A Comparative Analysis: Orwell's 1984 and Arnold's Dover Beach

This essay provides a comparative analysis of George Orwell's novel "1984" and Matthew Arnold's poem "Dover Beach," highlighting their shared thematic concerns. The essay explores the central theme of despair, examining how both works reflect the anxieties and disillusionment of their respective eras. It delves into the impact of societal changes, including industrialization, materialism, and technological advancements, on the human condition. The essay discusses the portrayal of totalitarian control in "1984" and the loss of faith and spiritual erosion in "Dover Beach." Furthermore, it analyzes the authors' critiques of human relationships and the search for meaning in a rapidly changing world. By comparing and contrasting these two literary works, the essay offers insights into the enduring relevance of these themes and their reflections on the complexities of modern society. The essay also explores the influence of Arnold's work on Orwell's novel, highlighting the common threads of hopelessness, degeneration, and the need for revolution. The essay concludes by emphasizing the importance of human connection and relationships in navigating the challenges presented by the modern world, as depicted in both "1984" and "Dover Beach."

Running head: ORWELL’S 1984 AND ARNOLD’S “DOVER BEACH”: AN ANALYSIS
ORWELL’S 1984 AND ARNOLD’S “DOVER BEACH”: AN ANALYSIS
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5ORWELL’S 1984 AND ARNOLD’S “DOVER BEACH”: AN ANALYSIS
Orwell’s novel “1984” and Matthew Arnold’s poem “Dover Beach” has in common, the
essence and themes of despair, helplessness, degeneration and the complexities in the fast-emerging
modern and technically advanced world. Literature has always been the mirror or reflection of the
society. Matthew Arnold and George Orwell, though born at different times, were the products of
their society. Both the literary works are highly appreciated and acclaimed for their metaphors,
imageries, symbolisms and aphorisms. The respective essay intends to Examine and critically
analyse the level of influence that Arnold might have had on Orwell’s novel “1984”. “Dover Beach”,
being a poem that reflects the bleak side of modernism and materialism, might have been used by
Orwell while writing his novel “1984” which has a subtle tone of despair and helplessness of the
bleak reality of post-modern era and the advancement that happened thereupon.
The novel “1984” of Orwell possess certain inherent characteristics of Arnold’s poem
“Dover Beach”. The main similarity is that of the theme of “despair”. “Dover Beach” by Victorian
poet Matthew Arnold is a poem that speaks about helplessness, despair and hopelessness of mankind
in the newly emerging era of rationalism and materialism. Victorian period of England witnessed the
rapid change of the society from spirituality to materialism, from religiousness to rationalism with
the advancement of science and technology and emerging industrialisation. Rapid industrialisation
caused in degeneration of morals brining in utilitarian materialism among the society (Simms). In the
poem “Dover Beach”, Matthew Arnold is observed in reminiscing the olden days and moments when
people had religious faith, spiritual upgradation and belief in Almighty. Whereas the novel “1984”
by George Orwell talks about the despair of the character Winston in a dystopia named “Oceania”.
Oceania, an oppressive, totalitarian and tyrannical government which constantly keeps a surveillance
on the people of the nation with the advanced technology, hardly providing any opportunity to the
citizens to flourish. Both the works have as essence of despair, helplessness and hopelessness from
the protagonists. A lonely melancholic longing tone of the protagonist found in Dover Beach
compliments the ambience of 1984’s Oceania, with the similar tone of despair and helplessness. In

