The Power Lies in the Proles Oscar Wilde once said that “life imitates art far more than art imitates life”. We’ve seen countless examples throughout our lives. George Orwell’s 1984 gives us a very prominent example of Oscar Wilde’s philosophy. It was published in 1949, long before the invention of ‘telescreens’ and before the height of the Cold War. From Orwell’s novel, we see mention of the security dilemma between the nations of Oceania, Eastasia and Eurasia produced by the nuclear weapons they have stockpiled. The actions of the United States and the Soviet Union mimic those that Orwell describes in the novel, not just in the Cold War but in the Age of Information as well. We see the use of the term ‘Big Brother’ frequently labeling the …show more content…
actions of the government, and their agencies especially those dealing with surveillance like the National Security Agency. Governments of nations all over the world are introducing legislation, and imposing laws that limit the freedoms of their citizens. We are approaching the dystopian future Orwell wrote about, with mass surveillance, with the media, and with a sense of complacency among the ‘proles’. 1984 does not end with a revolution.
We are set up to believe that in Oceania, the power lies within the proletariat. The Party labels them as ‘free’, and it is the belief of Winston and the Brotherhood that they are their only hope for a revolution. The society is split into three classes, the Inner Party, the Outer Party, and the Proles which comprises of 85 percent of the population. Through the revolutionary literature that Winston Smith reads, we are given a small inkling of hope. It seems as though the Brotherhood, and the proletariat will spread the seed of revolution, leading to the overthrow of English Socialism. The story ends with Smith reintegrating into society, a shell of his former hope. He is consumed by the propaganda, and becomes an embodiment of Party idealism. Oceanian society is extremely centralized, and effective at neutralizing dissent in any manifestation. This leaves us with dashed hopes for our proletarian revolution, but the effectiveness of the masses cannot be looked down upon. Orwell teaches us that the power is with the proletariat, as does history. All that is necessary is to plant the seed of revolution. 1984 gives us even more reasons to focus on the grass-roots political movements, and forces us to keep an the actions of our governments. 1984 shows us that there is little hope of restoring freedoms and universal human rights in an orwellian state, so it is important to remain watchful, and active. “If there is hope it lies in the proles” (Orwell
69). The past year has given us an incredible example of the success of grassroots political movements. We have seen the potential of the masses, and how society can be successfully changed with popular movements. Through the Democratic Primary, we saw the rise of an independent senator from Vermont, Bernie Sanders. He ran on principles of reversing income inequality, universal healthcare and improving the quality of life among the working class. As a Washington outsider and an independent candidate, he did not have the funding required to run his campaign without outside donations. He was able to fund his campaign through one of the most successful grassroots political movements in American history. He received over 7 million individual donations, averaging $27 dollars each (Hanley). He is a proponent of the ‘proletarian’ movement that we had hoped to see in the dystopian novel. While he was unsuccessful in his bid for the Presidency, he showed that it was indeed possible. The momentum of his political movement was translated to smaller, regional politics and it is still working towards a reworking of American politics. Grassroots movements have the potential to be successful in our current day society. In 1984, O’Brien is too naive in his observations of the proletariat. “The proletarians will never revolt, not in a thousand years or a million … There is no way in which the party can be overthrown. The rule of the Party is forever” (Orwell 267). The control of the Party is so absolute that they do not have to worry about the possibility of Revolution. They are able to control the dissent, and eliminate it effectively. Our society today has not reached this point, and we are still far off from a dystopian future. The failure of the revolution in 1984 lets us focus on our own successes, where our hope does lie in the masses. The human race is in the middle of the Information Age. We have immense amounts of information at the tips of our finger. We’re able to communicate with anyone we please, through a screen. We are able to do things generations before us could never have dreamed of. This all comes with negatives however. It all has to be regulated, somehow. It is naive to assume that everyone with the power of the internet swears only to do good. It is naive to accept total surveillance of our internet access, especially when we have the freedom to protest it. Legislation is frequently introduced worldwide to limit the freedom of information on the Internet. The Parliament of the United Kingdom approved extreme surveillance measures under the shroud of counter-terrorism measures. The bill allows the government of the United Kingdom to have blanketed access to, and the retention of, it’s citizens emails, texts, phone calls and other data that infringes on basic rights of privacy (Al Jazeera) . The law was passed with little outcry from the public. In the United States, we have been dealing with similar problems but with greater numbers of public support and protest. Bills like the ‘Internet Freedom Act’ are imposed yearly, and are used deceptively to try and overthrow current bills like ‘Net Neutrality’. Net Neutrality