“To love the surface of the earth and to take pleasure in solid objects and scraps of useless information.” And as he searches for “truth” he remains aware of the very problem with “truthfulness”. And yet he remains devoted to beauty throughout. Orwell states that he writes to “expose the lie”, which is his particular motivation for writing. He shares with us, honestly, that which every artist can relate to. In his text “Why I Write” (1946), Orwell explores in a sincere and simple way the reason why he writes.

Never `the less, his loyalty to beauty, keeps us dedicated to his work and this is the way he is able to keep our attention, and share with us his bitter discoveries of mankind. A core that might be hard, frightening and even depressing to confront. He also writes as a personal search for truth and in hope to reveal an eternal human essence. Orwell writes to create change, and he has been very successful in his goal. Yet, the search for the answer ‘What is Art, or Beauty?’ rises above the specific subject we choose to actually write about, or the primal passion that drives us to create. These less familiar and known aspects are inserting to us personally as artist, and in the general exploration of the creative process.Īs a political writer, perhaps it is unexpected to contemplate on such a writer from a meditative art’s point of view.

Yet here, it is Orwell’s personal self-reflection upon his art, and on himself as a writer, which I wish to contemplate and discover. So much can and has been said about this phenomenal writer – George Orwell.

Why I Write by George Orwell