4ORWELL’S 1984 AND ARNOLD’S “DOVER BEACH”: AN ANALYSIS
the Dover Beach, Arnold refers to the light of France. He compares them with that of the enlightened
beam of philosophers who gave Europe the ideas and concepts of democracy and socialism which
was overshadowed by the failed revolutions of 1848, marking the bleak and unsuccessful future of
Europe. He stated the necessity of education and revolution in Europe at that time. The symbolism of
hope that has been inculcated by Arnold in “Dover Beach” has been adopted by Orwell in “1984”,
where there are instances where it is observed that in the dystopian world of Oceania, there was an
utmost need of liberal ideals, radical democracy and revolution for the end of the tyranny. However,
as the revolution of 1848 seemed to fail as depicted in the poem “Dover Beach”, similarly, in
“1984”, Orwell concludes that all revolutions are deemed to eventually and catastrophically, fail.
The theme of poem “Dover Beach” by Arnold is reflected and highlighted in Orwell’s novel
“1984” (Childs). Orwell was an ardent atheist whereas Arnold was a theocrat. Orwell abhorred
communism, so in his novel 1984, he creates the character Big Brother imitating Stalin, inculcating
his advocacies, propagandas and institutionalised cults. In his novel, he depicts the blind faith that
the citizens of Oceania were indoctrinated with by various campaigns, promotions, advocacies,
books and cults by the Party of the Big Brother. Such blind faith was compared to the blind faith
people exhibit towards religion in the real world. In such oppression, it is the faith in human bonds
that might aid the society to survive. Similarly, Arnold in “Dover Beach” discloses certain ideas to
his newly wedded wife. He says that it is the faith in humanity, relationships and mutual belief that
would help the world to remain integrated even if the world loses faith in Almighty or God. Arnold’s
attempt to seek refuge to Romanticism in the growing bleak and materialistic modern world has been
well employed by Orwell in “1984”. The romantic affair that Winston had with Julia was a way by
which Winston derived asylum of peace, tranquillity and passion in the world of mechanised and
clinical human relationships in the dystopian world of Oceania.
Matthew Arnold, in his poem “Dover Beach” has stated his opinion against beastalization of
humans as a resultant of Industrial revolution. He also opposed to the subservience of people to

5ORWELL’S 1984 AND ARNOLD’S “DOVER BEACH”: AN ANALYSIS
transgressive technological innovation. In the poem, he writes “ignorant armies clashing by night”,
thus depicting human ignorance of the modern world (Hillard). In “1984”, George Orwell also
depicts the transgressive attitude of the government in terms of using technology. The idea used by
Arnold in “Dover Beach” of the misutilisation of technology has been highlighted by Orwell in his
novel “1984”. Instead of using technology for productive purposes, the Party uses technology to keep
surveillance over people, barring them from practicing free sex, free thoughts and expression as well
as individuality. Orwell has advocated the criticism of mechanised human relationships brought up
by Arnold in his poem “Dover Beach”. Therefore, both the literary genius discusses about the
pessimistic aspects of the technological world leading to human ignorance and beastalisation
(Steinhoff).
The poem “Dover Beach” by Matthew Arnold and the novel “1984” by George Orwell are
similar to each other as both the literary works depict and reflect the ills of the society brought on by
massive industrialisation and modernisation at that times. Arnold’s ardent introspection of the
necessity of spiritual intelligentsia in the bleak materialistic world has been zealously utilised by
Orwell in his novel “1984” where Winston longs for a new intellectual reform and movement against
the tyrannical government of Oceania. Since literature is reflection of the society, the two works give
a clear and universal introspection about the socio-political conditions of that time. Both the literary
works speak about the failure of revolution and rebellion; the failure of revolutions of 1848 during
the Victorian era, as well as the failure of the October Revolution of 1917. Other themes that both the
literary works have in common as well as contrasts themselves are the reminiscence ideas of faith in
humanity and mankind, the high ideals of philosophers, intellectuals and the world renowned French
revolution and the desperate need of a new revolution that might help in re-shaping the society all
over again. The persuasive possibilities that are inbuilt and inherent in literary contexts and texts as
which was envisaged by Matthew Arnold through his poem “Dover Beach” has been well utilized by
the Party, in Orwell’s “1984”. Apart from atheist discourse that is brought up by Orwell in his novel

4ORWELL’S 1984 AND ARNOLD’S “DOVER BEACH”: AN ANALYSIS
“1984” and Arnold’s expression of spiritual loss and agony depicted in his poem “Dover Beach”,
both the literary works have exhibited the need and importance of human relationships.

5ORWELL’S 1984 AND ARNOLD’S “DOVER BEACH”: AN ANALYSIS
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Arnold, Matthew, and Samuel Barber. Dover Beach. Merrill, 1970.
Bloom, Harold, ed. George Orwell's 1984. Infobase Publishing, 2009.
Childs, Peter. The twentieth century in poetry. Routledge, 2008.
Hillard, Molly Clark. "When Desert Armies Stand Ready to Fight": Re-Reading McEwan's Saturday
and Arnold's" Dover Beach." Partial Answers: Journal of Literature and the History of Ideas
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Simms, Valerie J. "A reconsideration of Orwell's 1984: The moral implications of despair." Ethics
84.4 (1974): 292-306.
Steinhoff, William. George Orwell and the Origins of 1984. Vol. 13. Ann Arbor: University of
Michigan Press, 1975.