How Does Orwell Use Power In 1984

“War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength.” This is the slogan of Ingsoc, the governing Party in George Orwell's 1984. The Party is obsessed with power, and they obtained their current status by means that are highly inhumane and ultimately terrifying. Firstly, the political power within this book enforces repression of natural instincts and emotions in its characters, limiting existential crises and not allowing people to live satisfactory, worthy lives. Language was also a very important part of this book, as the Party attempted to make people less conscious by limiting the words in the English language in order to narrow the people’s range of thought. History also played a major role, as, in this book, it was alterable, ultimately

Winston was one of the few characters in the novel that tried to fight against the restrictive system of the Party. He commits deadly crimes like writing in a journal and falling in love and stays resilient in his attempts to keep his individuality and to live a fulfilling life. Orwell wrote his character as a way to portray what it means to be human, rather than a hero, as Winston ultimately failed and the Party was able to capture him. The Party had complete control over the citizens, and wanted authority simply to feel powerful and godlike, while Winston attempts to oppose due to his desperate desire to feel something

He has a strong will of keeping his personal freedom but eventually becomes overly paranoid about getting caught and takes reckless risks after his first act of defiance, writing in his journal. He also has a forbidden love affair with Julia, a younger, equally rebellious Outer Party member who shares his hatred for the Party and Big Brother. Their love itself is a rebellious act towards the Party, as it goes against the rule to not have any personal relations. Although Winston and Julia live happily for a few months, their contempt halts to a stop when the Thought Police capture them and send them to the Ministry of Love. There, O'Brien tortures Winston into believing whatever O’Brien tells him, such as when he holds up four fingers, he is really holding up five. “O'Brien held up the fingers of his left hand with the thumb concealed. / ‘There are five fingers there. Do you see five fingers?’ / ‘Yes.’ / And he did see them, for a fleeting instant, before the scenery of his mind changed. He saw five fingers and there was no deformity” (Orwell 270). This shows the lengths the Party goes to keep their citizens in control. Although, Winston's true breaking point was in Room 101, a terrifying place, as it holds the convicted person’s greatest fear. When O'Brien presented Winston with a cage of rats, his worst fear, he completely