Investigation of George Orwell's Coming Up for Air
If you are submitting a paper, answer ONE of these three questions on George Orwell's book Coming Up for Air:
1) What kind of world does Orwell seem to want? His character George Bowling is nostalgic about pre-1914 England and yet in many respects the England of 1939 in which the novel takes place is a 'better' place - livelier, wealthier, more democratic - than the past ever was. Is the author making an argument about what he thinks the world ought to be like?
2) What is Orwell's attitude towards war in Coming Up for Air? The book, remember, is set on the eve of the outbreak of the Second World War and Orwell had himself fought against fascism in Civil War Spain. But does Orwell present fascism as a foreign enemy that needs to be opposed militarily, or as something else?
3) How are women portrayed in Coming Up for Air? Does Orwell present women's lives as having changed between 1900-1939 and if so does he seem to approve of these changes or not? Is Orwell sympathetic to his female characters?
Note by the way that Coming Up for Air, published in 1939, is very much a product of its time and place and this is reflected in its language. In particular, it includes a few uses of offensive racial terms.
Your papers should be approximately 4-5 pages in length (papers significantly shorter than this will be penalized). Papers should be double-spaced, Times New Roman 12 point, 1" margins all round. No cover sheet or separate bibliography is necessary. Any standard citation format is fine so long as you use it consistently (but you should cite all uses of text, either when paraphrasing, summarizing, or directly quoting). Please make sure you include page numbers throughout and your name and the name of your TA on the first page.
Investigation of George Orwell's Coming Up for Air Book
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Investigation of George Orwell's Coming Up for Air Book
Introduction
George Orwell's Coming Up for Air is a satirical novel that explores the impact of modernity on British society. In 1938, the novel followed the protagonist, George Bowling, as he reflects on his life from 1893 to the present day. One of the novel's major themes is the changing role of women in British society. Orwell presents women as diverse individuals with different backgrounds, personalities, and goals. Throughout the novel, women are seen in various roles, ranging from traditional homemakers to independent career women. Orwell's views about women are complex and nuanced (Orwell, 2021). On the one hand, he acknowledges that women have gained more freedom and independence over the years. He portrays women who have careers and are politically active, a significant change from the traditional role of women in society. On the other hand, he suggests this independence has come at a cost. Women are no longer content with their traditional roles as wives and mothers, and this has caused social instability and a breakdown of traditional values (Kerr, 2022). Orwell's views about women are also reflected in his portrayal of female characters. While sympathetic to his female characters, he is also critical of them. He highlights their positive aspects and autonomy and puts their aggression and negative temperament into the limelight. His views regarding women and other critical factors during World War II appear complicated yet pertinent.
Discussion
George Orwell's Coming Up for Air, published in 1939, is a satirical novel that explores the impact of modernity on British society. The novel was set in 1938, but the protagonist, George Bowling, reflects on his life from 1893 to the present day. Women are portrayed in the novel as a diverse group of individuals, ranging from traditional homemakers to independent career women. Orwell presents women's lives as having changed between 1900-1939, but he is ambivalent about these changes (Kerr, 2022). In George Orwell's Coming Up for Air, women play a significant role in the novel's exploration of social and cultural change in Britain between 1900-1939. Orwell presents women as diverse individuals, from traditional homemakers to independent career women, each with goals and aspirations. However, his views on women and their changing societal roles are complex and ambivalent.
One of the main female characters in the novel is George's wife, Dorothy. She is portrayed as a traditional housewife content with her domestic life. Orwell describes her as a loving mother and supportive wife, but George sees her as a prisoner of her temperament. Despite this, Dorothy is presented as a sympathetic character, and her contentment with her domestic life is portrayed as a legitimate choice. In contrast, Connie, George's former girlfriend, represents the changing role of women in British society (Orwell, 2021). She is a modern, independent career woman who works as a journalist and has strong political opinions. Orwell portrays her as a tough and aggressive character, with a man's brain in a woman's body. Although George admires her strength and independence, he is not entirely comfortable with her aggressive and masculine tendencies. However, Orwell suggests that this newfound independence has come at a cost, leading to social instability and a breakdown of traditional values. Orwell's views on women's changing roles in society are ambivalent. While he acknowledges women's gains regarding liberty and self-rule, he is also critical of the cost of these modifications. The author suggests that women's independence has come at the expense of traditional values and social stability.
Orwell's portrayal of women in Coming Up for Air reflects Britain's changing social and cultur...