Male is Feminine under Patriarchal Governments: Male Characters of 1984 by George Orwell

Abstract

Feminist criticism studies the ways in which literature enhances the economic, political, social and psychological oppression of women. Patriarchy describes the power relationships between men and women. Although the majority of the existing literature spots the light on the issue of violence against women, violence against men is also a key feature of patriarchy. This paper aims at exploring how patriarchy systems not only oppress women but men also are oppressed in patriarchal societies. With relevance to male characters of Nineteen Eighty-Four, by George Orwell. It is a political satirical dystopian science fiction novel, which has become universally recognized as Orwell’s seminal work. The citizens of Oceania in the novel are under complete control of the totalitarian government. This paper will not go through Orwell’s characteristics of a totalitarian state, but it is a study of how patriarchy system oppresses Winston; who symbolizes all men in society who are suffering from under patriarchal governments and comes to a conclusion that Winston is feminine in certain cases in his society.