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Analysis of the party in 1984 by George Orwell
Analysis of the party in 1984 by George Orwell
George Orwell AND politics
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Md al Masum Tonianne Bellomo English 2150 02/21/2017 Fear played the most crucial role in George Orwell’s novel 1984. In George Orwell’s 1984 scaring people was the most exercised and effective method that the party used to be able keep people under their control, keep them always obedient by warning them continuously that they were being watched and will be punished if they show any sign of rebel by their action or even by thinking of it. It is fear that worked as a dominating element to dictate the society and was the most exercised tool that the party used to manipulate the citizens of Oceania. There are several ways the party used fear to maintain the control over Oceania. First, they warn the citizens that they are being monitored. …show more content…
Then they arranged active policing to maintain a fearful situation. They also torture people even kill them to set example among citizens which helped maintain a constant fear in the society. At last they made sure that the citizens will be friendless and easy to divide by destructing the family tie. Now let us discuss all these points to find out how they each contributed to maintain a fearful society so that they can be in power always. When we read the novel 1984 by George Orwell, we can see how the citizens are given warning about they are being watched. From staircase to their bedroom big brother’s face is everywhere with a caption of the infamous warning ‘Big brother is watching you’. The party tried their best to remind them about how they are being watched in every single step of their life. They don’t want the citizens to forget about the big brother for a single moment. That’s why people are always stay startled of doing something against the rules and being watched while doing it. Some of them are so scared that they think they have already done something wrong and waiting for the moment when they will get arrested for that unknown crime. The whole idea of being watched is scary enough. And the consequence attached of being caught while doing something against the policy made the citizens always afraid. The telescreens everyday warned how the thought criminals are getting caught and being punished. Those telescreens even telecasted the video of admission of the guilt. And everyone knew about the consequences. The citizens were going through of severe mental pressure. The psychological damages that they were having every day is beyond explanation. It was pretty similar to live in a jail to live in Oceania. Citizens were aware the fact that the watch dogs are everywhere. When they read in poster ‘big brother is watching you’ they knew that they were really watching. They knew anyone can turn out to be a spy. So, the first step of making people scared was already done by simply putting up all those big brother’s face saying he is watching them. That warning was really working. That simple warning was good enough to shape citizen’s everyday behavior. The authority was not done just by warning the citizens of Oceania about the rules and penalties for breaking those rules, they were on the field to find out the smallest hint of rebel in people. That’s is why they had the thought police. Every citizen feared this police squad. They hide in the plain sight so that they can catch a thought criminals. They observe closely who is not participating in the hour of hate, who is secretly having relationship against party rules, who is not working attentively and so on. And when they found a hint of thought crime they do all sort of tricks to flush him/her out. The party knew that some people will always find time and way to think against the party. They had that fear someone may write against the authority. They feared the truth. That is why they deliberately destroyed every evidence of their failure. They knew when people exercise knowledge and know truth they become mentally strong. To make them mentally weak they did everything in their ability to stop people having any creative thought. They called it crime. And they arranged police force to arrest those criminals. There was not really a precise definition of thought crime. So, nobody had no idea exactly to what extent thoughts are permitted. That’s why people were always tensed about having any kind of thought. They were always scared of getting caught by the thought police. The party even had the children to spy on their parents to find out if they can find the slightest hatred or doubt towards the party in their parent’s mind. So, everyone was careful not showing any kind of ignorance towards the party. Cause they knew the consequence of getting caught will cost their life. And citizens who are that much vulnerable to the system are easy to rule. The party had a whole ministry just to torture people. For a second if we give it thought that a government maintain a ministry specialized torturing people we get a clear idea what kind of totalitarianism was going on. That infamous ministry was every citizen’s nightmare. Everyone was so scared of this ministry that they would adapt to any kind of lifestyle just to keeps themselves safe from that ministry. There was numerous rumor about what actually happens in the ministry of love. Everyone knew that people get tortured there. But no one had a clear idea what actually happens in that place. They feared that place because they have seen a lot of people never came back from that place. And the ones came back was not same when they returned. That is how they let people know that all those warnings are just not some words. People knew that anybody who will not follow the law will face the consequences. People had to behave because they were scared. And that was what exact the party wanted. Scared citizen. So that they can keep exploit them. when someone is caught doing thought crime they find out their secret personal fear.
