The Dangers of the Government Controlling Thought Based on 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

Propaganda is about power and persuasion, and is used for many reasons by the government. This essay will explore the overt means by which the government uses systematic propagation to control the citizens of the society and the subtle ways in which information, independent thought, and their freedoms are restricted through radio and television.

George Orwell focuses his belief of the “[disbelief] in the existence of the objective truth because all the facts have to fit in with the words and prophecies of some infallible fuhrer”. He envisions the decay of future society and implements his ideas through his creation of “Nineteen Eighty-Four”. Indications of a psychological fear are examined initially through the progression and change of the human mind, which is built upon the oppression of the Party. Through the construction of a world with no freedom and individuality, the human mind adapts the change of truth and pay utter submission from the Party, to escape the presence of their ultimate weakness. With those who are rebellious of the rules of the Party gradually brings out the ugly nature of humanity. Through the fragility of the human mind, it reinforces Orwell’s idea of a corrupted society, as there no longer remains a variety of human emotions for the next generation to pass onwards. Thus conclusively portraying the defeat of human mind unable to withstand the physical and mental tortures from the Party.

In “1984”, lies, myths and false information controls the thinking of the citizens. The Party uses propaganda as the deadliest weapon of control. Propaganda increases the citizens’ morale and makes them think that what the party tells them to do is always right.

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.

the records. According to the Party he has never existed - he is an Unperson.

Family is a concept older than recorded time. The fact that humans form familial bonds, take care of their young, and work together to achieve a goal is the reason that humanity has succeeded this far. But maybe for not much longer. In George Orwell’s 1984, a totalitarian government monitors everything that its citizens say, do, and even think in order to prevent revolution and suppress individuality. One of the ways the government achieves this is by destroying all bonds between members in a family by turning the children away from their parents (and towards the government) at a young age. To the government in 1984, a citizen’s closest relationship should be to the party. In fact, a citizens only good relationship should be with the party.

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

protection of the government. Big brother wants to hide his immoral doings with advertising it a

1984 is a book written by george orwell depicts a totalitarian society of a new word order in which three superstate are at constant perpetual wars. Here, the totalitarian government or also known as “the party” control every aspect of the people's lives, lead by an ominous being who goes by the name ‘Big Brother”. Here, “big brother’ monitors the people's every move with objects call teli-screens that monitor the people's every move. The party has created a new language called “newspeak” to replace the inferior language called “old speak”. “Newspeak” was created in order to simplify the the language making it more straightforward, thus getting rid of double meaning in order to control the thoughts of the people. To the party, thoughs are considered

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

In 1984, a totalitarian dictator rules over Oceania. A totalitarian government is a government where one ruler, the dictator, has absolute control over citizens’ lives (“Totalitarianism,” Encyclopaedia). In 1984, Big Brother has the role of the dictator, as he is ultimately in charge of everything that happens. No matter what anybody does, he always has the final say. If anybody does anything he does not like, then they are completely eliminated from society. The people in his society are all programmed from birth to follow what he says, and even turn on each other in favor of the Party. In Encyclopaedia Britannica’s page on totalitarian governments, it addresses social interaction between people under rule of a dictator:

Propaganda has an effective psychological influence that works to promote a particular, political view-point. The government of Oceania uses propaganda to their advantage to gain support of the Party’s ideology. Similarly, Adolf Hitler used propaganda during the Nazi reign on Germany to support the Nazi ideology. The sole purpose of propaganda is to encourage a biased belief. For example in 1984 the way in which the Party has spread propaganda is through the use of posters: “A new poster had suddenly appeared all over London. It had no caption, and represented the monstrous figure of a Eurasian soldier.. a submachine gun pointed from his hip. From whatever angle you looked at the poster, the muzzle of the gun magnified by the foreshortening, seemed to be pointed straight at you” (Orwell, 149). These posters were displayed throughout Airstrip One to depict the Eurasian soldier as an antagonistic threat. The configuration of the poster “pointing” a gun at the viewer is to encourage a negative response, thus promoting the goal of the Party. In history, one can see how Hitler used propaganda to his

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.