Totalitarian World, Conformity Is Necessary for Survival

Towards the end of Orwell’s novel that presents a dystopian society, the antagonist, O’Brien, a close member of the inner party, warns Winston, the protagonist and one of only two reasonable people left, that “We do not merely destroy our enemies; we change them” (319). Winston, who has been taken prisoner for his political dissent, receives this grave warning tied down to a chair with O’Brien’s face staring at him from above. This alarming solution to the infamous mystery frightens Winston a significant amount, who after sacrificing so much, has just learned his fate. Orwell has brought about this fate to emphasize the perpetual triumph of the party over its enemies. In George Orwell's 1984, the author creates the totalitarian state of Oceania to warn the reader of the potential corruption and oppression of such a government.

Thirty-three years ago, the terrifying vision that novelist George Orwell dreamt of in 1949 never became the reality he foretold it would within the preceding ten decades or so. The year 1984 was presumed to plummet society into utter chaos, becoming a global dystopia in which everyone lived under the regulation and the dominance of one of three totalitarian superstates. Orwell poured out his predictions into the pages of his book, 1984, creating the fictional universe of Oceania in which the lives of Winston Smith and the other characters living in the superstate give the expression of being genuinely real, especially due to author’s the use of various literary devices. For instance, motifs such as the linguistic concept of Newspeak and the majority of society’s convergence of feelings towards the Party and Big Brother appear multiple times throughout the novel. At the hand of such persisting ideas, a major theme stands out - the lack of self-expression. Living under an authoritarian and oppressive government, party members such as Winston are compelled to pursue the socialist policies of Ingsoc. In the book it is written that, “The two aims of the Party are to conquer the whole surface of the earth and to extinguish once and for all the possibility of dependent thought” (Orwell 193). If the general populace of Oceania were to submit the Party, self-expression would be entirely eliminated because everyone and everything would be censored. With such motives made clear,

George Orwell’s 1984 is more than just a novel, it is a warning to a potential dystopian society of the future. Written in 1949, Orwell envisioned a totalitarian government under the figurehead Big Brother. In this totalitarian society, every thought and action is carefully examined for any sign of rebellion against the ruling party. Emotion has been abolished and love is nonexistent; an entire new language is being drafted to reduce human thought to the bare minimum. In a society such as the one portrayed in 1984, one is hardly human. In George Orwell’s 1984, the party uses fear, oppression, and propaganda to strip the people of their humanity.

History reveals that when a totalitarian regime seizes a nation, violence and brutality are often utilized to take control of its citizens. 1984 depicts a world engulfed by the totalitarian ideology. George Orwell applies cruelty as a way to condition the people of Oceania to abide by the philosophies of the Party, Oceania's ruling body. Although the Party promotes ideas of welfare and diligence, their true intent is to accomplish complete dominance over every facet of humanity.

1984 has come and gone. The cold war is over. The collapse of oppressive totalitarian regimes leads to the conclusion that these governments by their nature generate resistance and are doomed to failure. The fictional world of George Orwell's novel, 1984, is best described as hopeless; a nightmarish dystopia where the omnipresent State enforces perfect conformity among members of a totalitarian Party through indoctrination, propaganda, fear, and ruthless punishment. In the aftermath of the fall of capitalism and nuclear war, the world has been divided among three practically identical totalitarian nation-states. A state of perpetual war and poverty is the rule in Oceania. However, this is merely a backdrop, far from the most terrifying

In the novel 1984, Orwell produced a social critique on totalitarianism and a future dystopia that made the world pause and think about our past, present and future. When reading this novel we all must take the time to think of the possibility that Orwell's world could come to pass. Orwell presents the concepts of power, marginalization, and resistance through physical, psychological, sexual and political control of the people of Oceania. The reader experiences the emotional ride through the eyes of Winston Smith, who was born into the oppressive life under the rule of Ingsoc. Readers are encouraged through Winston to adopt a negative opinion on the idea of communist rule and the inherent dangers of totalitarianism. The psychological

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.

