Such, Such Were the Joys

Orwell uses anecdotes, self-contained stories a narrator usually has firsthand knowledge of, in “Such, Such Were the Joys.” Nearly the entire essay is composed of such moments related to the experience of his own younger self. By describing his direct experience of his time in a preparatory school, Orwell affords his essay a sympathetic quality, enhancing the persuasiveness of his overall argument.

The point of view of Orwell’s essay vacillates between that of the younger Orwell (the main character of the anecdotes) and that of the older Orwell (the narrator or commentator of the essay). By utilizing the direct point of view of a child experiencing the abuse and manipulation of the preparatory school system, Orwell underlines the emotional toll the system has on students. By switching to the voice of his older “narrator” self, Orwell is able to lend an authoritative commentary to the trials the younger Orwell undergoes.

The tone Orwell uses is important, as it situates the events the essay explores within their proper context. The author incorporates elements of wry humor into the text.