Rojas

Rojas, Joe
English 113B
Professor Vana Derohanessian
3/16/15
Project Space: Class Divisions
In every society that has and presently exists, there is a distinct system, based on
economic wealth, which people fall under in the society. The system is designed to categorize
people into classes depending on economic status. As described through the ideas of Karl Marx,
at the top there is the high/wealthy class, then there is the middle class, and finally there is the
low/working class. This categorizing of classes is demonstrated in the Novel 1984. The novel
demonstrates how The Party, through Big Brother, controls everything, and how the middle class
and the lower class (the proles) must follow what Big Brother tells them to do. One of the
biggest ways in which one is able to distinguish people between classes is by looking at the
space these people inhabit. Although this is very clearly shown in the novel 1984, a better
demonstration of this is through Michel Foucaults Panopticism. Even though these works
were written a while ago it is interesting to see how the message conveyed by these works is
clearly noticed in todays society. For example, by looking at the space, Downtown Los Angeles,
the class divisions are very distinguishable. By analyzing the works 1984, Foucaults
Panopticism, and the space of Downtown Los Angeles it is evident that spaces demonstrates a
distinction of classes, spaces differentiate between the class that inhabits the space, and spaces
are maintained the way they are in order to reach a certain goal.
By looking at the space a certain class inhabitates, it is very easy to distinguish which
class inhabits that space. For example there are differences in cleanliness, buildings, and the way

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people behave. For example in the novel 1984 the proles, the working class behave way
differently than the regular people of Oceania. This also goes for Foucault,s Panopticism
where the behavior of people is very distinguishable, depending on whether they are diagnosed
as ill or if they have a distinct rank. In the spaces of these two works, people are condition to
behave a certain way, a way that is determined by the high class. The reason as to why the high
class is able to set these kinds of standards for every one else is because they hold all the power.
This goes back to Karl Marx's theory that the high class in society holds all the power. As stated
in 1984 proles where natural inferiors who must be kept in subjection, like animals, by the
application of a few simple rules. In reality very little was known about the proles. It was not
necessary to know much. (page 127) This convays the idea that the lower class are not set to the
same standards as others to behave a certain way, as determined by the high class. By looking at
the space in Downtown, it is clear as daylight how the space of the poor differentiates between
the space of the rich. In Downtown Los Angeles there is a space called Skid Row where the
majority of homeless people station themselves. And literally a couple of blocks away all the
buildings and the wealthy people that make up Downtown are located. Again it is clear to see
how standards of behavior vary between the wealthy and the poor.
Spaces seem to be different depending on what social class that inhibits the space. As
mentioned previously some spaces where the lower class are located are way more unsanitized as
those of the high classes. For example in Foucaults Panopticism the people that are living in the
present time live in communities that are very unsanitized because they are surrounded by death,
where as apposed to the high ranks of the civilization where their living conditions are a lot
better. This is interrelated to how the poor of Downtown Los Angeles live, as apposed to how the
rich live. The poor of Downtown LA live in tents on the street, while the rich live in nice warm

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homes overlooking a beautiful view. These differences in spaces demonstrate the class
differences people face.
One of the biggest reasons as to why spaces are kept a certain way is to reach a certain
goal. In the novel 1984 the majority of the spaces contain television screens in which Big
Brother is always watching, patrolling and making sure everyone is following any orders given.
In Foucaults Panopticism the people inhabiting the space, designed as a prison, are patrolled
to make sure the people have also done what is asked of them. As stated by Foucault The gaze
is alert everywhere: A considerable body of militia commanded by good officers and men of
substance, guards at the gate, at the town hall and in every quarter to ensure the prompt
obedience of the people and the most absolute authority of the magistrates, as also to observe all
disorder, theft and extortion. (Page 1) As explained by Foucault the space is maintained at high
surveillance in order to keep everything regulated and moving smoothly. This can also been seen
in present Downtown Los Angeles. In Downtown Los Angeles there are several tourists and
public attractions, but at the same time there are homeless people just a couple blocks away. The
goal for these attractions being located in Downtown is to increase revenue. One of the ways
people are not discouraged to come to these attractions by the amount of homeless people, is by
having several police guards, almost like a Big Brother figure, patrolling around. With these
police guards being placed in the space it allows for that space to accomplish the goal it was
designed to accomplish.
Although the ideas presented in the novel 1984 and the theories presented by Marxism
convey the same message that can be applied to todays society, not all of the content can be used
in our present society. In the novel 1984 the word Proles is used to refer to the poor people, the
people the Party really had no interest in, is actually a shortened version of the word Proletariat,

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as used by Marx to refer to the working class. These two works convey the message that our
society is shaped to have class differences, and the only way to eliminate the idea of class
distinctions is for the working class to unite and overthought the higher classes. Oxford
Reference states Marx argued that working-class people form a class in itself that, by
becoming conscious about its exploitation by capitalists, will become a class for itself and
overthrow capitalism in an act for social revolution. (1). Oxford Reference is explaining how
Marx believed that the only reason why there was no revolution was because the lower class was
not conscious of how much power they truly had. The lower working class not only was the main
source for production, but also was the majority of the population. Had this class been aware of
this, a revolution would have been easy to start. Currently a revolution of such degree would not
be allowed. As soon as the government hears word of such an idea the government would be sure
to stop it before it catches on. Thus the idea of destroying the class divisions maybe of interests
to some, but the means as to how they would go about such a plan would have to bee different
from the ideas stated in 1984 and the theories of Marx.
After analyzing the spaces presented in the novel 1984, the spaces presented in Foucaults
Panopticism, and the space of Downtown Los Angeles it is evident how social classes
differentiate and the impact class distinctions play in society. Upon analyzing the theory of
Marxism it was clear how both these works of literature incorporated Karl Marxs theories. In
simplified terms Marxism explains how there are three classes, the high/wealthy class, the
middle class, and the low/working class. 1984 as well as Foucault, emphasize this throughout
their work, and also explain how the power to revolt and abolish class distinctions lies in the
hands of the lower/working class. One of the biggest ways to determine class distinctions is by
examining the space in which a class is located. After looking at the spaces mentioned in the

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novel 1984, the spaces in Foucaults Panopticism, and the space of Downtown Los Angeles it is
clear to see how spaces demonstrates a distinction of classes, spaces differentiate between the
class that inhabits the space, and spaces are maintained the way they are in order to reach a
certain goal.

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Work Cited Page
Dean, Mike, and George Orwell. 1984. Harlow: Pearson Edition, 2003. Print.
Marxism. Marxism. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Mar. 2015.
Poucault, Michel. Michel Foucault. Discipline and Punish (1975), Panopticism. (1975): 1-7.
Print.