Metaphorical interpretation of the novel – 1984
1984 is a remarkable political novel written by George Orwell which conveys many significant messages to the society. The novel is a highly symbolic novel and possesses many literary devices like allusion, metaphors, and similes. Similes are basically an illustration of point through different concepts. Unlike similes, metaphors are a direct comparison of two separate ideas without using “as” or “like”. Though the list of metaphors in the novel 1984 is not exhaustive but they have multiple interpretations. Here are some of the metaphors discussed below.
Proles: Proletariat or the lowest working class of a society is represented by proles in the novel 1984. Like Marx, George Orwell also thought that these proles can wake up, unite and stand tall against the Party to snatch the freedom for every citizen. However, these proles are used to live savage life and they are unable to acknowledge their nature of oppression. They are huge in numbers, they fight against the Party but still, they are powerless. So in the novel of 1984, these proles are represented as the “hopeless” mass.
Rat: It represents fear and depravity. Though rats are small in size, they are considered as one of the most “beastlike” creatures. They bring curse as the form of disease like the plague. According to the 1984 novel, in society, there are humans who act beastlike. They can become the big brother of a society. These men will multiply their force like rats, which ultimately will make society full of human garbage.
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