Context

When observing the context in which the novel 1984 was written in, one can deduce that components of the literary theory, 'post colonialism', can be found in the events that influenced the creation of the book. George Orwell was born under a different name, Eric Blair, in India in 1903. Orwell was educated as a scholarship student at various boarding schools in England during his adolescence, but never really fit in with other  children of his age. Quite to the contrary, young Orwell felt oppressed by the 'dictatorial control' that the administration expressed over the lives of him and his fellow students. This feeling of oppression could have resulted in his creation of the totalitarian government present in the story, The Party, which censors most aspects of everyday life for the people inhabiting Oceania. Orwell's feelings could also be compared to the oppression felt by the colonists in a relationship with their colonizers, a relationship that is analyzed in the post-colonial theory. After his graduation, Orwell decided on not attending college to pursue a career as a British Police Officer in Burma. He disliked this path as well, annoyed with the fact that he had to adhere to the strict laws of a political regime that he had strong negative feelings towards. His health was also failing, which did not help his situation at all. He left the force on a convalescent leave, and once back in England, decided to quit the Imperial Force. This led to him deciding to pick up writing. To better his writing, Orwell decided that he needed first-hand experience in the things that he wanted to express in his works. In one case, Orwell chose to explain the degree of poverty in the slums of London.To do this, he purchased second-hand clothes and traveled to live among the impoverished. Soon after, he found himself alongside destitute coal miners in Northern England. This experience resulted in Orwell's giving up on capitalism. Somewhere around 1936, Orwell traveled to Spain to report on the Civil War. This was his first face-to-face experience with the 'nightmarish atrocities' that were frequently committed by fascist regimes, especially in an age of innovation and technology. Orwell's hatred for totalitarianism and political authority was bolstered by the rise to power of political dictators such as Joseph Stalin and Adolf Hitler. Leaders such as those previously mentioned amassed success through imperialism, colonizing neighboring states and forcing them to adhere to their ideals. This pattern can be attributed to the novel, as well. Ever since, he focused his writing into pieces that dissected politics and displayed his political view. In 1948, the antagonist of the story is clearly defined from the start of the book - The Party, a totalitarian government with absolute control. This is precisely the form of government that Orwell despises, and throughout the novel, he expresses the horrifying amount of power it possesses. Through the experiences of the protagonist, Winston Smith, the audience is able to understand Orwell's fear of totalitarianism - especially in the latter parts of the novel, such as when Winston is tortured for his 'crimes'.