All individuals view the world differently based on things like their surroundings and or childhood. These opinions can be negative and can warrant a negative superiority complex. The the dystopian novel, 1984 written by George Orwell, the proles are representative of the American lower class seen through Winston’s eyes influenced by the human condition. In 1984, the reader sees Winston’s evolving beliefs regarding the proles and their lifestyle. Winston’s initial judgement of the proles is that they are low, uneducated, and poor which is similar to stereotypes about the American lower class. As thought by Winston, “The poorer quarters swarmed with women who were ready to sell themselves. Some could even be purchased for a bottle of gin,”
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The proles are given little to no opportunities to move up in class, similar to the American lower class. As quoted from Shadow, “They are kept uneducated and are considered unable to to gain any sophisticated views of their lives or the society they live in” (Shadow). This quote explains that the lower class will always be considered as less because of their lack of understanding of their environment. This is similar to how the proles are unable to move up in the social hierarchy (or maintain a Party status). Both the proles and American lower class are considered incapable of higher thought. Most upper class citizens view the lower/working class as lazy and incompetent. According to Lawler, “So almost all of us think of the “underclass” as a product of un-American social policy,” (Lawler). The “underclass” Lawler speaks of is generally left to the wayside in American society. The proles are compared to animals in 1984 and are a product of Party neglect. This human conditional view can create a superiority complex in the Party members and upper class American Society. The lower class and proles live in what is considered a more rundown part of town. As quoted from Boundless, “Working classes are mainly found in industrialized economies and in the urban areas of non-industrialized economies” (Boundless). The proles are located in the slums of Oceania where a lot of industry is done. This is comparable to lower class urban living situations where tenants are densely packed and pollution rates are higher (similar to rat populations in the prole quarters). The living situation of the Party members is a stark contrast because they live in sterile clean cut quarters. Overall the portrayal of the proles in the novel matches up with the stereotypical view of the lower class
The proles are given little to no opportunities to move up in class, similar to the American lower class. As quoted from Shadow, “They are kept uneducated and are considered unable to to gain any sophisticated views of their lives or the society they live in” (Shadow). This quote explains that the lower class will always be considered as less because of their lack of understanding of their environment. This is similar to how the proles are unable to move up in the social hierarchy (or maintain a Party status). Both the proles and American lower class are considered incapable of higher thought. Most upper class citizens view the lower/working class as lazy and incompetent. According to Lawler, “So almost all of us think of the “underclass” as a product of un-American social policy,” (Lawler). The “underclass” Lawler speaks of is generally left to the wayside in American society. The proles are compared to animals in 1984 and are a product of Party neglect. This human conditional view can create a superiority complex in the Party members and upper class American Society. The lower class and proles live in what is considered a more rundown part of town. As quoted from Boundless, “Working classes are mainly found in industrialized economies and in the urban areas of non-industrialized economies” (Boundless). The proles are located in the slums of Oceania where a lot of industry is done. This is comparable to lower class urban living situations where tenants are densely packed and pollution rates are higher (similar to rat populations in the prole quarters). The living situation of the Party members is a stark contrast because they live in sterile clean cut quarters. Overall the portrayal of the proles in the novel matches up with the stereotypical view of the lower class