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How does Orwell vividly convey the importance of control in 1984
The nature of george orwell 1984
The nature of george orwell 1984
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George Orwell used the theme of control of information as a way to warn society of the impending dangers of a totalitarian regime. In 1984, the main character Winston Smith was a member of the Outer Party, and the Party was the government over the super state Oceania. Winston worked at the Ministry of Truth where he was one of many who were in charge of editing Party information stated previously in order to give citizens of Oceania the impression that the Party was always right. There were many instances when Winston played a part in controlling information for the Party. One day while working, Winston had to rectify a misquoted number of chocolate rations (Orwell 39). The Party had originally promised its citizens there would be an increase …show more content…
The Party seemed to have complete and utter control over the citizens of Oceania. Each morning, citizens were forced to work out and were watched through the telescreen present in their rooms (Orwell 31). Workers such as Winston were all forced to participate in the Two Minutes Hate where they were all required to watch a very provocative video that stirred everyone up. There were extreme consequences if one did not participate in the Two Minutes Hate or even the work out every morning. Through the ever-present telescreens, the Thought Police were able to watch every single person at any given time which created a huge amount of fear in people (Orwell 2). Orwell tried to show people that a totalitarian regime would seek to fill everyone with fear in order to ensure obedience from all. The threat of the Thought Police was mentioned frequently throughout 1984 by Winston. He was constantly afraid that the Thought Police would discover all of his traitorous actions and thoughts, and as a result, make him disappear (Orwell 64). Through the use of telescreens and the Thought Police, Orwell demonstrated the theme of totalitarianism and showed his readers the negative effects that a totalitarian society can have on a …show more content…
In his book, Orwell uses the theme of control of information by showing his readers Winston’s occupation and the control the Party exerts over news about the war. The theme of control of the mind is shown through the installment of a new language by the Party and the use of kids as spies. The totalitarian theme is shown through the use of the telescreens by the Thought Police. Through the use of all three themes, Orwell accomplishes his goal of warning people about the dangers and negative effects of totalitarianism. Like many people today, Orwell was very concerned about the direction the world was heading back in the 1940s, so he decided to act and alert people to what he
This novel expresses multiple motifs like part one on Collectivism being the people of Oceania putting their community in the hands of a no so brotherly dictator Big Brother, or part two portraying the Romance between Winston & Julia and about how the party wanted to alter love for their greater good, and later in part three it was about fear and how it controls us. We must realize that this book could act as more of a timeline of events taking place if we carelessly give the government more control, really we are the proles Orwell was mentioning we are were the hope lies and we must make use of it.
The whole point of this novel is to teach the reader, because during Orwell’s life he has experiences many things that have inspired him for this novel, which makes you think that it is possible for a world like the one which Winston lives in. Orwell’s inspiration came from such leaders like when Bolshevik gaining control of the Russian Revolution. Also experiencing the European Fascism, under Hitler in Germany and Mussolini in Italy. Yet even though many years have pasted since the time of any totalitarian governments the book is still very relevant to today’s society.
Totalitarianism is one of the main themes in 1984. In WWII Europe, Oceania became the ruling power with the so called “Party” ruling everybody and have the “Big Brother” at its head. Some examples of totalitarianism is how they make people workout, they put tele-screens everywhere to monitor the peoples actions, also they refuse to allow any sexual intercourse outside of marriage. “Winston kept his back turned to the tele-screen. It was safer, though, as he well knew, even a back can be revealing” (Book 1, Chapter 1). This quote represents how fearful Winston is that he ...
Orwell has real concerns about the way in which society worked, particular when considering hierarchies and the way the powerful manipulate information. As can be seen there is a strong hierarchy system in the novel 1984 with references to poor and wealthy classes, the proles being lower class and the inner party members being higher class. Orwell spent time in boarding school, wasn’t wealthy and saw disparity between people who had and hadn’t, there are many references towards headmaster and control “ When he spoke it was in a schoolmasterish kind of way” (3.5.297). Orwell also used Hitler’s actions as a leader and incorporated them into 1984; this is evident through the propaganda of Big Brother, dictatorship and the way the Inner party was able to manipulate society to change their beliefs. “The German Nazis and the communist came very close to us in their methods…” (3.3.276) Orwell’s values and beliefs about communism and democracy have strongly been developed through his trepidation in power and historical references to Hitler.
The Nazis along with Soviet Russia were notoriously known for the spreading of their political ideologies. The Soviets were known for their firm belief in Communism led by Joseph Stalin, while the Nazis were more known for their autocratic views and praising of Adolf Hitler. In the novel, the Party clearly represents these two notorious government systems through their belief in totalitarianism. All three governments had a totalitarianism style to them. Not only did Orwell write to warn of types of governments that could develop, but also the fact that new innovations in technology could potentially be detrimental to societies, especially in the novel by the use of telescreens. Albert Einstein once said, “It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity.” Einstein implies that technology has taken over our lives, similarly to how the telescreen in the novel literally took over citizens’ lives through constant propaganda they were forced to listen
George Orwell’s haunting dystopian novel 1984 delves into the closely monitored lives of the citizens of Oceania as the Party tries to take control of society. In totalitarianism, propaganda and terrorism are ways of subjugation with a main goal: total obedience. He aimed to create a “what if” novel, what would happen if totalitarian regimes, such as the Nazis and Soviets, were to take over the world. If totalitarianism were to happen, the leader would be the brain of the whole system. Orwell emphasizes the theme of individualism versus collective identity through Winston, the protagonist, and his defiance to the Party and Big Brother, with a frightening tone, surreal imagery and a third person limited point of view.
