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Hierarchy Of Needs In George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four

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If one were to reach the self-actualization level of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, it would mean they are fulfilling their full creative potential and achieving the desire for knowledge. Maslow himself states that, “Acquiring knowledge and systematizing the universe have been considered as, in part, techniques for the achievement of basic safety in the world, or, for the intelligent man, expressions of self-actualization”(Maslow 385). In the novel Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell, denizens of a dystopia are unknowingly manipulated by their totalitarian government where the creative potential and desire are suppressed. The country they reside in is known as Oceania and the government is often referred to as “The Party” by the protagonist. …show more content…

The first of the two psychological level on Maslow’s hierarchy are the love needs. This level has been modified strictly so that, romance and intimate relationships are prohibited because they are seen as examples of independent thought. Winston explains to the reader how, “The sexual act, successfully performed, was rebellion. Desire was thoughtcrime”(Orwell 86). He also explains to the audience, “The only recognized purpose of marriage was to beget children for the service of the Party”(Orwell 84). In Oceania, procreation is seen as an active duty that citizens must carry throughout their lives where the newborns are for the Party to indoctrinate. Winston then recalls his experience with his arranged wife, “she had not a thought in her head that was not a slogan…. She had two names for it. One was ‘making a baby’, and the other was ‘our duty to the Party’”(Orwell 85). This quotation shows how fruitless sexual intercourse was to a devoted citizen of Oceania. It is expressed that Winston’s relationship with his wife is not intimate and that the Party has full control over emotional thoughts and feelings. Maslow writes that, “The so-called 'psychopathic personality' is another example of permanent loss of the love needs”(Maslow 387). Winston’s wife carries that psychopathic personality because she has no need for love and permanently lost her desires for it. In addition, there are no longer intimate relationships between children and their parents. The children of Oceania have been indoctrinated to spy on their parents as well as taught to love the Party. Mrs. Parsons’ children are also infuriated that they cannot witness the public execution, “‘Why can’t we go and see the hanging?’ roared the boy in his huge voice. ‘Want to see the hanging! Want to see the hanging!’ chanted the little girl, still

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