Aim 1: How is connotation, denotation, and paradox explicated through Orwell’s “doublethink”?
The Do Now gave us different images, and asked us to explain how they make us feel. The purpose of this was to demonstrate the difference between connotation and denotation, but to also show how they work hand in hand. Connotation refers to the way certain images make us feel, whether that be because of past bias or simply how the images affect us in the real world. Examples include connoting a Ferrari to wealth or a moth to something annoying. Denotation means the literal definition of a word. Examples include denoting a Ferrari to a car and a moth to a bug. Without denotation, we would not have connotation, as we would not associate certain objects with anything if the object itself had no meaning. These two concepts are very important for a simple reason; if you can make a person connote an object to a negative feeling or emotion, you can change the entire denotation of that word over time.
Following connotation and denotation, we learned about paradox. A paradox is an inherently contradicting statement; however, they can be used to deliver a message. We watched a brief humorous video demonstrating a paradox in a movie, and then observed examples of it in 1984. The 3 slogans of the party are all paradoxes. These statements do not truly mean anything because every word of the slogan contradicts itself. “Freedom is slavery”, as an example, naturally does not make sense. However, after observing and mulling over the statement, one can realize that it does have meaning. By saying that freedom is slavery, the Party is explaining that those who are given the ability to think for themselves oftentimes overthink situations and put themselves at risk; the twisted minds of the Party state that by giving people no choice, they are protecting the citizens from themselves.
For the conclusion of lesson one, we debated if George Orwell would see us as crazy to be spending so much time debating “doublethink” and its importance. I was the first to answer, and my response went somewhat along these lines: doublethink is the mechanism the Party uses to control its people. Doublethink is a paradox within itself, as it does not allow a person to create their own opinion. Doublethink forces the citizens of Oceania into following the thought and logical reasoning of Big Brother and Big Brother only. Without doublethink, the party would not have control as people would have free will. Simply put, doublethink is one of the most important concepts of the book; doublethink illustrates a world that does not contain control over one’s thoughts.
Our homework was to create a Ministry advertisement, signalling a new job opening. The purpose of this homework was to employ doublethink to manipulate the reader of the advertisement and make them think that this position is worth every minute spent in it. I employed phrases such as “rewrite history to symbolize our truth” and “working for us will give you an abundance of freedom; we just need to install a telescreen in your home.” These sentences are paradoxes, but upon first glance, can seem enticing. This, once again, is the entire premise of the party; convince people that they do not need to think to be successful.
Aim 2: How can we symbolize the symbolism in Winston Smith’s name?
This lesson was much shorter than the first, but still carried a great deal of importance. Winston Smith; upon first glance, it seems like the name of any Englishman. However, a man who went by the name of Winston was no ordinary Briton. Winston Churchill was able to take a crumbling Britain, rally them together, and destroy the Nazi’s of Germany who seemed bent on world domination. Quite a symbolic name for the protagonist of our book, and definitely a method of heavy foreshadowing employed by Orwell. On the other hand, Smith is a very common last name. Smith symbolizes the fact that Winston is hidden; he seems to be an average party member. His last name symbolizes that his acts of rebellion are surprising and unexpected, which could possibly be the reason that he is successful.
In preparation for our lesson, we were assigned to read Part 2; Chapters 1, 2, and 3. Within these chapters, we see Winston beginning to stray further and further from the path presented to him by Big Brother, and attempt to reconnect with a life he once knew. It is within these chapters that he meets Julia, a vivacious girl who Winston originally mistakes as a spy. Throughout the development of her character, it is clear that the assumption made by Winston could not be further from the truth. Julia seems to be the embodiment of everything the part is against; she is free-spirited, passionate, and above all, free-thinking. She has figured out a way to manipulate Big Brother’s system in such a way that she can get away with doing anything and everything she pleases. Julia is the force that Big Brother has subdued for decades; in my opinion, Julia will be the catalyst for change.
Regarding the virus, I am extremely glad that it is passing. I can only hope that it remains in the past, but I believe New Yorkers did a great job in preventing its spread. We really rallied together as a community and achieved a goal; that isn’t alway easy to say in a city with 8 million people. I hope that we will return to school in September and although we will live in a “new normal”, I wish for that new normal to be close to the life we lived before quarantine.
Reflection: During our lesson, I learned about connotation, denotation, paradox, and symbolism. I learned that these tools, individually, are extremely powerful, and can elicit strong emotions from readers, and from people in real life as well. Most importantly, I learned that when these tools are used together, they can be used to manipulate extremely large populations. I believe that we learned all of this for 2 reasons. The first reason is fairly simple; understanding the literature and literary devices at work in the book you are reading is important, and Ms. Peterson gives us that opportunity. Secondly, and more importantly, I believe that reading and understanding a work like 1984 gives us further insight into how our lives are constantly manipulated, and gives us the knowledge to escape this cycle. Ms. Peterson’s lessons highlight events not only found in the books, but events that are ever present in society. Being aware of these tacts gives us the knowledge to fight, or to simply accept; however, having this information gives us the power of choice. This leads into how I will use what I learned; using the knowledge gained on connotation, denotation, and paradox, I will attempt to see these being employed in real life. By understanding them in the world around me, I will be able to understand when people are trying to deceive me, which is definitely helpful. I really enjoyed this lesson, and so far, 1984 has been a great book.
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