guarantees a free, and open internet and it has been heralded among human rights groups as essential (Free Press). The U.S House, and Senate introduce legislation frequently to override the significance of Net Neutrality. Net Neutrality has remained safe, since its inception because of the ‘proles’. Rather, because of everyday citizens who have taken action, and initiated a grassroots movement, like ‘Save The Internet’(Free Press). The House and the Senate have tremendous power, but if citizens are watchful, and politically knowledgeable we can prevent draconian surveillance laws like the one in the UK. Our power lies in our numbers, and our voices. A reason why surveillance is so successful in 1984 was through the usage of children. The children are the most loyal followers of English Socialism. This life of omnipresent surveillance is all that they understand, they are unable to comprehend that life was any different. This sets a precedent for continued removal of human rights as they can do little else but accept the status quo. Our current society is at risk of surveillance becoming the norm, where we understand the ‘how’ but do not ask ‘why’. It is this distinction that is so dangerous. We must always question absolute surveillance and continue work together to prevent and eliminate it. Orwell’s novel plays heavily with the notions of propaganda, and the pacification of the citizens of Oceania through the manipulation of media, and language. Smith’s occupation is centered around the alteration of the past. The omnipresent Big Brother and the Party rule by decree of slogans, the most austere being “Who controls the past controls the future: who controls the present controls the past.” (Orwell 34) There is no question that they are the quintessential authoritarian regime. Yet they are open with their manipulation, It is not questioned, it is accepted. Our society today is struck with problems of media manipulation. While not being as dire, or absolute as it is the Orwellian sense it is still alarming. We have grown into a civilization where ‘click to share’ second nature, but fact checking is not. In the wake of the 2016 Presidential election, there has been speculation that the spreading of ‘fake news’ impacted the population to enough of a degree to effect the election (Nguyen). Psychologically, humans are inclined to accept false information that they agree with, while ignoring information that is in opposition (Solon)m. We look for what we want to hear. This can be dangerous, and is in part the reason why social media is so effective for transmitting fake news sources. It can reach millions of people, and it is effortless to distribute. It is not clear whether the fake news was distributed with the intent of influencing American politics, or if that was an unintended consequence. However, this incident allows us to analyze our own society, and our dependence on mass media, both as collectively and individually. The influential aspects of mass social media only come from the ‘masses’. We have to look introspectively and reevaluate how we utilise it. It can only control us if we let it. While 1984 does not end with the proletarian revolution lead by Winston Smith and the Brotherhood like we had hoped, we still see the similarities between the Ingsoc and our lives today. 1984 gives us an example of the possible outcomes a dystopian future could hold if we allow ourselves to be lulled into false senses of safety. It is not hopeless yet, and there is still a lot that can be accomplished. Through grassroots movements we can hold the governing bodies of the world accountable, both individually and collectively as a society. We have to fight against mass surveillance laws that are guised as counter-terrorism measures, and we must not let ourselves be controlled by altered news, slogans or propaganda. Fact check, before you share the ‘shocking’ headline on Facebook. Be aware of the legislation being passed. A reason the populus in 1984 were controlled was through education (and a lack thereof). Educate yourself. There is hope, and it lies within all of us.
In “1984,” Orwell uses Winston to portray a single individual’s attempt to take action against a powerful government, culminating in his failure and subjugation. His individual efforts failed tremendously due to the overarching power of the Party to control every aspect of social life in Oceania. Orwell uses Winston’s deeply seated hatred of the Party to portray his views on power and social change. Winston’s actions show that even in the direst of situations ...
It is said that 1984 is one of the greatest books ever written, a literary work that remains as transcendent as ever since its publishing date sixty-four years ago. It is a grimly realistic story crafted together by George Orwell, who takes upon particularly effective literary elements, such as the limited third-person point of view, to follow the life of Winston Smith, the average everyday, resentful civilian who attempts to fight against the seemingly omnipotent and ubiquitous powers of the Ingsoc Party. The Ingsoc Party, a totalitarian government that governs the fictional country of Oceania, holds a casket of brilliantly intelligent individuals, some of who are members of the terrifying Thought Police and the notorious Inner Party, who employ informal language against the uneducated masses of Oceania civilians. Symbolism is also a key literary element in the novel, for anything ranging from ubiquitous telescreens to the infamous Big Brother ultimately contribute to Winston’s realization of how unbreakable the power of the Ingsoc Party truly is. All throughout 1984, George Orwell exercises the elements of diction, point of view, and symbolism to bring out the novel’s theme of how futile resistance is against established totalitarian governments.
