Literary Analysis of Irony in 1984

For those of you who haven't read 1984, you need to read it. It's like one of those books you have to read on your bucket list before you die. A major theme saw all throughout the novel is irony. For a better understanding of irony throughout the book and if you take it literal read my essay.

Literary Analysis of Irony in 1984

            In the novel, 1984 readers are shown many different themes. One theme is irony, which is humor based on using words to suggest the opposite of their literal meaning. There are many cases of irony throughout the novel. Examples of irony are seen through doublethink and Winston’s attraction to Julia. The novel, 1984 emphasizes Winston’s feeling towards Julia as poignant. Doublethink is expressed as the acceptance of or mental capacity to accept contrary opinions or beliefs at the same time, especially as a result of political indoctrination. These examples of irony are made clear throughout the novel with thoughts and reminding judgments and views of certain characters.

            Winston’s attraction to Julia is viewed as ironic, because he always describes his feeling towards her as revulsion since he can’t have her. In the beginning of the novel Winston descriptively illustrates Julia’s features with attentiveness, but mentions that he disliked her from the very first moment he saw her.  This is a clear example of irony, reason being that Winston cares enough to describe Julia’s characteristics and compare her to other woman as being more dangerous.  Also, the possibility that Julia may have been an agent of the Thought Police gave Winston feeling of agitation, which was mixed with fear, of getting reported/arrested by her as-well as the resentment of being around her. Winston’s emotions of affection were expressed towards Julia as abhorrence, because of his desire for her.

            The party maintains control with the ironic use of doublethink, which is conveyed in thinking twice about something that known for a fact is not true. The Party’s slogan War is Peace, Freedom is Slavery, and Ignorance is Strength ironic in use of doublethink. Oceania was constantly and currently at war with Eurasia, making the slogan “War is Peace” futile. The slogan “Freedom is Slavery” is sardonic, since no one in Oceania can do anything that is not considered acceptable by the party before, putting themselves at risk of vaporization or disappearance. The citizens of Oceania were unable to identify all of the flaws and fabrications the Party gave them, which increased the Party's control and created irony in the third slogan “Ignorance is Strength”. The Party’s slogans formed through doublethink are implanted in the people’s thoughts as the acceptable truth.

The main examples of irony are seen through doublethink and Winston’s attraction to Julia. These examples both fall on the Party’s guidelines. The people as a society are told information that they are supposed to believe and listen to as the legitimacy. Winston’s profoundly tender, and passionate affection for Julia is expressed as revulsion, since he is unable to have her. These examples of irony are made vibrant in the novel with beliefs and reminding approaches and outlooks from certain characters.