In the ministry of love there has an infamous torture unit called room 101. Nobody really knows what is in that room 101. But everybody knows that is the last place in planet earth that anybody would ever want to be. To break into Winston’s heart, they brought rats, because they knew that rats are from Winston’s darkest nightmare. They kept torturing them unless they lose their sanity and start believing in party’s manipulated information. Before letting them go they made them confess of all sort of crimes that a person cannot possibly commit in a single lifetime. Again, this is a trick to set an example to make people believe that no matter how hard they try they will never be able to hide their true feelings towards the party. In Winston word ‘Thoughtcrime was not a thing that could be concealed forever. You might dodge successfully for a while, even for years, but sooner or later they were bound to get you’. By watching those confession people become so afraid that they do not even think about going against the party, or thinking thinks that are forbidden to …show more content…
think. People are usually afraid when they know that they are alone.
The party made sure that people will not have any true friends. There wasn’t really a shoulder to cry for anybody. Cause people were betraying each other all the time. I don’t think that they were betraying each other because of the loyalty they had in their heart for the party. It was very important to show the loyalty even many of them never had any. Informing about a thought criminal to though police was obviously considered a sign of loyalty. So, nobody had really any friends. No colleague could be trusted with any secret. Because people had doubt that there might be party’s spy working with them to find out information about the thought criminals. If anybody ever trust someone with their secret, he/she had to regret it sooner or later. We have seen how it turned out trusting Mr Charrington with the thoughts for Winston. Even the family members were not worth of trust. Husband could not trust wife. Neither could wife trust husband. The party successfully created a society with a bunch of people living as family but had no connection between them Children were taken from their mother and were being educated in the party assigned education. They were taught that only the party will give them security and future. Because of the communication gap those children were having with their parents they never realized that they were being used by the party. We have seen couple of example how children were informing
about their parents to thought police. Like Orwell mentioned about the Parson’s children “It was somehow slightly frightening, like the gambolling of tiger cubs which will soon grow up into man-eaters.” So, people were alone in their own mind. They had no one to share their true feelings about the system. So, having nobody on their side made them weak. And when they realize that they are against a strong system and they have nobody they don’t dare to speak up or act. After evaluating all the point, we can establish that idea that without establishing the severe level of fear in people’s heart the party could not sustain and exercise power over Oceania. People were unhappy in Oceania. They did not have enough foods for them. Not even a glass of decent drink. Their houses had all sort of problem. Their basic daily stuffs like shaving blade and other things were always short. They had to follow the same old routine every day. They had no access to reading materials. They were being watched like they are some kind of criminal. There was no trust worthy source of news. The party was deliberately changing the fact. People had to part in mainstream politics. There was no freedom of speech. It was forbidden to read and write anything. People could not have any thoughts against the party. People who were having any such thoughts were taken away, tortured and sometimes killed. The party had full control in aspects of life in Oceania. Having all that basic right denied there was supposed to be some kind of resistance or revolution against the party. The people should have fought against the party. But they did not do anything about it. Because they were afraid. They were afraid of being taken away by the thought police. They were afraid of the torture of the ministry of love. They were afraid of the nightmare they would had to face in Room 101. They were afraid of admitting all the guilt they have never committed in front of the society. They were afraid of being hated by everyone for not being loyal to the party. They were afraid of losing of the little things they had in life. So in my observation I believe it is fear that allowed party to keep manipulate people day after day.
