Explore the use of language in the novels ‘1984’ and ‘Brave New World’.

Explore the use of language in the novels ‘1984’ and ‘Brave New World’.

In both novels the totalitarian governments use language to control and manipulate their respective societies. Whilst the societies’ thoughts and views are being manipulated, the readers are also being influenced by the language and diction of the novels, with the authors directing the reader to take a certain view on the themes the novels deal with.

George Orwell’s society of Oceania is greatly influenced by the Big Brother propaganda material that circulates within it. This material comes in the form of posters, telescreen speeches, newspaper articles and films. All of these use specific forms of language, syntax and diction. Different techniques involving language are used, such as making the narrating very complex and sophisticated to emphasise the simplicity of the speech used by some of the characters. The importance of analysing the syntax used is to see how the grammar and sentence structu...