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Metaphors
Definition of Mood
The mood of a piece of writing is its general atmosphere or emotional complexion—in short, the array of feelings the work evokes in the reader. Every aspect of a piece of writing... read full definition
The mood of a piece of writing is its general atmosphere or emotional complexion—in short, the array of feelings the work evokes in the reader. Every aspect... read full definition
The mood of a piece of writing is its general atmosphere or emotional complexion—in short, the array of feelings the work evokes... read full definition
Book 1, Chapter 1
Explanation and Analysis:
1984 opens with a stark and gloomy mood:
It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen. Winston Smith, his chin nuzzled into his breast in an effort to escape the vile wind, slipped quickly through the glass doors of Victory Mansions, though not quickly enough to prevent a swirl of gritty dust from entering along with him.
In the novel's opening sentences, the harsh visual and tactile imagery give the reader a feeling of unease. The day may be bright, but it is cold, the wind is vile, and the air is full of gritty dust. Winston is powerless against the cold and wind, and he fails to escape the dust that follows him into his building. In the sentences that follow this passage, the olfactory imagery of boiled cabbage and old rags adds to the visual imagery, deepening the stark mood. Over the course of the novel, it is rare for this mood to lift completely. Mirroring Winston's internal experience, the fixed dreariness of the narrative goes hand in hand with the hopelessness of life under a totalitarian regime.
Nevertheless, the narrative features occasional moments of reprieve, when Winston escapes his surroundings and, in doing so, brings the reader with him. When the narrator describes the Golden Country, which appears both in Winston's dreams and waking life, the mood is at its lightest. The mood is also happier and easier in the final chapters of the second book, as Winston and Julia build an alternative life for themselves in the room.
The overall mood varies with each of the novel's three books. Many of the passages in the novel's first book are quite explanatory, as Orwell sets up his dystopian world and acquaints the reader with its particulars. As a result, the gloominess becomes secondary to the background information. Winston feels hopeless, but it is too early for him to feel absolutely hopeless. Besides, his burgeoning political resistance imbues the narrative with some hope. As mentioned, Winston's relationship with Julia and faith in the cause of the Brotherhood also eases the mood in the second book to a certain extent. The world around him is stark, but he creates pockets of light for himself. It is in the third book that the mood is at its darkest, as Winston is tortured over several months. In the final lines, the book ends on a blissful note, but this ultimately feels eerie for the reader, as it demonstrates the extent to which Winston has been brainwashed.
Related Themes:
