Question

How does orwell present victory mansions as a unpleasant place? In this extract

Answer 1

Orwell clearly wants the reader to perceive Victory Mansions as an unwelcoming, smelly, decaying place.

First, the describes the awful weather that day even though it's already 1pm in the afternoon by mentioning theh character's need to nuzzle his chin into his chest in an effort to escape 'the vile wind'.

Orwell then focuses on the hallway's stench comprised of the smell of 'boiled cabbage and old rag mats', definitely not a pleasant combination of odors.

The author also makes sure to point out the lack of electricity has made the elevator useless and the character must struggle up seven flights of stairs while dealing with his varicose ulcer inflammation.

Then there is the invasive and threatening poster found at each flight of stairs with the ominous implicit message of 'Big Brother Is Watching You' Also the use of big captions has the effect of a muted scream.