Theme Of Freedom In George Orwell's 1984

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Liberty and truth are the fundamental aspects of human rights. When we lack these freedoms, we lose a large part of our humanity. In George Orwell’s 1984, Winston represents truth in a deceptive world. Big Brother is the omnipotent and all-powerful leader in Oceania. Everything the government dictates is unquestionably true, regardless of prior knowledge. Even thinking of ideas that go against Big Brother’s regime, or thoughtcrime, is punishable by death. Winston serves as the dystopian hero, longing for freedom and change. Orwell uses Winston to emphasize the importance of individual freedoms, as they give us the ability to fulfillingly lead our respective lives. Because individualism is the demise of a communist society, in 1984 the Party eliminates anyone acting as a freethinker. No one person may revolt against the Party’s teachings in order for tranquility to prosper. In a sense, the Party views humanity as a disease --they must eliminate it for the good of humanity. For example, Winston describes his coworker Syme saying, “He is too intelligent. He sees too clearly and speaks too plainly. The Party does not like such people. One day he will disappear,” (47). While in our society, we would praise Syme for his …show more content…

Keeping the public uneducated is essential to their credulousness. Orwell explains, “The purpose of Newspeak was not only to provide a medium of expression for the world-view and mental habits proper to the devotees of Ingsoc, but to make all other modes of thought impossible . . . literally unthinkable,” (246). If the public is unable to think of rebellion, then rebellion is unfeasible. The Party has invaded the citizens’ right to choose, including their right to think. As the ability to think decreases, so does the ability to create. Without the invention of new ideas, society will never be able to advance; they will forever be stuck in the oppression of

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