The Fear Of Power In George Orwell's 1984

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In 1984 created by George Orwell, a dystopian novel, many themes are illustrated through the life of Winston. Winston lives a life that is constantly monitored by the Party and must stay blended into the sheeplike masses that praise Big Brother’s reign. In this negative utopia freedom is an alien term and self expression is despised by the society. Orwell words are a timeless warning of a totalitarian society who controls its denizens through fear, surveillance, and manipulation. These methods the Party use to maintain power greatly give them the upperhand to create a world of fear and hatred. This is evident in many scenes within the book. The Party’s method of using fear to maintain power is depicted when Winston’s expresses his true self …show more content…

Fear is a powerful emotion that the Party’s uses to change the independent thought. Fear changes Winston to act on emotion rather than instinct. He desperately wants to reveal his feelings to feel relief but his fear of the Party’s punishment hinders him. The Party uses fear on Winston makes people like him scared to act that allows the Party to keep power. Although he wants to claim his individual nature against the Party he’s reluctant through his mindset of doubt and worry. The Party also uses fear to maintain power by distorting human reason. Winston gets captured by O 'Brien where he experiences physical pain and horror in Room 101.When O 'Brien brings a cage of rats and tells Winston that the rat mask will be placed on his face he shouts do it to Julia, “ I don’t care what you do to her tear her face off, strip her to the bones” (Orwell 286). Winston is one of the many who are able to defy the Party but with fear it stops his act with torture and pain. The Party is clever and knows that with fear it can disturb logical reason to control its citizens. With fear the Party is able to seem mighty and unstoppable who are willing to go to the extreme to maintain power. Also Winston’s fear of rats and pain make him compelled to go on a path he doesn 't want to follow but with his mind overwhelmed he is unable to act on his wishes. The fear the Party has used to maintain power serve a great asset for Big Brother. It limits the citizens to challenge the government and think for themselves. Without fear the Party would become weak but with fear they managed to use it in a way to keep

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