Oppression In George Orwell's 1984

The masterpiece 1984 by George Orwell first published in 1949 is regarded by many as the best book ever written. It is a novel which explores deep into the human psychology and is a permanent warning and remainder for the ever-lasting threat of totalitarianism.

One of the most important concepts that many individuals in modern day society value the most is the idea that they have the freedom to do whatever they please. The term freedom means “being able to act, think, and speak in any way one wants to without any type of hindrance,”(Dictionary.com). In the book, 1984, by George Orwell, the totalitarian society ruled by Big Brother, in many ways, controls its citizens by hindering any types of freedom a member of the society might have. In a society that is decorated with telescreens, hidden microphones, and strict rules, Orwell illustrates the many ways Big Brother uses that to its advantage to stifle the freedom of its citizens. However, under all the scrutiny of Big Brother, there are

George Orwell uses his novel 1984 to convey that human beings, as a species, are extremely susceptible to dehumanization and oppression in society. Orwell demonstrates how a government’s manipulation of technology, language, media, and history can oppress and degrade its citizens.

The theme best presented in George Orwell’s 1984 is freedom is worth fighting for. According to the novel “1984” by George Orwell, the text states, “Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make four. If that is granted, all else follows.” This evidence supports the theme because it shows that freedom is being able to make decisions on your own without anyone telling you they are wrong. Orwell also states, “If both the past and the external world exist only in the mind, and if the mind itself is controllable-what then? But no! His courage seemed suddenly to stiffen of its own accord.” This evidence shows that Winston is ready to do whatever it takes to get the freedom he deserves because he is realizing how restricted the rules can really be. This therefore proves the theme is freedom is worth fighting for because in his world, the party is very controlling. This is what makes Winston want to fight for his freedom. The novel “1984” also states, “And yet he was in the right! They were wrong and he was right. The obvious,

In the novel 1984 by George Orwell is about a totaltarin government attempting to destroy individuality. 1984 takes place in a oceania society driven by propaganda , that every citizen of oceania must interact with a daily intake of propaganda created by the government so that control is maintained. In this story Winston is on a mission to rebel against the people who dictate every part of his life i.e. “Big Brother”. Winston also on a quest to find someone to share is beliefs with. Today’s society has reflected on 1984 is many ways just different forms.

When George Orwell wrote his novel, 1984, Hitler and Mussolini had recently been defeated in World War II, the nuclear arms race was warming up and the Soviet Union was a threat to the world. Although these are not problems in today's society, 1984 is still very relevant in current time, "The twentieth century will soon be over, but political terror still survives and this is why Nineteen Eighty-four remains valid today” (Ricks 5). In the novel 1984 the main character Winston is faced with challenges when he meets a woman named Julia. Julia makes him question his loyalty to the government. They are living under a totalitarian government that sees everything you do, hears everything you say, and knows everything you think. George Orwell’s novel 1984 is still relevant in today’s society.

How does one react to suppression by a powerful government in a way that upholds human dignity? In the world today, people are constantly marginalized as they are stripped of their basic human rights by their respective governments. In response, most people passively accept the cruel and dehumanizing actions of their governments in order to avoid social condemnation, punishment, or death. Following this trend, the public in George Orwell’s 1984 compliantly submits to dehumanization by the Party, which is the ruling body of Oceania. However, Orwell’s protagonist, Winston, struggles to follow the societal standard of submission to the Party as it starkly contradicts with his own ideas of personal happiness. He meets Julia, who also opposes of the Party’s omnipotent authority over its citizens. However, Julia passionately believes that open resistance to the Party equates to foolish death, as nothing is strong enough to challenge it. She reluctantly agrees to join an underground organization called the Brotherhood with Winston, which is ultimately revealed to be fabricated by the Party itself. They knowingly ignore the government’s restrictions on their lives during their meetings together in the Golden Country and the room that they rent above Mr. Charrington’s shop. Consequently, Winston resists the Party’s degradation of basic human rights through his intimate relationship with Julia in an effort to maintain his individuality. His example inspires people today to find ways

Fear, although it may not seem to be, is an ever constant emotion that is going through everyone during many moments of their day. Some may not admit to it and others will let you know whether it may be a phobia, fear of presenting in front of the boss, or just not wanting to go through something alone. Power is always through those that have a greater role or have the urge to make a change to the higher power. In at least every book or movie, there is one person that shows their fear and/or power to the audience which brings them more to their character. Power can, in the slightest way, bring fear into others to change the way that they behave and create an even bigger power to rule over. In the movie V for Vendetta, fear is shown through the movie as, fear in the main character herself, Evey and her actions, the people apart of the London government with the power of V’s government and the rising of Lewis Prothero and symbolism of both fear and power within the movie. In comparison, George Orwell's novel 1984 shows in great length of fear through the main character Winston Smith shows his fears by going against Big Brother, government of Oceania taking over the lives of innocent people and symbolism of both fear and power within the novel. Power and fear show great comparison in these to classic government feuds by two people that fear the most.

