1984 by George Orwell and Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress by Dai Sijie have been seen as controversial for many years because they feature an oppressive government. Many people believe that 1984 portrays the strength of literature on the characters more effectively because it highlights how language and literature were used in the form of slogans to control the entire society. However, readers fail to notice that 1984 lacks the effective use of literature and language. Literature and language have a greater impact in Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress than 1984, which is shown through how language and literature have an impact on love, the effect books have on the protagonist's friendships, and how books affect everyday life for the protagonists.
The effect literature has on love in 1984 is first shown in the relationship between Winston and Katherine. Readers learn that Katherine did not have a “thought in her head that was not a slogan”(Orwell 66). Because of her feeling of duty to the Party and the use of literature from the Party, the feeling of love was killed in their relationship. Additionally, Winston and Julia start to grow closer because they are able to obtain …show more content…
Books and literature serve different roles for each character, such as bringing Luo and the narrator closer, while also destroying the friendship between them and Four Eyes. When confronted by Luo for hiding books in the leather case, Four Eyes simply said, “you must be dreaming” and went to check his temperature, while blaming his crazy accusations on his fever (Sijie 49). This also proves the point that literature and language make a wall between friends, as books are forbidden so everyone has to be wary of everyone else. As for Luo and the narrator, these books served to tighten their
The effect literature has on love in 1984 is first shown in the relationship between Winston and Katherine. Readers learn that Katherine did not have a “thought in her head that was not a slogan”(Orwell 66). Because of her feeling of duty to the Party and the use of literature from the Party, the feeling of love was killed in their relationship. Additionally, Winston and Julia start to grow closer because they are able to obtain …show more content…
Books and literature serve different roles for each character, such as bringing Luo and the narrator closer, while also destroying the friendship between them and Four Eyes. When confronted by Luo for hiding books in the leather case, Four Eyes simply said, “you must be dreaming” and went to check his temperature, while blaming his crazy accusations on his fever (Sijie 49). This also proves the point that literature and language make a wall between friends, as books are forbidden so everyone has to be wary of everyone else. As for Luo and the narrator, these books served to tighten their