'1984' by George Orwell and 'The Winslow Boy' by Terence Rattigan both explore the issues of power and gender in their texts. Power and gender is represented and portrayed to the audience in certain ways. In '1984', George Orwell communicates these aspects through Winston and Julia, and the three parties respectfully. He also uses irony to give the reader a better understanding of who has the power in the situations. In 'The Winslow Boy', Terence Rattigan explores the themes through the court case, and also through Catherine.Power is a main theme in the book '1984'. The book explores the struggle and the abuse of power throughout the storyline. In the novel, there are three class systems ...view middle of the document...
They are cramped together in apartment buildings with small rooms. The place where Winston stays at is called Victory Mansions."The hallway smelt of boiled cabbage and old rag mats. At one end of it a coloured poster, too large for indoor display had been tacked to the wall." "Winston made for the stairs. It was not use trying the lift. Even at the best of times it was seldom working, and at present the electric current was cut off during daylight hours." - Page 3.In comparison to the quote on page 175, it is easy to determine who has more power and a better standard of living. Although Victory Mansions suggests elegancy and luxury, the truth is almost the complete opposite. This technique is Irony and has been used purposefully in the situation to convey the shift of power in society.The proles are also a class in the political state of big brother. The proles, although lacking wealth, have no rules or responsibilities from the party. The proles take up almost 85% of the population, and most of them are without a telescreen, which means they are not under constant surveillance from the party. As they lay outside of the parties restrictions, they have the power to overthrow the party if they wished; however, there is no need for them to rebel as they are already outside of the parties' laws."If there is hope, wrote Winston, it lies in the proles." - Page 72.This quote also uses irony to convey power as:"Until they [proles] become conscious they will not rebel, and until after they rebel they cannot become conscious." - Page 73.George Orwell also portrays gender in the form of Winston and Julia, the two main characters. A male is typically the stronger, domineering and controlling in a relationship. As for females, they are thought to be the more submissive, and cowardly. George Orwell has played with these stereotypes, and therefore has switched the roles with Winston and Julia, giving Winston the female characteristics, and Julia the male characteristics. By doing this, the reader therefore things twice about the situation and how the society has become. When reversing the roles, the author can create confusion, and therefore uses satire to teach us about the different roles that women and men can take, and show us that there is no limit to how we should act depending on our sex.'The Winslow Boy' also explores the issues of power throughout the text. The main focus of the text is the court case...
