War decimates a once pristine, impenetrable community into crumbles. Leaving in its ashes is a vulnerability for a new leader. At that precise, singular moment, the oppressor will rise and claim its dictatorship upon the people. Their radical rulings expediates until absolute anarchy is thrusted upon the society - and upon the world. The drive to be in control can lure even the tiniest despot to crawl out of hiding. Once a tyrant acquires their first taste of power, their thirst is never quenched. In the novel Nineteen Eighty-Four, George Orwell exhibits a dystopian society where civilization is submerged in tyranny and oppression. Orwell’s main character, Winston Smith, is forced to obey and live within this confinement. With this, Orwell …show more content…
Dictators inflict punishments against citizens to subconsciously threaten them of where their loyalty should be resided. During Orwell’s era, Adolf Hitler - Nazi Germany’s merciless dictator - had blamed the cause of World War II on the Jews. In addition to his hatred, Hitler had went to extensive lengths in compelling his followers in believing that it was the Jews who were at fault. For example, in the literary criticism essay, “Truth and Freedom in Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four,” an erudite explains how “Hitler. . . had eroded truth by undermining free speech and circulating lies” (Dwan). Hitler was ruthless - and it was obvious to everyone that he held a vindictive grudge towards Jews. He wanted the Jews to suffer for what they had “done” by placing them into concentration camps. Despite their …show more content…
Particularly, the events that occurred at the Yalta Conference. In a text that was written up between the exchanges of Theodore Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, and Joseph Stalin, the purpose of the Conference was “to prepare a charter for a general international organization for the maintenance of informational peace and security” (“Yalta (Crimea) Conference”). After Germany and Japan’s abdication, there was the pressing matter of how to discipline them. Nevertheless, this caused disagreements to surge as none of the three superpowers were fully satisfied with their end of the bargain. In the end, they left with the mutual agreement to settle the disputes within their requited barriers, but that was until Stalin had went back on his promise to grant Poland free elections. What happened with the Yalta Conference eventually led up to the Cold War precipitating between America and the Soviet Union. Identically, in Nineteen Eighty-Four, while Winston is reading Emmanuel Goldstein's book, Goldstein writes how “None of the three superstates could be definitely conquered even by the other two in combination. They are too evenly matched” (Orwell 2.9.186). In the novel, there are three superpowers: Oceania, Eurasia, and Eastasia. The three superpowers are always warring, switching, and allying with each other. They never
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.
One of the most important concepts that many individuals in modern day society value the most is the idea that they have the freedom to do whatever they please. The term freedom means “being able to act, think, and speak in any way one wants to without any type of hindrance,”(Dictionary.com). In the book, 1984, by George Orwell, the totalitarian society ruled by Big Brother, in many ways, controls its citizens by hindering any types of freedom a member of the society might have. In a society that is decorated with telescreens, hidden microphones, and strict rules, Orwell illustrates the many ways Big Brother uses that to its advantage to stifle the freedom of its citizens. However, under all the scrutiny of Big Brother, there are
The main character in George Orwell’s 1948 novel, 1984, Winston Smith can be seen as many things. To some, he may be a hero, but to others he is a coward and a fool. Throughout the novel, Winston’s characteristics are explored, and readers are shown the reasoning behind Winston’s twisted mind. It is evident that although Winston thinks he had control over his own mind and body, this is an imagined factor. The world of 1984 is one of a totalitarian society, where no one can be trusted, and no one is safe, Winston being the primary example of one who trusted thoughtlessly.
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 Orwell’s 1984 we follow Winston Smith, a man who feels the oppressions of the
The novel “1984” by George Orwell exemplifies the issues of a government with overwhelming control of the people. This government controls the reality of all of their citizens by rewriting the past, instilling fear, and through manipulation. This is an astounding story because of the realistic qualities that are present throughout the text about an extreme regulatory government and its effects. This society is overwhelming consumed with the constructed reality that was taught to them by Big Brother. George Orwell brings significant aspects to the novel like the complexity of relationships during a rebellion and The Party’s obsession with power. The main character Winston struggles throughout the story trying to stay human through literature, self-expression and his individuality. The party uses human’s tendencies, weaknesses, and strengths in order to dehumanize their citizens to gain control over them.
The world that Orwell presents in Nineteen Eighty-four has often been called a nightmare vision of the future. Writing sixteen years into that future, we can see that not all of Orwell’s predictions have been fulfilled in their entirety! Yet,
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
George Orwell’s 1984 published in 1949 is one of the important novels in the twentieth century, since author’s vision is satirist and prophetic that it is one of the most powerful warnings ever issued against the dangers of a totalitarian society. During the WWII, George Orwell witnessed the rise to power of dictators such as Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin of the nightmarish atrocities committed by fascist political regimes, and inspired his mounting hatred of totalitarianism and political authority; therefore, in novel 1984, Orwell uses the characterization of the main character, Winston Smith, to show that an extreme totalitarian government can destroy one’s morals, beliefs, and self-worth. Like Aldous Huxley’s
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.
Winston Smith, the protagonist of the novel, embodies the assumptions of Orwell about man’s nature – rational, individual and has a constant desire to define reality. Orwell concerns himself not only with the failure of communication but also with tyranny using the language. The novel explores the effect of totalitarianism on individual human consciousness through the experiences of Winston and his desire to have the “freedom to have the freedom to say that two plus two is equal to four.”
“I prefer dangerous freedom over peaceful slavery”(Thomas Jefferson). In the book 1984 the author George Orwell depicted a dystopian society where Oceania exhibited no laws, yet freedom only existed through limitations and bounded by watchful eyes of Thought Police. Terror and fear tear this world apart; family values become unworthy and limitations are tested. Winston is one of the intellectual characters who clearly acknowledges the distrust in The Party and Big Brother. He posses traits of a radical and to avoid being caught he hides his way to express himself. There is no freedom in 1984, because individuals have no freedom of speech, no choice in marriage, and no ability to testify against the intellectual standing, which only the party
Unlike the dystopian society of Oceania in George Orwell’s book Nineteen Eighty-Four, in which everyone is ruled by Big Brother; the United States is able to choose their leaders periodically (Orwell). The U.S. is able to elect who will represent them which makes the system democratic and fair. This year the United States is having an election between two candidates that received the nomination by winning the most amount of votes throughout the country. The presidential candidates were able to win because the presidential primary system allows people to vote for their ideal leader. Hillary Clinton won for the democrat party and Donald Trump is running for the republican party this year; even if most of the republican leaders were not in favor
Countless times throughout the novel, Winston acknowledges the affair is short lived and he will eventually be captured and punished for his delinquency. He repeatedly reminds himself “that from the moment of declaring war on the Party it was better to think of yourself as a corpse.” (135) so the source of his determination to rebel must not be a belief in success. As Winston is striving to survive in this authoritarian society, there exists a gradual execution of his sanity. As he sits in a holding cell with white porcelain walls, no windows, his fear is lit by his own shadows as he drowns in his own sorrows at the place where there is no darkness,
George Orwell was the pseudonym for Eric Arthur Blair, and he was famous for his personnel vendetta against totalitarian regimes and in particular the Stalinist brand of communism. In his novel, 1984, Orwell has produced a brilliant social critique on totalitarianism and a future dystopia, that has made the world pause and think about our past, present and future, as the situation of 1984 always remains menacingly possible. The story is set in a futuristic 1984 London, where a common man Winston Smith has turned against the totalitarian government. Orwell has portrayed the concepts of power, marginalization, and resistance through physical, psychological, sexual and political control. The way that Winston Smith, the central