Role Of Government In 1984

As much as we citizens want to deny it, government corruption exists everywhere, whether it be a small group of greedy politicians or the system entirely. Is it shouted at the top of the mountains? Of course not, because it defeats the whole purpose of being corrupt, which is to quietly sweep away one’s imperfections and present themselves as honourable people. An appalling level of corruption and political power is described in the book 1984 written by George Orwell. Ingsoc, a political party, runs a totalitarian society, and with no resistance from their citizens, the government deceives them by changing the past and announcing fake news. Ultimately, they limit the thoughts and emotions of their citizens. Although 1984 tells a fictional

The motif, Newspeak, recurs throughout the novel, and illustrates how the government restricts knowledge through the limitation of language. Newspeak is a language that has a narrowed vocabulary in an attempt to exclude words that can raise awareness of any suppressive behavior that the Party exerts. “Don’t you see that the whole aim of Newspeak is to narrow the range of thought? In the end we shall make thought crime literally impossible, because there will be no words in which to express it.” This quote best illustrates the Party’s intentions for Newspeak in regards to this slogan. The first sentence establishes how this motif is increasing ignorance, by narrowing the range of thought. In doing so, the second sentence holds true as the more ignorance that is spread through society, the more strength and power the Party gains control over the people of Oceania.

VII). Almost everything about the past is forgotten, rewritten, and the fact that the citizens of Oceania live in fear, this allows society to accept every piece of false information that is given to them as the truth in the eyes of Big Brother. With this new concept of Newspeak, Big Brother is able to control society’s thoughts through a language. By creating Newspeak, the Party made it impossible to conceive rebellious or disobedient thoughts, because no words would exist that would allow them to express these thoughts. As the Party is constantly updating Newspeak, which is the new version of their English, Big Brother is getting closer to their ultimate goal. The ultimate goal for Big Brother is that no one will be capable of committing thought crime or even better will question the Party's supreme power. "All ambiguities and shades of meaning had been purged out of them. It was quite impossible to use the vocabulary for literary purposes or for political or philosophical discussion" (Book II Ch. III). By creating Newspeak, the Party is able to eliminate free thought, and is able to control the minds of the citizens by using language as mind control. "... the whole aim of Newspeak is to narrow the range of free thought" (Book I, Ch. V). Big Brother also has the Thought Police for monitoring all thought.

Power is the catalyst which establishes government, leaders, societal hierarchies and civilisation. It is an inseparable part of human nature, which is reflected in pop culture and literature. In an excerpt from 1984 by George Orwell, the theme of power and the abuse of power is privileged, and the allocation of the power in that society is discussed. Lord of the Flies, contrarily, depicts a scenario in which the individual has complete power, and constraints of authority and civilisation are removed. In the trailer, the composer uses film language such as dark music and jump shots to chaotic scenes to demonstrate the effects of complete freedom and the danger of it. Winston Churchill’s 1947 commentary that “Democracy is the worst form of

Over seventy years after he lived and wrote, the works of English journalist and democratic socialist George Orwell, continue to fascinate, stimulate and enrage his readers concerning the structure of society and the organization of government. The controversial writer openly spoke out against the absolute power of any government, warning that a fascist government would deprive its people of their basic freedoms and liberties. Orwell’s novel, 1984, serves as a reminder of the danger of totalitarianism by depicting a future in which all citizens live under the constant surveillance of the “Big Brother.” Through the main character, Winston Smith, Orwell demonstrates the dangers of totalitarianism; writing of the consequences of absolute government in several essays and proposing socialism as an alternative. To Orwell, the role of government is to represent the common people rather than the old and the privileged.

In the book 1984 by George Orwell, a totalitarian government is emphasized. Throughout the story, it is revealed that all the government cares about is war and power within themselves. It is clearly shown that the intentions of the government in Oceania are self-serving and not benevolent. With the use of Newspeak and Doublethink, Orwell further shows that the intentions of the government are one sided and are only effective for themselves. The way in which the government runs its people expresses the idea of selfishness and that all benefits are only for the government. Through the use of surveillance, torture, and complete removal of people's privacy, the government is able to manipulate and scare people into obeying the government, which in turn only makes the government stronger.