George Orwell creates a dark, depressing and pessimistic world where the government has full control over the masses in the novel 1984. The protagonist, Winston, is low-level Party member who has grown to resent the society that he lives in. Orwell portrays him as a individual that begins to lose his sanity due to the constrictions of society. There are only two possible outcomes, either he becomes more effectively assimilated or he brings about the change he desires. Winston starts a journey towards his own self-destruction. His first defiant act is the diary where he writes “DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER.” But he goes further by having an affair with Julia, another party member, renting a room over Mr. Carrington’s antique shop where Winston conducts this affair with Julia, and by following O’Brien who claims to have connections with the Brotherhood, the anti-Party movement led my Emmanuel Goldstein. Winston and Julia are both eventually arrested by the Thought Police when Mr. Carrington turns out to be a undercover officer. They both eventually betray each other when O’Brien conducts torture upon them at the Ministry of Love. Orwell conveys the limitations of the individual when it comes to doing something monumental like overthrowing the established hierarchy which is seen through the futility of Winston Smith’s actions that end with his failure instead of the end of Big Brother. Winston’s goal of liberating himself turns out to be hopeless when the people he trusted end up betraying him and how he was arbitrarily manipulated. It can be perceived that Winston was in fact concerned more about his own sanity and physical well-being because he gives into Big Brother after he is tortured and becomes content to live in the society he hated so much. Winston witnesses the weakness within the prole community because of their inability to understand the Party’s workings but he himself embodies weakness by sabotaging himself by associating with all the wrong people and by simply falling into the arms of Big Brother. Orwell created a world where there is no use but to assimilate from Winston’s perspective making his struggle utterly hopeless.
Things to know: 1984 was a book written about life under a totalitarian regime from an average citizen’s point of view. This book envisions the theme of an all knowing government with strong control over its citizens. This book tells the story of Winston Smith, a worker of the Ministry of Truth, who is in charge of editing the truth to fit the government’s policies and claims. It shows the future of a government bleeding with brute force and propaganda. This story begins and ends in the continent of Oceania one of the three supercontinents of the world. Oceania has three classes the Inner Party, the Outer Party and the lowest of all, the Proles (proletarian). Oceania’s government is the Party or Ingsoc (English Socialism
This novel expresses multiple motifs like part one on Collectivism being the people of Oceania putting their community in the hands of a no so brotherly dictator Big Brother, or part two portraying the Romance between Winston & Julia and about how the party wanted to alter love for their greater good, and later in part three it was about fear and how it controls us. We must realize that this book could act as more of a timeline of events taking place if we carelessly give the government more control, really we are the proles Orwell was mentioning we are were the hope lies and we must make use of it.
The novel, 1984, by George Orwell, depicts a dystopian society where no freedom exists; not even the freedom of thought. The scene takes place in Oceania, a society in which the ruling power called “the Party” strictly controls everything people do: from the way they speak, to how they move, to their very own thoughts. Winston Smith, the main character of 1984, struggles through the day to day life of having to blend into the brainwashed citizens of Oceania, where monitors called telescreens record and analyze every little movement. Anyone not showing signs of loyalty and homogeneity become vaporized, or in other words, cease to exist and become deleted from history. Tired of his constricted life, Winston decides
George Orwell’s haunting dystopian novel 1984 delves into the closely monitored lives of the citizens of Oceania as the Party tries to take control of society. In totalitarianism, propaganda and terrorism are ways of subjugation with a main goal: total obedience. He aimed to create a “what if” novel, what would happen if totalitarian regimes, such as the Nazis and Soviets, were to take over the world. If totalitarianism were to happen, the leader would be the brain of the whole system. Orwell emphasizes the theme of individualism versus collective identity through Winston, the protagonist, and his defiance to the Party and Big Brother, with a frightening tone, surreal imagery and a third person limited point of view.
George Orwell’s 1984 novel goes through the life of Winston who is trying to resist the power of the totalitarian government of Oceania known as The Party. Although the proles do seem to be marginalized by the inner party, they aren’t aware of it. They are free and have the sense of individualism to live their life. On the other hand, the outer party is aware of the Party’s manipulative powers, and they are capable of rebellion. Because of this, they are put under severe monitoring. Through showing different ways the Party exercises their supreme power, Orwell marginalizes the outer party.
