Totalitarianism In 1984

Winston Smith is a typical example of vertebrae in the spine of any society. Hard working and keeps a rigid structure by absorbing impact, filling the spaces with his unknown desires. The bending of laws to avoid self-destruction in constant pressure from society and government. The idea of having every thought controlled, monitored and limited to what the elite deem as a necessary compromise to maintain peace and order in Oceania or any other Utopia in a general sense. Power is in tearing human minds to pieces and putting them together again in new shapes of their own choosing, to understand the concept is the true hell for Winston.

Over the course of the book major events took place due to various factors. However, a theme that tends to run throughout the entirety of the novel is the control Big Brother possesses over the citizen’s mentality. Their actions, and even thoughts, are under constant supervision causing everyone to change their thought process just to prevent being vaporized. Psychologically, Big Brother has total control over the citizens, so the theme is mental control. Big Brother and the totalitarian party use many factors to keep the people under their rule in Oceania in check.

Totalitarian governments have been used countless times as examples of the privileges Americans have, simply by living in this country. For many 1984 is simply a fictional book that is distorted beyond belief and that it is an exaggeration of something that may never happen, for others however it is a reality they face every day in Communist or fascist countries. The liberal values that lack in 1984 are ones that many Americans take for granted; life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. George Orwell’s 1984 is an embodiment of the values America holds dear and an indictment against other forms of government because it serves as a reminder of the values Americans are privileged with.

Totalitarianism is a system of government that is centralized and dictatorial. The control that comes with this government is generally full control, giving minimal rights to citizens, and maximum rights to the controllers of the state. Although some argue the full oversight of the population can make a well-off civilization, it often leads to a dystopian society. This is shown in George Orwell’s 1984, a book that takes place in the dystopian society of Oceania. Big Brother, the “face” of the ruling government known as “The Party,” maintains control over fear in society.

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 modern society, people have seen the development of technology and the improvement of policy. But in George Orwell’s novel entitled 1984, set in a dystopian world, the protagonist named Winston who works for the Ministry of Truth in London. He finds love with Julia, and they begin to question the Party. The author portrayed the world in his novel was oppressive and totalitarianism. However, In George Orwell’s novel 1984, the dystopian world and the totalitarianism state will not develop in the future society. In the ways of the conformity, the reality control and laws and regulations.

This painting holds a theme related to dictatorship, quite a similar topic turned into a dilemma that would be approved or agreed to in Orwell's 1984. "Big Brother" and the government represent this topic by controlling the public either through strict laws contradicting human rights or abdication of personal space and whatever action is committed can be recorded and viewed by the authority. Winston expresses his hatred to the government stating, "His pen had slid voluptuously over the smooth paper, printing in large neat capitals---DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER... over and over again, filling half a page." (Orwell 19). Writing in his journal he bought not too long ago near his apartment at a bookstore, he immediately starts to write down what he feels inside and trying to release his hatred towards Big Brother. He begins to

The government of 1984 is 100% totalitarianistic. The psychological deterioration of its citizens was insane. The living conditions were horrid and the simple necessities provided by the government were disgusting and not sufficing in the least. There was someone watching you at each second except in RARE occasions. Relationships were not allowed, and love was basically non existent nor was it permitted.

George Orwell illustrated a world taken over by totalitarianism thru his book “1984”. By describing it to be a life of just constant work. Where a single thought can get you jailed and later killed. They would vaporize, or cease to exist, people who may be a threat to their whole government. You must love their iconic figurehead “Big Brother” and accept their rules or become vaporized.

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.

George Orwell’s dystopian novel Nineteen eighty-four explores the awful effects of a totalitarian regime on the citizens of Oceania as the oligarchy maintains conformity in society by instilling fear into people by constantly observing their every move. In this world, relationships have become meaningless bonds formed with little trust and no loyalty to one another, only loyalty to the Party and Big Brother. Oceanic society rests ultimately on the belief that Big Brother is omnipotent and the Party is infallible due to their success in exerting their despotic rule.

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.

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.

Since without language thought is nearly impossible the party believes that by altering the language they can impose their untrue reality. They will be able to restrict it to the point that even a person’s thoughts are manipulated; things such as individualism and imagination will cease to exist. Which ultimately will give the Party total control over society. The newspeak engineer also goes on to state “ In the end we shall make thoughtcrime literally impossible because there will be no words in which to express it.” (55) This quote proves how vital control of language is to the party, it is the key to becoming a controlled state. By creating the element of Newspeak in 1984 Orwell is warning against the potential consequences of manipulating language to benefit people in power and how this can eventually lead to a totalitarian state.

Newspeak demolishes thought. Throughout the book, George Orwell tackles controversial ideas. He uses topics that create distraught in the readers to show how the future could exist. People kill for excitement and uses special forces to attack people. This happens because “Big Brother” wants it to. Big Brother runs the society and he uses his influence to control his subservients. He does this with the help of his new language “Newspeak,” which inhibits peoples thoughts and minds. The society in George Orwell’s 1984 does not have the capability to form personal opinions because of Newspeak.