In the novel 1984 written by George Orwell, Winston Smith is a thirty-nine-year-old man who lives in the city of Oceania. Oceania is controlled by a strict government regime known as the Party in which the leader is Big Brother. Throughout the novel, Winston outwardly conforms while questioning inwardly the morals and existence of the Party and Big Brother. However, Winston’s unsuccessful questioning and attempt to overthrow the Party and Big Brother symbolize the collapse of mankind at the hands of Socialism. The manipulation and control that the Party has over its citizens throughout the novel is a subtle way for George Orwell to tell the readers that one day the world he created could become a reality.

In the novel 1984, Orwell wanted to show how a free country like England would be if it had a totalitarian government. He explains with great detail the physical and mental abuse the people would receive if they were to disobey or take part in what makes us human; love and our interconnectedness among people. The setting of this novel takes place in London, a place where all the things that make us human were being diminished by the superior. The totalitarian government control people’s thoughts through propaganda and manipulation, all of which is vividly seen throughout America to this present day. We live in an era where no one can be them true selves without being oppressed or discriminated, simply because they do not fall along with the

At any moment the tension inside you was liable to translate itself into some visible symptom.” (Orwell 64) Winston gave in near the end of this story, “He had one the victory over himself. He loved Big Brother,” his mind was beaten to the point of betraying his own beloved Julia and submitting to Big Brother. Winston, who sought to beat the system was utterly and inevitably played by it. The audience receives a sense of defeat as well. Our protagonist was defeated. It brings up the idea of if we do not stand, or resist, we do not fight the system that oppresses us. This book shows the idea of herd mentality / group mentality. Everyone was too afraid to face the system or of being single out. To avoid conflict, they may even betray their own friends and family for their own safety. This is a sad and very relevant truth. While in a group, a student will become lazier because there are others who have the same

Having lived in the 21st century, one would never imagine the concept of a government that could control everything. Our ideas of freedom and justice have been shaped by social norms and we strive to achieve more than where we are now, but has it always been this way? George Orwell's novel 1984 discuss the oppression in Oceania, a place where the Party scrutinizes human actions with ever-watchful Big Brother. The dystopian government of Oceania in Orwell's novel can be identified as a totalitarian regime, which is a form of government where that state has unlimited authority and strives to regulate every aspect of society. Throughout the novel, Big Brother is the symbolic figurehead of the government, and the Party controls its populace through

Discrimination against minorities has been a problem for all of human history. Populations of the oppressors and the oppressed have fought for years for equal rights, yet something is always amiss. There is always a group put on a pedestal, above the lower class. This is what Winston is counting on, an uprising from the lower class, called the proletarians. Although no clear difference exists between the proles and the party members, birthright separates them from the more privileged members of society. “If there is hope, wrote Winston, it lies in the proles” (Orwell, ). It is often true that the lower class does not know their power, for the educated elitist class controls them and they are left to follow like sheep to a shepherd. This

George Orwell’s key objective throughout his novel, 1984, was to convey to his readers the imminent threat of the severe danger that totalitarianism could mean for the world. Orwell takes great measures to display the horrifying effects that come along with complete and dominant control that actually comes along with totalitarian government. In Orwell’s novel, personal liberties and individual freedoms that are protected and granted to many Americans today, are taken away and ripped from the citizen’s lives. The government takes away freedom and rights from the people so that the ruling class (which makes up the government), while reign with complete supremacy and possess all power.

Nelson Mandela once said, “To deny people their human rights is to challenge their very humanity”. In this short but powerful quote, Mandela advocates for human rights by saying that without them, one would fail to be human. Maintaining humanity is crucial because it is what makes everyone unique. Human rights give people the opportunity to voice their opinions, think freely, and be who they want to be. To take that away from a person is to deny them of being human and restrict them from their freedom. People who have freedom tend to take it for granted as they do not realize the fragility of it. When in fact, there are people around the world every day fighting for those rights. There is no humanity in a society where people are confined and imprisoned by a lack of independence. Similar conditions of confinement and limitations occur in 1984, where author George Orwell satirizes the totalitarian government and what would happen if a government is in total control of its people. And its protagonist, Winston Smith, lives under the oppressive regime led by the Party and in hatred and paranoia of it as well. In the dystopian novel 1984, Orwell uses Winston Smith to present a timeless warning of the injustices that a totalitarian government can impose on a person’s fundamental rights and freedoms.