The Party and its leader Big Brother play the role of authority in 1984. The Party is always watching the citizens of the Republic of Oceania. This is exemplified in the fact that the government has telescreens through which they can watch you wherever you are set up almost everywhere. Even in the countryside where there are no telescreens, the Party can monitor its citizens through hidden microphones disguised as flowers. The Thought Police are capable of spying on your thoughts at anytime, and can arrest or even kill you on a whim. Not only does the Thought Police find and hunt down felons, but it also scares others into being good citizens. The Party strives to eliminate more and more words from people’s vocabularies. Thus, the Party can destroy any possibilities of revolutions and conspiracies against itself. Its ultimate goal is to reduce the language to only one word, eliminating thought of any kind. The Party makes people believe that it is good and right in its actions through the Ministry of Truth and through the slogans printed on the Ministry of Truth:...
Out of the smoke and coal came fear as well, fear of the unknown. What was this bright thing called electricity and what could it do? Mary Shelley’s Gothic novel Frankenstein showed this fear. Through this single book many concerns were addressed. This made sense, people fear things they don’t know and this was a time of confusion just as it was a time of advancements. This deep rooted fear was the cause of Frankenstein. Another fear arose as individuals gained more power and monopolized more influence over people, dictatorship. George Orwell’s dystopian novel 1984, understood this fear well and went in depth on the idea of this suppression of the people. The book introduces what it might be like to live in a society that contains and suppresses its population. These two books were written during a time of great change, and when change is sudden it’s hard to handle. This is obviously shown in these books. The current dreams and imagination of the people at the time is reflected in these two works proving people continued to look to themselves as the source of their literature from Old English even to the
The novel 1984 is one that has sparked much controversy over the last several decades. It harbors many key ideas that lie at the root of all skepticism towards the book. With the ideas of metaphysics, change, and control in mind, George Orwell wrote 1984 to provide an interesting story but also to express his ideas of where he believed the world was heading. His ideas were considered widely ahead of their time, and he was really able to drive home how bleak and colorless our society really is. Orwell wrote this piece as a futuristic, dystopian book which contained underlying tones of despair and deceit.
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 lives. 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.
It is not an easy feat to control an entire population such as Oceania. They must monitor their people through the use of telescreens, microphones, and cameras 24 hours, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year, to prevent the spread of “false” information, that is not part of the party’s strategy. Not only do they monitor their people, they control the media, control their emotions, control their feelings, and they instil fear into the people; who do not conform to the Party’s beliefs. The people of Oceania believe that they will be taken, tortured, and/or vaporized by
O’Brien tortures Winston due to his acts of thoughtcrime, Winston is told that the Party will be satisfied with nothing less than Winston completely giving in. O’Brien explains, “We are not content with negative obedience, nor even with the most abject submission. When finally you surrender to us, it must be of your own free will. We do not destroy the heretic because he resists us; so long as he resists us we never destroy him” (210). Winston is tortured for the goal of eradicating the cause of Winston’s fight, to consider himself happy and free. O’Brien wants to destroy any possibility of Winston becoming a martyr for his cause. The use of the telescreens, microphones, and all other sources of the government spying on its people ensures a lack of freedom: “Asleep or awake, working or eating, indoors or out of doors, in the bath or in bed- no escape. Nothing was your own except the few cubic centimeters inside your skull” (26). The members of this society are monitored at all times for the sole purpose of government control, with constant monitoring they are able to discover the most they can about individuals and later use it against them to gain an upper hand in controlling any possible uprising. Fear is used as another tactic to gain control. Winston is aware of the fact that “More
Nineteen Eighty-Four, by George Orwell, is a superb novel with outstanding themes. One of the most prominent themes found in this novel is psychological manipulation. Citizens in this society are subject to ever present signs declaring “BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU” (Orwell 1). Along with psychological manipulation, physical control takes place. The Party not only controls what people in Oceania think, but what they do as well.
