Fiction

In "Why I Write", George Orwell reflects on his journey as a writer and explores the motivations that have driven his literary career. He begins by explaining that he had always wanted to be a writer, influenced by his childhood experiences and early desire for fame. He admits that, as a young man, he was largely driven by ego and the wish to be recognized.

Orwell outlines four primary motives for writing:

1. Sheer Egoism – The desire to be remembered and recognized.
2. Aesthetic Enthusiasm – The pleasure derived from the beauty of language and storytelling.
3. Historical Impulse – The desire to record events as they are and preserve them for the future.
4. Political Purpose – The wish to push the world in a particular direction and express a political opinion.

Orwell discusses how his own political views, especially his hatred of totalitarianism and his passion for democratic socialism, increasingly shaped his writing. He asserts that all writers are influenced by the world around them, and that political purpose plays a key role in his own work. He concludes by emphasizing the importance of writing with honesty and clarity, and how his commitment to political ideas is reflected in his later work, such as Animal Farm and 1984.

In essence, Orwell views writing as both a personal and political act, with the ultimate goal of shaping society and contributing to the collective understanding of truth.