By George Orwell

From,,1984" by George Orwell

“In its second minute the Hate rose to a frenzy. People were leaping up and down in their places and shouting at the tops of their voices in an effort to drown the maddening bleating voice that came from the screen. The little sandy-haired woman had turned bright pink, and her mouth was opening and shutting like that of a landed fish. Even O’Brien’s heavy face was flushed. He was sitting very straight in his chair, his powerful chest swelling and quivering as though he were standing up to the assault of a wave. The dark-haired girl behind Winston had begun crying out ‘Swine! Swine! Swine!’ and suddenly she picked up a heavy Newspeak dictionary and flung it at the screen. It struck Goldstein’s nose and bounced off; the voice continued inexorably. In a lucid moment Winston found that he was shouting with the others and kicking his heel violently against the rung of his chair. The horrible thing about the Two Minutes Hate was not that one was obliged to act a part, but, on the contrary, that it was impossible to avoid joining in. Within thirty seconds any pretence was always unnecessary. A hideous ecstasy of fear and vindictiveness, a desire to kill, to torture, to smash faces in with a sledge-hammer, seemed to flow through the whole group of people like an electric current, turning one even against one’s will into a grimacing, screaming lunatic. And yet the rage that one felt was an abstract, undirected emotion which could be switched from one object to another like the flame of a blowlamp.”

In my opinion, George Orwell’s writing style is typically short and to the point in this short story. Particularly in his work Orwell intentionally avoids using figurative language, unnecessary words, and intricate language. As well, Orwell’s writings contain hidden political messages. This story carries very clear points. When a person is reading it, he or she can understand without any difficulties.

George Orwell believed that much of the written language of his time was inaccurate and was used to trick people. He believed that modern English authors wrote without the use of concrete terms, making it easy to manipulate the truth and difficult to interpret the true meaning of something. Political authors used euphemisms and pretentious language to sound perceptive and well-informed. One example Orwell cited was the use of the word ‘elimination’ was used by fascist regimes during World War Two to justify the exploitation and mass murder of millions. Orwell believed that the English language was brutish and sloppy, allowing people to have corrupt thoughts and not think freely for themselves. In the opinion of Orwell, literature was most beautiful when it was simple and clear to the everyday reader. At St. Cyprian's School, Orwell improved his writing and learned from those who were more experienced. The teachings of Mrs. Cicely Vaughan Wilkes; who advocated for simplicity, honesty, and avoidance of verbiage, would forever be reflected in his future writings. In Politics and the English Language, an essay about the problems with the English language and possible remedies, Orwell uses followings.

Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print. Orwell believed that when authors imitated others, the did not understand the true meaning behind a phrase and the original purpose was lost.

Never use a long word where a short one will do. Orwell valued simplicity in literature. If you could convey your message to the reader in a straightforward manner, that was a great start. If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out. Again, Orwell values simplicity and straight to the point writing.

Never use the passive where you can use the active. Orwell believed that, for the most part, the passive voice added unnecessary confusion. Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word, or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent. For most of his career as an author, Orwell wrote for the common person. He believed that an author should do their best to appeal to the reader and make the work as easy to understand as possible without losing its meaning. Despite being non-religious and believing that religion was used by the greedy to keep control, Orwell admired the Bible for its to the point language, easily understood concepts, and appeal to the working class.

Break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright barbarous. He concludes by stating that these rules are by no means rigid, even admitting that he did not always abide by these rules. Looking back on Politics in the English Language, Orwell says: “for certain you will find that I have again and again committed the very faults I am protesting against".