George Orwell “Selected Essays” - Quote Analysis

Orwell argues that writing is never neutral, and this quote sums up that claim clearly. By using the word “political”, he means that any attempt to shape how people think about society, values, or power is already political. He is rejecting the idea that writers can stand outside politics and simply create “pure” art. He insists that even choosing to avoid politics is still a political choice, because it depicts the state of the world right now. Orwell believes that his own writing became openly political after his experiences with imperialism and totalitarianism. He sees political purpose as one of the main motives behind all serious writing, including his own.…