In George Orwell’s 1984 Power is gained most effectively through control, fear and violence. Compared to a government like that of America’s, 1984 creates a more threatening structure of government where the public is limited from freedom and happiness. 1984 shows a world of a society where only the upper class has power and freedom from the harsh treatment that the general population receives. The idea of Big Bother makes the population of Oceania believe they are being watched over by a powerful force and oppresses them so they feel powerless and unable to do anything against a “great” force like Big Brother. The well-being of others depends on their willingness to agree with Big Brother and abide by their laws, if you think otherwise then you will be an accuser of thought-crime will be vaporized and removed from society or harshly punished through rigorous treatment and torture methods as was Winston and Julia. Power creates problems for others in which they do not deserve.

“If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face- forever” (220). The government’s power in the entire world has been increasing over the years. People are settling with what the government provides them, and many of them are ignoring what it could take away from them. Being human means to have the ability to express feelings and thoughts, to love and hate, to feel compassion and happiness, to have dignity and a decent life. The government in the novel 1984 is intended to dehumanize the people of Oceania in order to maintain power. With this novel, George Orwell warns about the consequences of conformity and ignorance.

In George Orwell’s novel, Nineteen Eighty-Four, the subject of individuality stands as an ideal challenged under totalitarianism. The government, Big Brother, insists upon brainwashing its citizens, making them incapable of formulating their own thoughts, and therefore making them more susceptible to manipulation. This story occurs in Oceania, a superstate, where life is not only uniform, but is also orderly; it is a place where no one can be unique from the rest. Through propaganda, fear, and torture, individuals cannot help but lose their sense of self at the hands of Big Brother.

In his novel, 1984, George Orwell depicts a totalitarian government of Oceania and the effects it has on Winston Smith and the rest of the society. All actions and communications are monitored via cameras, microphones, and regular patrols by the government police. This constant monitoring and lack of privacy is causing the populous to lose any and all independent thought. With the telescreens on the streets, at their work, and in their homes watching and listening to their every word the citizens of Oceania are unable to speak their minds or have their own thoughts. The party engages in psychological manipulation, so they can control political views, world news and even emotions.

Totalitarian governments rule every aspect of a society through rigid expectations, execrable consequences, and ruthless conformity. In George Orwell’s novel 1984, the author employs the use of a foreboding and dystopian fictional tale to vehemently warn his audience of an ominous fate in totalitarianism that consists of banished individuality and merciless rule in hopes of avoiding it in the future to come. Severely avoiding totalitarianism and conformity ensures the liberty to individuality and differing opinions: the lifeblood of the political arena and democracy of a nation.

Throughout novels and plays alike, authors highlight the values of a culture or society in their novels by monitoring the protagonist’s journey. In 1984, George Orwell creates a totalitarianism super state, Oceania, to serve as the mainstream and societal morals that accentuate the protagonists unorthodox ethics. The state’s societal moral values are determined by the media through the government’s process of doublethink and application of Newspeak. Orwell highlights the societal values of Oceania by following the protagonist, Winston Smith, as an alienated character of society who differs from the population of Oceania because he believes in traditional history, the logical process, and democratic governmental ideals.

Imagine your TV is always on and always watching your every move. Welcome to 1984. From now on you must be very careful what you think for you must always live in fear of committing a thought crime. Even one negative thought about Big Brother could force the Thought Police to erase you from existence or, as they say in Newspeak, to make you an unperson. This is the daily life of a citizen of George Orwell’s fictional country called Oceania. The residents of Oceania all deal with these struggles in different ways resulting in many types of characters. The hero, the villain, the sheep, the trickster and the works of propaganda are all characters that are an integral part of Oceania’s society, helping it to function the way it was designed.

Descriptors such as no electricity during the day, lack of color, the scent of boiled cabbage or old rag mats give the impression that Oceania is a society on the decline. Orwell’s writing style appears to be straightforward and dull, contributing to the essence of Oceania’s gloominess. Throughout the chapter, there are mentions of posters plastered with moving eyes and the phrase, “Big Brother is watching you”. The term, Big Brother, is still commonly used today so it’s eerily familiar, especially with recent events regarding national security and privacy. We also learn about the Party and the various ministries that exert control.