George Orwell 1984 Individualism

469 Words1 Page

In order for the Party to survive in 1984, the people of Oceania must be dehumanized. This cruelty is achieved by removing the people's freedom of thought and emotion, to the point of elimination of all love and connections to everything but the Party. George Orwell drew inspiration from regimes such as Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia. These units of government, including Oceania, live in a fragile balance of power, in which total control is necessary for survival.
The perspective of one’s reality is limited to one’s mind; if one controls their mind, then one can control that person’s world. This is the ideology by which the Party survives. The citizens of Oceania live with the knowledge that every aspect of their lives is being observed and controlled constantly. This is seen visually with the use of the telescreens and the thought police. Winston explains life under the control of Big Brother as so, “You had to live—did live, from habit that became instinct—in the assumption that every sound you made was overheard, and, except in …show more content…

Individualism allows for the freedom of thought and expression, which eliminates the possibility of the Party to have ultimate power. This determination to destroy the ideal of individualism is not an unseen act. 1984 is a work of fiction, but it’s was based on historical inspirations such as Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia. Both countries controlled its people in a totalitarian system similar to the Party’s. Parallels are drawn throughout the novel such as the Party’s thought police to the Soviet Russia's secret police, which would keep documents on every man, woman, and child. One could also compare the Ministry of Love to Stalin’s Gulag (labor camp) or the concentration camps of Nazi Germany. All of these systems of government have risen with the goal of complete power and can only survive with the annihilations of oneself

Show More
Related

  • 1984 Theme Essay

    606 Words  | 2 Pages

    In George Orwell’s novel, 1984 the theme is a totalitarian government has the capability to physically and mentally break down individuals and then rebuild them the way they want by using torture and the destruction of emotions and personal thought.

    Read More

  • The Totalitarian Government of 1984 a Novel Written by George Orwell

    1224 Words  | 3 Pages

    The novel 1984 is written by George Orwell post war as a depiction of the future. Only three superstates exist: Oceania, Eurasia and Eastasia. The novel takes place in Airstrip One, Oceania, which is the novel’s version of present day London. The superstate Oceania is a totalitarian state and is dictated by an enigmatic figure named Big Brother, who may not even exist. A group called the Inner Party works for Big Brother and everything they do is part of the effort to gain total control over the inhabitants of Oceania. With no liberty, rights, or independent actions, the citizens of Oceania become less human and are instead more like faithful robots of the Party. In the novel 1984, by George Orwell, the citizens of Oceania are deprived of individualism as a result of the manipulation the government exerts to gain control over the individuals physically, emotionally and psychologically.

    Read More

  • 1984 Government And Totalitarianism

    918 Words  | 2 Pages

    Rather, it contends that when government is unrestrained in the form of totalitarianism, as exemplified by the Party of Oceania, it can by nature exist only to serve itself. This argument serves as Orwell’s warning against the dangers of totalitarianism; it is so corrupting a force that it can hide behind claims of good intentions, but ultimately exists only to accumulate its own power. Furthermore, since a totalitarian drive for power constitutes a total control of its citizenry and a political structure that necessitates its existence, as shown by the military strategy of the Party, Orwell warns that once a truly totalitarian state is in place, there is no possible way to overthrow it or turn back from it. Ultimately, Orwell sees a government that is so distorted it has become completely self-serving as the largest threat, defining his view of totalitarianism and the themes of his

    Read More

  • Discuss Orwell's treatment of individualism in 1984

    1525 Words  | 4 Pages

    "For every text a context" and only through referral to the non-literary world can we understand the motivation behind the literary. In a time of Nazism, Stalin and Civil War in Europe, Orwell's disillusionment towards politics and society rapidly increased and his ideas and criticisms were published in various essays regarding politics and literary traditions. When he became unwell towards the end of his life, he wrote 1984 as an expression of both his own views and as a parallel to Zamyatin's We, a novel concerned with Russian communism and portraying a very similar storyline. He "characterised the ordinary man as a victim." ; he viewed humanity as whole to be inside Jonah's whale, to "feel no impulse to alter or control the process that [they are] undergoing." This passivity of existence was the chief example from which he was able to draw the lack of individualism and the virtual extinction of it in his literary land of Oceania.

    Read More

  • George Orwell’s 1984 and Stalin’s Russia

    2134 Words  | 5 Pages

    In George Orwell’s 1984, the strategies used by Oceania’s Political Party to achieve total control over the population are similar to the ones employed by Joseph Stalin during his reign. Indeed, the tactics used by Oceania’s Party truly depict the brutal totalitarian society of Stalin’s Russia. In making a connection between Stalin’s Russia and Big Brothers’ Oceania, each Political Party implements a psychological and physical manipulation of society by controlling the information and the language with the help of technology. Many features of Orwell's imaginary super-state Oceania are ironic translations from Stalin’s Russia. In Oceania, the Party mainly uses technology as the chief ingredient to implement psychological manipulation over society by controlling the information they receive.

    Read More

  • Example Of Individualism In 1984

    759 Words  | 2 Pages

    Individualism is the one side versus its opposite, collectivism, that is the degree to which individuals are integrated into groups. When put into a collective whole, one might do for the whole more than one does for oneself. This collective whole is easily controlled and manipulated. Society has always been troubled by the idea of overpowering control. In George Orwell's 1984, humanity is dominated by an extreme government whose intent is to abolish all aspects of freedom. Orwell indicates that when subjected to mass propaganda and intimidation, the ignorant majority’s memory and concept of truth are distorted, making them extremely malleable and subservient.