The novel 1984, written by George Orwell in 1949, details the life of a one Winston Smith and his constant, life long battle to defeat Big Brother. This dystopian vision of the future serves as a reminder to the reader that anything can happen, but it is up to humanity to shape what kind of future is wanted in the end. Although Orwell’s novel is rather convincing to the people of this time, it serves only as a warning to one of many outcomes that the world could face. This book was Orwell’s idea of how life could have ended up; had people not realized that there is always a way to change what we do not like in life. Through the author’s many literary techniques, he was able to weave in meaning and importance to simple everyday objects
In the superstates of Oceania, ignorance is bliss. The story of Winston Smith’s struggle with being stuck in a factually incorrect world and the ignorance surrounding him and the entirety of 1984 provide a cautionary tale. This cautionary tale is what happens when human rights are violated on the most basic of all levels and no one is around to stop that defilation of these rights. There may be conscientious objectors to the many atrocities that the world throw at them but in a world of control, disagreement is akin to death. In a world where difference of opinion causes you to be tried for treason, that is a world that is truly corrupt to the highest of calibers. 1984 not only provides a cautionary tale of what could and would have happened if Stalinism would have gone unchecked, but also when the majority opinion stops listening to the majority of one. In this world of 1984, nothing is free, not even a
Authors often use their works as a way to express their own opinions and ideologies. However, it is the skill of the author that determines whether these ideas are combined with the plot seamlessly, making a creative transition of ideas from the author’s mind, to the reader’s. There is no doubt that George Orwell is a masterful writer, and one of his most popular works, 1984, clearly expresses his negative views of the Totalitarian government. A common theme in the dystopian society in 1984 is betrayal: The Party is very intolerant towards any form of disloyalty, and anyone who plots against them or Big Brother will eventually either betray their own mind and accept Big Brother as their leader, or be betrayed and revealed to The Party by one of their so-called comrades. Overall, Orwell is using this constant theme of betrayal to show how alone and alienated the protagonist (Winston Smith) is in his quest against Totalitarianism, thus showing how flawed and hopeless the political system is.
George Orwell’s dystopian novel 1984 follows the psychological journey of main character Winston. Winston lives in a utopian society called Oceania. There, the citizens are constantly monitored by their government coined “Big Brother” or “The Party”. In Oceania, there is no form of individuality or privacy. Citizens are also coerced to believe everything and anything the government tells them, even if it contradicts reality and memory. The goal of Big Brother is to destroy individual loyalties and make its citizenry only loyal to the government. In Orwell's novel 1984, he uses Winston's psychological journey to stress the dangers of individuality in a totalitarian regime because it can result in death. Winston’s overwhelming desire to rebel
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 manipulation and physical control are explored through Winston's journey, and with Winston's resistance and ultimate downfall, the reader is able to fully appreciate O'Briens reasoning, "Power is not a means, it is an end."
War Is Peace. Freedom Is Slavery. Ignorance Is Strength. The party slogan of Ingsoc illustrates the sense of contradiction which characterizes the novel 1984. That the book was taken by many as a condemnation of socialism would have troubled Orwell greatly, had he lived to see the aftermath of his work. 1984 was a warning against totalitarianism and state sponsored brutality driven by excess technology. Socialist idealism in 1984 had turned to a total loss of individual freedom in exchange for false security and obedience to a totalitarian government, a dysutopia. 1984 was more than a simple warning to the socialists of Orwell's time. There are many complex philosophical issues buried deep within Orwell's satire and fiction. It was an essay on personal freedom, identity, language and thought, technology, religion, and the social class system. 1984 is more than a work of fiction. It is a prediction and a warning, clothed in the guise of science fiction, not so much about what could happen as it is about the implications of what has already happened. Rather than simply discoursing his views on the social and political issues of his day, Orwell chose to narrate them into a work of fiction which is timeless in interpretation. This is the reason that 1984 remains a relevant work of social and philosophical commentary more than fifty years after its completion.
By enforcing these simple laws and regulations, the government is able to keep a tight grip on its people, with few ever releasing themselves from its grasp. Winston Smith, on the other hand, seeks to know the truth behind the government, he is constantly questioning everything and repressing all the ideas forced upon him. Winston “seeks truth and sanity, his only resources being the long denied and repressed processes of selfhood” (Feder 398). All identity is gone in this place called Oceania, and for the sake of Big Brother and its continuous control of the people, it will never exist again. In 1984, the absence of identity strips the people of all creativity and diversity, as well as takes away any chance the society has to advance as a people or in the area of technology.