George Orwell: Down and Out in Paris and London

Overview of “Down and Out in Paris and London”

The text is a semi-autobiographical work written by George Orwell detailing his experiences living in poverty in Paris and London.
The narrative includes renowned Orwell’s experiences of working as a plongeur (dishwasher) in Parisian restaurants and living as a tramp in London.
Contains a socio-economic analysis, where Orwell considers the causes and implications of poverty.

Orwell’s Language Use

Orwell employs a language style that is plain and lucid, which enhances the candid atmosphere of the narration.
Use of vivid descriptions and imagery makes Orwell’s experiences feel incredibly real and authentic.
Incorporates slang and colloquial language often, adding to the realism and highlighting the cultural contexts of his experiences.

Themes

Class Division and Dehumanisation: Orwell chronicles how poverty strips people of their humanity, reducing them to mere objects or statistics by the upper classes.
Exploitation and Injustice: The author vividly portrays the unfair treatments towards the lower classes, and the oppressive systems of labor.
Identity and False Perception: Orwell indicates how societal norms and expectations often dictate an individual’s identity and the false perceptions associated with it.

Characterisation

The author is also the protagonist who experiences the harsh realities of poverty firsthand. This autobiographical approach adds authenticity to the narration.
Orwell portrays his encounters with other members of the lower class, providing readers with varied perspectives on poverty.
Characters are often depicted as victimized by their circumstances, which effectively highlights societal structures and their impact on individuals.

Setting

The two cities, Paris and London, act as not just locations but also as symbols representing different aspects of poverty.
Through Orwell’s descriptive prose, each city becomes a character of its own, reinforcing the themes outlined in the narrative.
Each location characterises poverty differently, showing its diverse impacts and forms, from the overloaded and poorly paid workers in Paris to the homelessness experienced in the streets of London.

Remember, it’s always useful to have a variety of notes and annotations throughout your text. Be sure to note down any key quotes or passages that associate particularly well with the themes and characterisations covered in these points.