This happens because it is the party’s way of getting into the citizen's heads. On page (??) O’Brien says to Winston, “There are three stages in your reintegration. There is learning, there is understanding, and there is acceptance.” This quote from O’Brien tells us how the party manipulates the people into loving Big Brother. Their definitions of these three stages, however, are tortuous. They use learning to get the selected person to learn their crimes that they are accused of. For Winston, the first stage consisted of numerous beatings and degradation of his character. He is accused of all crimes of sexual perversion to spying. The party uses this technique to humiliate Winston and destroy his power of arguing and reasoning. Winston gives in and admits to all these crimes since he is afraid of further violence. Furthermore, Winston must understand to love Big Brother. At this point, O’Brien confesses to Winston that he is the author of Goldstein’s book. Winston continues to protest but then O’Brien shows him a powerful image which consisted of his own malnourished body. While Winston blames O’Brien for his health, O’Brien says “This is what you accepted when you set yourself up against the Party. It was all contained in the first act. Nothing has happened that you did not foresee.” (??) Since Winston is still not convinced, this
“WAR IS PEACE, FREEDOM IS SLAVERY, IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH.” Part 1,Chapter 1,pg. 6. These three principles were repeatedly emphasized throughout the book and helped lay the foundation of the dystopian society George Orwell imagined in his novel 1984. Fear, manipulation, and control were all encompassed throughout this dystopian society set in the distant future. The freedom to express ones thoughts was no longer acceptable and would not be tolerated under any circumstances. Humankind was rapidly transforming into a corrupt and evil state of mind.
In the novel 1984, George Orwell elaborates on the idea of an autocratic government. This novel describes Orwell’s views on the dark, twisted form of government that he believes will develop in future years. The culture he created for this story was the most horrifying, troubling place a person could reside. The goals of the Party consisted of keeping the citizens squared away and oblivious to the unethical actions taking place around them. This unrealistic society gave Orwell the opportunity to create a vision of what a future communist nation might resemble. The purpose of this work is believed to be informative to citizens of how the government impacts our way of thinking, living, and believing. Fear from the citizens is used as manipulation by the government; this means the government shapes the citizens that will not conform to their society. Throughout this writing, the author remains in a dark, cold mood; thus, creating the feeling of negativity and opposition to the government. Ethical appeal is revealed in this
George Orwell’s intent in the novel 1984 is to warn society about the results of a controlling and manipulative government by employing mood, conflict, and imagery.
The novel 1984 by George Orwell presents the readers an image of a totalitarian society that explores a world of control, power, and corruption. The main idea of government control presents itself in the novel by protecting and listening to the people of Oceania. However, Orwell suggests giving too much power to the government is a mistake because eventually the decisions they make will not be about the people anymore but rather themselves. In 1984, the power and corruption the party has is overwhelming for the people. There are no ways around the beliefs of the Party, the party attempts to control and eventually destroy any mental or physical resistance against their beliefs. The agenda for the party is to obtain mind control over its people and force them to adore their leader. The methods the Party uses to achieve its goal are: the use of constant propaganda and surveillance, the rewriting of history, and Room 101.
Especially in 1984, corruption within the political regime runs rampant to a point where only Winston, along with a select handful of others, have the skill to identify governmental manipulation of history and facts. Although objectively correct in his observations against the government’s teachings, Winston’s skill makes him a target for powerful Party men like O’Brian, Winston’s torturer, who have thoroughly conformed to the preachings of Big Brother. When met with the question of why O’Brian is torturing Winston, he replies, “Not merely to extract your confession, not to punish you… To cure you! To make you sane! Will you understand, Winston, that no one whom we bring to this place ever leaves our hands uncured? We are not interested in those stupid crimes that you have committed. The Party is not interested in the overt act: the thought is all we care about. We do not merely destroy our enemies, we change them. Do you understand what I mean by that?” (261). Throughout his numerous torture sessions with Winston, O’Brian makes clear that the Inner Party is almost as corrupted and manipulated by the creation of Big Brother as the remainder of the citizens of Oceania; conformity to the wishes of the highly ranked is the only plausible way for the Party’s
The novel provides a serious warning about the potential danger of how the government can utilize their power. The Party in 1984 has the people of Oceania under control because they were given too much power.