Modern day society relies on the structure provided by an authority in order to thrive, without authority it becomes a house of cards, one falls over and the entire system comes crashing down. Governments need to keep people at bay, therefore, they create laws and systems that have consequences when they are not followed. Security cameras, and traffic control cameras, remind people that they are being watched. Internet Protocol address (IP address) is another way that anyone can use to find an individual. License plates, a few numbers, and letters that can give the police an individual’s address and name.

The 1980’s was a time of great transition within society. The former idealistic ideas of the 1960’s were worn down due to the turmoil that occurred during the 1970’s. Events such as the Watergate scandal, the Vietnam War, and the economic troubles that were happening at home left US citizens with little confidence in their government and fellow citizens. President Reagan’s optimism and ideals of reducing the size of the US government was very appealing to the eyes of the American people. With Reagan in office, the role of the government in everyday life changed dramatically, such as reductions in government spending, industrial deregulation, and the cutting of taxes for both his people and the corporations within the US.

In Oceania, rumors, myths, ideas and false information controls the minds of the citizens. The Party uses propaganda as a powerful weapon against the citizens. There are many types of propaganda used. Propaganda is brainwash. The citizens of Oceania are brainwashed to think that the Party is really there to help them, to make them happy. “WAR IS PEACE. FREEDOM IS SLAVERY. IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH.” and “Big Brother is Watching You” are examples of doublethink. These uses of propaganda prevent rebellion of the citizens of Oceania because they believe that this society is the ideal society. They believe they are protected, and that they could not be happier. Propaganda is the Party’s

not being human. He says that "the only thing that can keep you human is to not

A form of communication called Newspeak is used in Oceania, which is a modified version of language that is enforced upon the people in order to limit their expression. These strict laws are set in Oceania, and must be followed; a group called by the people in Oceania. Therefore, when the governing system is not followed, Thought Police are used to prevent thoughts that oppose the nation, and to place fear into the citizens of Oceania. These several aspects in system of government in the novel 1984 have adequately prevented a large part of the people from thinking against it.

The novel 1984 made me paranoid and suspicious of the government's power and intentions. I became aware of the potential manipulation of which the government could impose upon us. The very thing which I depend on for security and protection may be a conniving entity which feeds off of it’s own power and corruption. As I flourished in my naivety, I was unaware that the people I trusted, whom I believed to be wholly dedicated to our well-being as a society, could betray us at any moment they see fit. I gravely overlooked the potential and the power that the government has to rule us. In fact, they may have been conspiring against us this whole time, using us as pawns in their quest for ultimate authority. As a

For instance, although the people of Oceania are ignorant to the wrongfulness of the government, the government is able to limit the thoughts, feelings, and entire lives of its citizens. Orwell describes that “there were fear, hatred, and pain, but no dignity of emotion, no deep or complex sorrows” (1984, 28). Through limiting emotions and individual expression, Orwell is able to illustrate how the people of Oceania are existing but not living, for the people of Oceania have been stripped of the true joys associated with life, like love, desire, and loss. Furthermore, the government is able to control the language of Oceania, by “destroying words, scores of them, hundreds of them, every day” (1984, 45). Language is powerful.

In light of current events, society is more concerned than ever about just how much power the government has over people. Individuals are concerned that those in charge might implement policies that could deteriorate certain groups’ quality of living. To some, this may be foolish, but as is shown in some novels, this could happen, and when it does, it is hard to combat. In both George Orwell’s 1984 and Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World authors depict societies under strict government control. These instances display to readers the issues that arise when governments lead through excessive limitation and by demanding conformity.

The governments in today’s society have brainwashed their citizens into believing everything their leader says and thinks is correct and everything else is wrong. This can sometimes be known as a totalitarian government. George Orwell’s novel 1984 revolves around totalitarianism. The members of the party in Oceania are taught and required to worship their leader Big Brother whether they believe in him or not. In the novel 1984, George Orwell shows the problems and the hatred with a totalitarian government through his use of symbolism, situational irony, and indirect characterization.