The Ultimate Totalitarian Society In George Orwell's 1984

George Orwell’s 1984, widely known for its chilling descriptions of the dystopian society of Oceania, warns of a world in which individuality is virtually destroyed as one oppressive government controls all aspects of life. Decades after the novel’s publication in 1949, various nations today draw unsettling parallels with the characteristics of the government described in 1984. North Korea is one such example, particularly seen as a controversial topic in global debate. Although North Korea and Oceania in 1984 both possess totalitarian governments that attempt to control and restrict individualism, the means in which each government originated and gained authority differ.

George Orwell’s 1984 is a prime example of a deep dystopia with a totalitarian government. Totalitarian governments have full and total control. The Inner Party, which is the main form of government in Oceania, has total control over its people’s thoughts and actions. They use many forms of abuse in order to control them. The Inner Party controls the government and is the upper class. The middle class is called the Outer Party. These people are given jobs from the government and are more educated than the Proles, which make up the lower class. The Outer Party is in charge of executing the Inner Party’s policies, but they have no say in them. The government uses many forms of manipulation to control their people. The members of Oceania’s society do not misbehave out of fear of punishment. People who betray the government vanish. They disappear and there is no evidence that they even existed. The government also uses the threat of abuse to keep its people in line. People of Oceania know they can be tortured or killed for even the slightest misdemeanor. The middle class is led to believe that they are living a high quality life through a method of false prosperity. The government fools people by changing history so the only form of truth the people think they have is their own memory. Many people discard their own memories and believe whatever the Party tells them is truth. Winston Smith is the character in which the book is centered around. He has doubts

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.

How would you like to live in a world under constant surveillance and not knowing what is going on in the world? In the world of Oceania, this is true. The Party, led by Big Brother is a totalitarian government that controls every aspect of everyone's lives, through telescreens and even the language, Newspeak. Winston a thirty-nine-year-old who is described as; “...a smallish frail figure, the meagreness of his body merely emphasized by the blue overalls which were the uniform of the Party. His hair was very fair, his face naturally sanguine…” (Orwell 2). Winston is described as a thin, frail, and fearful of the Thought Police. Winston works in the Ministry of Truth or Minitrue in Newspeak, which deals with arts, education, and the media or entertainment. Winston lives in constant fear in Oceania due to the Thought Police; a group working for the Party who look for people with ideas that could be going against the Party and Big Brother. Throughout 1984 Winston becomes known as the protagonist in the story as he deals with many pressing issues and problems, Winston often gains levels and drops them on Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, and Winston parallels his everyday life to Bentham’s Panopticon.

A government enforces procedures in which a society must follow. Governments contrast by deciding to either be stringent, lenient or even moderate. The protagonist, Winston realizes that the government which he resides in maintains absolute control. Revolution results in extreme punishment that eventually leads to death. With the rest of the society brainwashed Winston tries to successfully find a way to revolt. Throughout the novel, 1984, George Orwell uses the paperweight, the telescreens and big brother to establish the theme of the dangers of totalitarianism.

Imagine a world where no one could live without fear. Given the thought of this, one might presume that the society is dangerous and is repleted with criminal activity. However, the reality is that the government is mentally holding their citizens captive by imprisoning them into a world that dissuades one from acting on impulse. Everywhere where interactions occur between citizens lay technology that monitors everyone 's actions which prevent many from expressing themselves. Even one’s children are taught to rebel against their parent’s if any “incriminating” action occurs. Essentially, people are trapped in a world where privacy doesn’t exist which forces many to be loyal to their government. While this scenario might be absurd and

Imagine not being able to openly speak about beliefs and loves. This becomes reality in Oceania. Big Brother takes away all individual feelings and belongings. Everyone is reconstructed into believing every little thing told by Big Brother. All characteristics are forgotten and personal feelings are gone. Thinking about individual thoughts is forbidden; if one is found thinking against the Party, they will be doomed to face the consequences. The Thought Police use fear against the citizens to change their minds from a

Imagine not being able to openly speak about beliefs and loves. This becomes reality in Oceania. Big Brother takes away all individual feelings and belongings. Everyone is reconstructed into believing every little thing told by Big Brother. All characteristics are forgotten and personal feelings are gone. No one is even allowed to think their own thoughts; if one is found thinking against the Party they will be doomed to face the consequences; “If you want to keep a secret, you must also hide it from yourself.”(Orwell ) The Thought Police use fears against the citizens and reshape their minds into lifeless,

In history, many people have tried to see what the future will bring. George Orwell, author of 1984, is no different. Orwell believed that a totalitarian form of government was close if the American citizens were not aware of the dangers it holds. Throughout 1984, Orwell warns the readers of a horrible thing under a totalitarian government. Orwell’s message about totalitarian government is clearly stated as “WAR IS PEACE, FREEDOM IS SLAVERY, IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH”.

As a result of this oppression, rebellion begins to take part in the thinking process of the public. However, Big Brother, formally known as “The Party” has a contingency plan for any infringing from the citizens they govern. For example, in Smiths apartment, there is an instrument called the telescreen—which is continuously insinuating propaganda and through which the “Thought Police” are known to monitor the actions of citizens. This showing that Big Brother is constantly monitoring and manipulating the minds of Oceania citizens assuring that none go against the laws Big Brother has set in place. With this Big Brother has made different ministries that assure the obedience of citizens and that Oceania functions the way Big Brother wants.

In his novel 1984, George Orwell depicts a dystopian society in which the citizens may not express their feelings in any shape or form and are constantly being brainwashed by their government, also known as “The Party”. The main character, Winston Smith, along with his love affair, Julia, lead a double life in which they follow all the rules in the eyes of the Party, but once they are hidden from telescreens, they speak true of their minds and seek a way to join the Brotherhood. This is not easy as the Party holds strict laws and emits fear through propaganda with insistent surveillance. Through many literary devices, Orwell emphasizes that a totalitarian government that suppresses an individual’s ability to think is dangerous.

The novel’s government is based on psychological manipulation and physical control in order to express a major theme. The manipulation and control are expressed throughout the story as Winston, the protagonist, and his fellow ¨comrade[s]¨ (20) live under the rule of Big Brother. Although he is not physically present, as in making political speeches and movements, Big Brother’s face is everywhere. The first Big Brother sighting occurs when Winston is making his way to his apartment and ¨on each landing… [a] poster with [an] enormous face… [with a] caption beneath it [that] ran BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU¨ (1, 2).

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.

The novel commences with an introduction to the ordinary Winston Smith, who in the midst of experiencing the totalitarian ruled nation, Oceania, hopelessly wants intimacy. Through his narration, it is evident that propaganda and other social institutions are in place as reinforcement of the unwritten law; including being vaporized and forgotten upon their betrayal to Big Brother. These societal structures ensures that the general population continues to stay disconnected from deep connections.

In “1984,” Orwell describes a terrible society where totalitarianism reaches the top. In this circumstance, personality and freedom are strangled and thought is controlled. The most frightening aspect is that citizens have no sense right and wrong. Without a doubt, the reason why these happen is the governing of the Party, which is controlling everything in the country, Oceania. Orwell uses the control of language to show the idea that the Party solidifies its dominant position.