Examples Of Oppression In 1984

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Can a human truly retain their humanity when under extreme oppression? In the Novel 1984, a dystopian world of complete and utter government control is explored. The government controls every aspect of life, and enforces its views on the citizens. The government throws lives away. The party starves its citizens, and it’s not just a physical hunger. The citizens of Oceania are starved of their humanity, physically, mentally, and ethically. To be truly alive a human must have their own morals, and be capable of crafting their own opinions. Big Brother’s style of leadership seems to remove the humanity of his citizens until they are nothing but mindless fanatical robots. “War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength.” As the government …show more content…

Winston, unlike the rest of the nation realizes the problems with the society. Winston notices the corruption in the government, he notices the indoctrination of the children, he even realizes how much has changed since the world of the past. Unfortunately, Winston realizes he can not act because any action is met with execution, he is also aware that even the thought or act of noticing the problems could get him arrested. In a nation where free thought is illegal, Winston strives to think as freely as possible. However, Winston is more cowardly than a typical hero, he is unwilling to cause a change, because he does not wish to die. Winston is more of an average citizen in a strange and dangerous world than he is a hero in a normal world. Winson fears much, and he even sells out the love of his life, when he is threatened with rats. However, of his many fears; Rats excluded, Winston seems to fear children the …show more content…

All three are in a state of perpetual warfare, and civilian lives are thrown away carelessly. “In Orwell's masterpiece, the world is always at war. The enemy changes, but the war never ends. At one point, during a "Hate Week" rally, the nation's alliances abruptly change and the speaker seamlessly shifts mid-sentence from denouncing one enemy to denouncing another.” As Keri Blakinger says, The unending war has unending enemies, and the government presents whoever they are at war with as an eternal enemy. Eternal war is eternal death, this is physical endangerment, and a loss of human life in a literal sense. In addition to physical endangerment in terms of military action, there are also ailments due to stress, the main character Winston suffers from an ulcer, and he has aged far beyond what he should have for his age. This is proof of malnourishment, and an unsuitable environment for human

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