Today’s modern world may not be exactly like 1984, but there are some issues that are very similar to it. Some of the biggest issues that is becoming compromised today is the issue of privacy, which in the book 1984 was something that the people did not have much of because of things like telescreens. Not only is our privacy compromised but the government is also being too controlling. Ways today’s privacy is being compromised are through things like game consoles, phones, social media, and drones and not only is our being compromised through these things but the government is also gaining too much control by compromising our privacy.
Whether they wish to admit it or not, anyone who holds any position of power and authority enjoys the control that comes with being in that position. In most cases, they are willing to essentially sell their soul to the devil to keep the position. George Orwell offers his perspective on the means by which authority seeks to retain their control in his novel 1984. Sometime during the twentieth century, the story unfolds in London with the oligarchy, the Party, in control of Oceania. Orwell depicts the paralleled views of inhabitants on present society. Winston Smith, a man with a longing for change to occur and hope that the concept of free thinking will return to his home even if he is not alive to see it. Unknown to him is that the Party has had him under surveillance for over seven years. They have placed a mysterious figure in his path to deceive him in order to spark a gradual turn. Unfortunately for Winston, he will soon be completely removed from history. In 1984, George Orwell uses characters, such as Winston, Julia, O’Brien and Mr. Charrington, to expand on his theme that a party in power must have complete control of its subjects to keep its supremacy.
The 1984 community provided many ways to surveill its citizens, one being The Thought Police The Thought Police were undercover operatives who hid amongst everyday citizens, and could be found at any given time or place, to monitor people for thoughtcrimes against the party. The problem with this was the fact that “A few among of the Thought Police moved always among them, spreading false rumors and marking down and eliminating the few individuals who were judged capable of being dangerous” (Orwell 62). The people of Oceania knew that Thought Police were always around, but could never know which certain individual or individuals were actually one of them. This caused them to be suspicious of everyone and focus on not committing any violations. Along with telescreens, “You had to live - did live from habitat that became instinct - in the assumption that every sound you made was overheard, and except in darkness, every movement scrutinized” (Orwell 6). Although not every single citizen can be watched at every moment, they never know exactly when they are being watched. Therefore causing most of them to always follow the rules especially when every...
In the novel 1984, George Orwell predicts the world’s future, when human rights, such as freedom of speech, do not exist anymore. Everyone has to obey the government. The government controls its citizens’ lives. No one speaks up against the government yet because they do not even have a chance to make up a thought about it. The government dominates the citizens’ thoughts by using technologies and the thought polices to make sure no one will have any thoughts, that is against the government. George Orwell wrote:“Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make four. If that is granted, all else follows,” (Orwell.2.7.69) the government tries to control Winston knowledge and change it to fit into the purpose of the Party. To Winston, O’Brien said: “Whatever the Party holds to be truth is truth. It is impossible to see reality except by looking through the eyes of the Party.” (Orwell.3.2.205). As a citizen, no one get to look at or tal...
George Orwell uses Winston to represent truth in a deceptive world in his novel 1984. In Oceania, Big Brother is the omnipotent and all powerful leader. 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.
Nineteen Eighty-Four, by George Orwell, is a superb novel with outstanding themes. One of the most prominent themes found in this novel is psychological manipulation. Citizens in this society are subject to ever present signs declaring “BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU” (Orwell 1). Along with psychological manipulation, physical control takes place. The Party not only controls what people in Oceania think, but what they do as well. Technology is another important theme. Without the constant telescreens, microphones, and computers, the Party would be all but powerless. Big Brother is the main figure of the Party. The main symbol that drives these themes is the telescreens. It is representative of the party always watching and controlling everyone at all times.
Orwell utilizes mood in the text to show how the Party and Big Brother control the society of Oceania, making it dull and lifeless. The author discusses the Thought Police that is implemented to keep surveillance on citizens, stating “You had to live-did live, from habit that became instinct-in the assumption that every sound you made was overheard, and except in the darkness, every movement scrutinized.” ( Orwell, 3) The description that Orwell provides about the oppressed society of Oceania spreads a feeling of gloominess and distress. Due to the constant vigilance over the citizens
In the novel 1984 by Orwell, an extremely controlling totalitarian government called The Party, rules the society. They have introduced Telescreens which monitor your every movement, conversations and any other action. The citizens of Oceania, located on Air Strip One, are psychologically manipulated to believe in the three main slogans of the party: ‘War is Peace, Freedom is Slavery, Ignorance is Strength’ (1948, Orwell). The citizens of Oceania are so brainwashed that they don’t question anything the party tells them or any new law they make. Thought crime occurs when someone does not fully agree and follow what the Party has said. People who commit crimes become unpersons; therefore, they stop existing, and any record of their existence is erased or they can be sent to the ministry of truth, where The Party will try to break them, and force them to love Big Brother. This is very relevant because in order to serve justice which according to them is having everyone love the Party and nothing else, everyone else must be eliminated or brainwashed. The use of technology in this novel is very important because it is the main way in which justice is carried out. Telescreens, microphones and cameras cover the whole nation. Every conversation is recorded and every action is taken note of. The government will make anything to keep their power.
George Orwell investigated themes of power, totalitarianism and leadership in relation to Marxist theories throughout his novels yet seemed to direct them at a range of audiences. Investigate the extent to which Orwell alters his communication of the lies he wishes to expose and how they are conveyed to the reader through literary devices.