A Brief Analysis On The Image Of Proletarians In George Orwell’s Writings

George Orwell (1903-1950) is a famous novelist, essayist and critic in England in the twentieth century. His unique writings are made up by his keen insight, incisive style and effective power of action. His works are highly thought of by the critics; and he is respectfully called "the conscience and soul of a generation". Animal Farm and Nineteen Eighty Four are two of Orwell’s important and influential works in which Orwell creates a horrible world of totalitarianism. As a result, Orwell was viewed as a political writer and used as an anticommunism symbol in England and America during the Cold War. It is undeniable that politics is an important element in Orwell’s writings, but he should not be labeled simply as a "writer of the left wing", which may hinder us from a good understanding of Orwell, a man of strength and character. This essay aims at helping readers to understand Orwell’s true self by an analysis on the change in Orwell’s conflicting and complicated ideas. The image of proletarians created in Orwell’s writings will become a crucial trail in the following essay.In the first chapter, I focus on Orwell’s early works, such as Homage to Catalonia, The Road to Wigan Pier and Coming Up for Air, to analyze the relationship between Orwell and proletarians. During that period, Orwell gave up his work as an empire policeman in Myanmar and went to the slums in Paris and London. He paid great attention to proletarians’life, which contributes to his writings related to his early life and social environment. His family background and life experience as a colony policeman make Orwell feel guilty. By experiencing the hardships in proletarians’ life, he hopes to save his soul. In addition, intellectuals of his time feel sick of the middle class because of the environmental deterioration and the barbarous war in the early twentieth century. They want to create another different image, so they choose to write the masses. As a result, a fairy tale of the masses emerges in the European society accordingly, which makes Orwell well connected with proletarians.Orwell’s military service during the Spanish Civil War is an important part of his life, which leads Orwell to think about the significance of the revolution, the value of proletarians and the essence of power. Homage to Catalonia reveals the absurdity of revolution and the cruelty of war. Animal Farm and Nineteen Eighty Four shows Orwell’s deep thinking of totalitarianism as well as his troubled thoughts about human beings’ fate. Orwell’s concern about proletarians changes a lot during the period. He begins to pay attention to some abstract concept and establishes his idea of approving democratic socialism and combating totalitarianism. Although Orwell doesn’t offer us a good solution, he has revealed in his writings the shady side of the world. He goes to great lengths to remain honest, kind-hearted and brave, and is appreciated as an intellectual with conscience.