George Orwell: Political Visionary and Literary Icon

• Author: Harvee Beltran
• Instructor: Mr. Bates
• Course: ENG4U
• Date: January 21, 2017

George Orwell: The Life and Legacy of Eric Arthur Blair

Eric Arthur Blair, also known by his pen name, George Orwell, was born on June 25, 1903, in Motihari and later died on January 21, 1950, in a London hospital. Although he has passed away, his perspectives on imperialism, fascism, and communism continue to flourish around the world. From the many books he wrote, readers gained insights into his political viewpoints, ideas, and opinions, which were quite evident in two of his most successful novels: 1984 and Animal Farm.

Early Life and Literary Beginnings

In his early childhood, at the age of five or six, he discovered his talent as a writer, which greatly impacted his life. By eleven years old, Orwell had published his first work, "Awake Young Men of England." Orwell’s first written piece clearly emphasized his viewpoint toward the war involving England in 1914, when Germany was at war with Great Britain. Moreover, when Orwell graduated from his school, Eton, his life began to turn upside down; his family could no longer assist him in paying for his university expenses. As a result, his life became difficult; he had no other choice but to apply for jobs involving manual labor, such as being a dishwasher. However, regardless of the challenges that blocked his path toward his goal of being a writer, these experiences gave him a firsthand understanding of hardship. This is quite obvious in his book, Down and Out in Paris and London, where he lived in the slums, eking out a living. By 1936, he married Eileen O'Shaughnessy, who supported him throughout his writing career.

War, Politics, and Global Influence

Furthermore, after going to Burma and living in poverty, he decided to go to Spain. During that time, the Spanish, together with Orwell, were at war with General Francisco Franco in what was called the Spanish Civil War. After the battle, Orwell and his wife were charged with treason. As a result, the couple had to flee the country. From that point, Orwell’s experiences further strengthened his opinions toward politics, and he soon wrote literary criticism before joining the BBC. During that interval, World War II was still happening; Orwell, who was still working for the BBC, closely understood the situation in Russia. From his findings, he realized that the people of Russia did not realize the true nature of Stalin—the oppressive leader of the Soviet Union. This situation, which Orwell witnessed through the lens of war itself, influenced him to write two of his most successful novels: 1984 and Animal Farm, which portrayed Soviet and Nazi politics.