George Orwell

A great man once said, "In a time of universal deceit - telling the truth is a revolutionary act". This man changed the world through his command of literature and powerful, universal messages. He was George Orwell, author of the wildly famous books 1984 and Animal Farm. Born Eric Arthur Blair on June 25th, 1903, Orwell traveled all over India and Europe trying to make it as a successful author. He lived as a pauper among the poor of London to better understand their plight. Once he achieved success, he pushed his mind and body to the limit for the people he cared so much about. On top of never giving up on his dream, Orwell chose to utilize his influence by unmasking totalitarian government and exposing it's evils during a period in history when many intellectuals were praising said regimes. He stood up for what was right, no matter the cost. George Orwell, celebrated author and visionary, became a beloved inspiration by being honest with his audience, selflessly caring for others, and working hard to make his goals a reality.

Orwell was such a big believer in honesty that it is a big theme in most of his work: wheter or not honesty is important.. It's the only way for the public to make informed decisions. George Orwell knew that the best way to convince someone of your point of view is to be completely honest with them, which is evident when he discloses that, "After being wounded, he returned to England and wrote Homage to Catalonia, a 1938 account that depicts the absurdities of warfare, the duplicity of every political ideology, and the essential decency of ordinary people caught up in events beyond their control." ("George Orwell." UXL Biographies) Political stances and warfare get in the way of progress and harm innocents, according to Orwell. At it's very core, it's a inane struggle for pride and wealth, while bystanders and citizens endure the yoke of poverty, suffering, and fear. Politics are meant to be for the people, and not work against them. Once a government overextends itself, it's the duty of the people to form a new political climate. He was not deluded about what it took to have lasting peace in a cruel world, which explains one of his most famous quotes, 'People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.' (George Orwell qtd. Eton, Tyler) Orwell believed the best way for individuals, families, communities and countries to make informed decisions about how they wished to live was to give it to them straight. He knew that the average person makes the correct decision on what is right and what is wrong. Orwell wanted his audience to know the realities of living in a world of peace. If they were ready to accept that this way was how the world worked, he would be there to show them the proper direction to go. In conclusion, Orwell brought to light evils and misdeeds made by corrupt governments in order to help the common people. He also didn't shy away from telling his own story of hardships and hope.

George Orwell risked his dream of becoming a famous author and even his life to defend innocent people from an uncaring, malicious world. One of his most underappreciated and unrecognized acts was when George Orwell volunteered to fight in the Spanish Civil War, for the sole purpose of rescuing as many people as he could: "In 1937, Orwell traveled to Spain, where he joined one of the groups fighting against General Francisco Franco in the Spanish Civil War." ("George Orwell." 2014. The Biography Channel website). George Orwell was supposedly so anxious for the opportunity to fight oppression that he was quoted as saying, "I've come to fight against Fascism" when he first arrived at the military base. Orwell, of course, understood the risks of fighting and was ready to put it on the line for the people. He risked ostracization from his peers and derision from the literary community as a whole because he went against the norm by exposing the evils of totalitarian governments. "In the early part of the twentieth century, many intellectuals and artists were sympathetic toward the Soviet Union..."("Orwell, George." Gale Contextual Encyclopedia of World Literature. Vol. 3.). Author George Orwell's only dream in life was to make it as a novelist. He worked numerous low-paying jobs and had to save every penny just to get his first book, Down and Out in Paris and London, published. After risking everything to make himself happy, he risked it all again to help others become better people. By examining the negative directions totalitarian government leads good people, he risked a united opposition to his literature by authors and critics of the day. Orwell could have lost it all, but he considered it to be worth the risk. In summary, George Orwell's selflessness opened the door for real change in the world. He knew the risks and still was willing to put career and life in danger for the people he cared about.

George Orwell put in an incredible about of effort and dedication into becoming a successful author. He had to work low-paying, menial jobs before he had enough money to start his career: "Orwell took all sorts of jobs to make ends meet, including being a dishwasher." ("George Orwell." 2014. The Biography Channel website). Orwell saw what needed to be done before he could have the freedom to dedicate himself wholly to writing. He did not search for a career because he believed that writing would be his job. All he needed were a few jobs that would pay minimum wage, and then he excelled at them. He worked hard to earn his pay and his employers saw that. Not only did he work hard at his jobs, but he also pushed his weak immune system to the max: He suffered from illnesses such as tuberculosis and chronic migraines basically his entire life. ("Orwell, George (1903-1950)." Encyclopedia of European Social History. Ed.). He could have decided that his illnesses and pains were too serious to be ignored and allowed himself to be boarded up in some hospital, but he didn't. He pushed his body to heal faster and faster so he could spread his message as quickly as possible. Orwell had a long and complicated exercise regimen to keep his body as healthy as it could be. George Orwell pushed his body and mind to the limit in order to get his message of hope and caution out to the people. He did whatever it took to become a writer and didn't let anything get in his way.

In conclusion, author and journalist George Orwell displayed the heroic qualities of honesty, compassion, and perseverance throughout his life. Orwell put his career and even his life on the line numerous times to demonstrate his faith in his convictions. He was a beacon of truth in an often disingenuous, corrupt world. Orwell faced the trials and tribulations life through at him with dignity and strength of character. As a young person with big goals for the future, Orwell's dedication and winning attitude while simultaneously not sacrificing his principals is a glittering horizon toward which I align myself. To people who have aspirations of greatness, or wish to leave a mark on this world, Orwell's dedication to his dreams is outright inspiring.