Totalitarian Governments in 1984 by George Orwell

Your world is not real. Kennedy was never assassinated, Michael jackson has actually always been white, and subway is certainly NOT always fresh. Stop thinking you are free, you’re not. Okay, I’m just kidding. But am I really? Because sometimes subway really just sucks. Questioning. With this, through his work ‘Nineteen Eighty Four’, George Orwell has brought to my attention that I should be occasionally thinking for myself rather than constantly abiding by what I’m told is right. More specifically, ‘Nineteen Eighty Four’ suggests the plentiful ways that people can be oppressed in a totalitarian society will result in the loss of humanity and failure to rebound from the government’s control. These forces inhibit and encourage individuals’ actions and is described in the novel by the abundant use of technology combined with psychological manipulation. Orwell also uses symbols and metaphor to explain consequences of totalitarianism on a deeper level.

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.

Many Americans do not realize that at any time of the day the government could be observing their “private” lives. On the other hand, some individuals have predicted the government would develop a form of constant surveillance, like George Orwell who forecasted a futuristic government, which used technology as a relentless eye on the members of the society in the novel 1984. 1984 was correct, to an extent, in predicting that the government would increase their usage of technology to constantly observe their people, whether in public or their private homes.

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.

We have freedom, but are we free? You can have your phone at school/work, but you cannot use it unless specifically given permission to. This is a paradox. A paradox is “a statement that is seemingly contradictory or opposed to common sense and yet is perhaps true” (Merriam-Webster). According to Liah Greenfield, a professor at Boston University and a three-time novelist with books in Political Science, totalitarian societies are democracies with either no cultural traditions or too much free thought. Greenfield goes on to argue we have always had democracy, totalitarian, and nationalism, we just did not have names for them. In fact, we did not have the term “totalitarian society” until one of Winston Churchill’s speeches of Mussolini in 1946. She next brings up that totalitarians are nearly always permeating throughout cultural centers. Finally, she states, the university scene is the seed for totalitarian thoughts. She even mentions that they are like Minitrues, from George Orwell’s 1984. College students change statements or take statements out of context to use to their own benefit. The only difference is that universities do not have a head figure like Big Brother. Greenfield has solid thoughts, but she never gives facts to prove totalitarians are everywhere. She thinks totalitarians are reactions to modernity and too much free thought. George Orwell uses Newspeak, thoughtcrime, and telescreen in 1984 as well o show not giving the people of Oceania a voice will prevent

In 1984, George Orwell provides a central theme of the peril and the effects of totalitarianism in a modern society. In other words, if totalitarianism is not dejected in the future, the novel’s fictional society would become a reality. Orwell utilizes sensory imagery and various forms of diction throughout the novel. The utilizations strengthen the theme and capture the readers’ attention to the danger of an uprising government.

In the book 1984 by George Orwell, Orwell describes a society based on totalitarianism throughout the life of Winston Smith, a guy who believed that the party would not be able to brainwash him and would be able to rebel against them. When Winston was taken by the party, O'Brien and Winston had a discussion about the society and how Winston believed that eventually somebody would overthrow the power. O'Brien proved to him that getting overpowered would not happen as he put Winston through the suffering. O'Brien implies that a society based on hate and suffering could exist for a long time as long as the ruler knows how to play the cards correctly.

In this totalitarian world, the Party has complete control and uses the Ministry of Truth, Love, and Peace to enact the complete opposite of what these suggest. The people who grow up in the Party are not aware of private standards of morals or the actual loss of humanity. They grow up not having actual feelings/emotions. Take Julia for instance, when Winston tries telling her about a personal moment from his past involving his mother and sister, Julia doesn't respond like a normal human being would. Instead, she says "I expect you were a beastly little swine in those days.” (Orwell pg. 136) He even tries to explain to her the point of the story but she goes back to sleep, not caring. Her response is not of someone who understands his story,

Orwell uses authoritarianism to describe the party of 1984; this dystopian society censors the right to be an individual by its use of a totalitarian style government. Having absolute power over people is not unfavorable, but in fact helpful. George Orwell is trying to say that controlling people isn't always bad. People always think that the government is wrong, evil, bad or incompetent, but what they don't see is its vigorous qualities.

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.

In the novel 1984 by George Orwell, the main theme that is shown throughout the novel is total government control can affect one's views and relationships. In this dystopian novel, the author shows what the future may have looked like in the 1980's. Orwell created the idea of Big Brother and always being watched while making a form of government called The Party. The main character Winston is having an affair with a younger woman named Julia. Winston is still married to another woman and is unable to get out of the relationship even though they have not seen each other for many years.

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.

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.

1984 is a novel written by George Orwell, it provides insight regarding the idea of a totalitarian system of governance. A totalitarian state is a system in which the people of the state are subjected to a disproportionate dictatorship. There are three classes in the society of Oceania in 1984; Inner Party, Outer Party and proles. Excessive surveillance plays a huge role in achieving this level of state. The method which is implemented in 1984 as a form of oppression is the restriction on language, a unique language is spoken, known as Newspeak. There is limited, if any, free movement amongst the civilians of Oceania. Oceanians are examined carefully at all times to ensure they have no intentions of overthrowing the Party, which is the government in control. The ultimate means of control is in fact surveillance and torture. However, fear is instilled in people due to the awareness of constantly being under a ruthlessly watchful eye.

Imagine a world about forty years into the future. What would it be like ? In 1949 George Orwell wrote a dystopian novel titled 1984 which revealed the true nature of the government. In the real world and past there are governments like the government in 1984. In 1984, Orwell uses children as spies in INGSOC’s war effort to compare the Party to the past government of Nazi Germany and the future present day government of North Korea in order to show how immoral and corrupt the governments truly are.