    Read More

  • Individuality In By George Orwell

    1009 Words  | 3 Pages

    Society Dies When Individuality Dies. Conformity plagues one’s existence and stature in today’s society. Due to government intervention in citizens’ daily lives, many writers have questioned the morality of conformity in a society by the means of control. When control becomes rampant, fascist and totalitarian governments are formed, and because of the rise in fascism and totalitarianism, many people are led to conform to social ideals. Therefore, George Orwell critiques conformity within society through the use of Big Brother, Proles, and Winston.

    Read More

  • 1984: Oppression Of Truth

    1571 Words  | 4 Pages

    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."

    Read More

  • The Tyranny Of Utopia And The Hunger Games

    704 Words  | 2 Pages

    Citizens living in constant fear is present in George Orwell 's "1984." Orwell portrays Oceania as a dystopian society in which the government wants complete control over all citizens. Orwell refers the government of Oceania as the "Party", in the Party 's best efforts to keep control, they manipulate all citizens to think, and do certain things. "War is Peace, Freedom

    Read More

  • The Themes Of Individualism In George Orwell's 1984

    1560 Words  | 4 Pages

    George Orwell uses Winston to represent truth in a deceptive world in his novel 1984. In Oceania, Big Brother is the omnipotent and all powerful leader. Everything the government dictates is unquestionably true, regardless of prior knowledge. Even thinking of ideas that go against Big Brother’s regime, or thoughtcrime, is punishable by death. Winston serves as the dystopian hero, longing for freedom and change. Orwell uses Winston to emphasize the importance of individual freedoms, as they give us the ability to fulfillingly lead our respective lives.

    Read More

  • 1984 Dehumanization Analysis

    949 Words  | 2 Pages

    In 1984, George Orwell presents an overly controlled society that is run by Big Brother. The protagonist, Winston, attempts to “stay human” in the face of a dehumanizing, totalitarian regime. Big Brother possesses so much control over these people that even the most natural thoughts such as love and sex are considered taboo and are punishable. Big Brother has taken this society and turned each individual against one another. Parents distrust their own offspring, husband and wife turn on one another, and some people turn on their own selves entirely. The people of Oceania become brainwashed by Big Brother. Punishment for any uprising rebellions is punishable harshly.

    Read More

  • The Importance Of Personal Identity In George Orwell's 1984

    1129 Words  | 3 Pages

    For Big Brother to stay in control there cannot be individual identity. The ‘Party’ strives to strip away people's identities to have power over a group of emotionless individuals. Big Brother believes that the past must be controlled in order to regulate the present. Since Big Brother “is in control of the present” ( 20 ), they decide how everyone lives their everyday lives. The reason why the Party breaks links between the past from the present is clear. Therefore, citizens will fail to remember their individual identities from the past, and way of life was far better than is it now. “Oceania” lacks diversity, all their citizens are thought to be like emotionless robots. They all live in the same style apartment buildings, wear plain clothes, and eat stale food, everyone has to be uniform. This uniformity causes their citizens to act how they are told to which is the reason for their uniqueness and lack of personal identity. All over Oceania are posters reminding their citizens “BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING [THEM]” ( ). This is the ‘Party's’ way of telling citizens there is never a time they can be alone or be by themselves. They always have to act in accordance to how the party expects them to. To make sure of this, the government is constantly monitoring their citizen via ‘telescreens’ that are found in every room. Big Brothers obsession of complete control leads to the destruction of individual's

    Read More

  • Individuality In 1984

    1329 Words  | 3 Pages

    In 1984, George Orwell introduces a main character, Winston who is an Outer Party member and works at the Ministry of Truth in Oceania. In Oceania, the Party controls everything – citizen’s minds and thoughts, and they even rewrite the people’s language, referred to Newspeak, in order to get rid of rebellious actions and thoughts. As people in Oceania get controlled by the Party, Winston’s hatred towards Big Brother becomes bigger and bigger. He feels frustrated by rigorous control of the Party, which prohibits free thought, sex, and any expression of individuality. Winston then secretly follows the enemy of Big Brother, Emmanuel Goldstein because he doesn’t want to be like other people who are unconsciously controlled by the Party. For that

    Read More

  • The Party Controls The Society In George Orwell's 1984

    675 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the book entitled 1984, Winston Smith lives in a society where everyone is watched. The party is the group of people who run the society and control it, represented by the figure known as “Big Brother”. The party controls the society using telescreens, which are screens that operate as both a television and security camera. Also, the party uses instability to put fear in the minds of citizens. Finally, the Thought Police monitor all citizens of Oceania. The party instills fear directed towards the inner party, which keeps their citizens loyal.

    Read More

  • Totalitarianism In 1984

    2093 Words  | 5 Pages

    George Orwell’s 1984 depicts life the way that George Orwell predicted it would be, based on his personal experiences, if the world continued to have war and corrupt governments. Orwell was a strong believer in socialism as an idea yet he knew that it would struggle to work as an actual form of government. In 1984 he shows both the pros and cons to socialism and how it can turn into totalitarianism. One of the main concepts that Orwell expresses in 1984 is that total power in the hands of any corrupt government will deprive the people of every social class of all basic freedoms.

    Read More

More about George Orwell 1984 Individualism

Open Document