before he died. Like Boxer in Animal Farm, who eventually dies from overexerting himself and injuring his lungs, Orwell was a determined fighter, like the name “Boxer” implies. However, due to different experiences, unlike Boxer, Orwell was not an illiterate "beast" who “could not get beyond the letter D.” (Orwell, 2008, pg. 21) Conversely, Orwell’s love for the outdoors and animals took root through “regular family outings and long walks through fields and woods.” (Rodden, 1999, pg. 93)
Nevertheless, Orwell also expresses his concerns over class inequality and the exploitation of the working class through Mr Pilkington, whom is regarded as a symbol of western European countries. Towards the end of the book, when the pigs are dressed in Mr Jones’ clothes and are dining with the neighboring farmers, Mr Pilkington raises his glass in a toast: “If you have your lower animals to contend with... we have our lower classes!” (Orwell, 2008, pg. 92) Though this clearly suggests that all totalitarian governments are fundamentally the same in a sense that they are all ideologically corrupt and rely on oppressing/exploiting individuals to maintain their power, what did Pilkington approve of in Napoleon’s treatment of his “lower animals?” Orwell had observed the same treatment of the poor and working classes on several occasions in his life. Now, in his allegorical novella, he could create a fantasy story that would show the inherent cruelty in political systems that oppressed the "lower class."