Comparing Orwell's "1984" and Machiavelli's "The Prince"

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When examining the totalitarian government of 1984 by George Orwell, a direct connection can be drawn to the motives and ideals associated with Niccoló Machiavelli’s The Prince. Machiavelli’s support of the political necessity as a means to remain in power resonate with the government whose aim is to “extinguish once and for all the possibility of independent thought” as a way to ensure complete political orthodoxy within the country (193). Specifically, Machiavellian thought plays an important part in 1984 as its ideas on reputation, revolution, avoiding hatred, and the use of fear to control a populace are used by INGSOC in order to maintain complete control throughout the story. In the following paragraphs, the connections between these two works above will be elaborated on in an attempt to show the Machiavellian influence of the government in 1984. In the writings of both 1984 and The Prince, revolution and ideas surrounding it are presented as major themes. In 1984, the idea of revolution is present in INGSOC’s existence from both the past to the present. Initially, INGSOC is described as coming to power through a popular uprising revolting against the horrors of the previous capitalist system. This is important as having the support of the people from the beginning drastically increases the Party’s power. Machiavelli puts it perfectly when he states that, “he who attains princely rule through the favor of the people finds himself there alone and has no one, or very few, around him who are not ready to obey him” (41). So it seems then that the Party was able to rise to such preeminence off the relative support of the people after the revolution against the previous social system. As time progressed however, the government... ... middle of paper ... ...ns to release or redirect their negative feelings and emotions towards the Party before they can become actions. So by use of the Two Minutes Hate and other methods, the Party succeeds in reflecting and diminishing any hate towards it, therefore making sure it remains in a permanent position of power. After investigating the text in both George Orwell’s 1984 and Niccoló Machiavelli’s The Prince, a staggering connection can be found. When closely observed, the ideas presented by Machiavelli in his search for the ideal prince are in fact directly analogous to the motives and actions made by INGSOC in 1984. Machiavellian thought plays an important part in 1984 as its ideas on reputation, revolution, avoiding hatred, and the use of fear to control a populace are used by INGSOC in order to maintain complete control throughout the story. Works Cited 1984, The Prince

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