The Power Of Power In George Orwell's 1984

1235 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: 1984 analysis orwell

1984 was George Orwell 's unsettling prediction about the future. And although the year 1984 was some time ago, Orwell 's storyline is suitable more than ever. 1984 offers an astonishing and unforgettable image of the world, so influential that it is completely convincing from beginning to end. It unearths a constant fear everyone has had since the inception of the government. A slogan on the front of the Ministry of Truth shows everyone what was relevant and understood about their society. “War is Peace, Freedom is Slavery, and Ignorance is Strength.” (Orwell) The influence of language in this novel is one of the greatest compelling forces that exist. As a result the Party goes to excessive measure to make sure they are the ones controlling …show more content…

“It illustrates how language can be the core of a person’s reality, how it can be used to obscure the truth, and even how it can be used to change the past.” (Berkes) Just think of your world, powered by a government that has no end or suppression. Sometimes we all think that the government is in a bad place, but with Orwell’s work we can see that indeed it can be controlled even more. “Predicting the future wasn’t Orwell’s goal” (Fischer), but it was used as a tool to warn the future that if we don’t govern what our country is doing, it can slowly take over our lives. “Language is one of the key instruments of political dominations, the necessary and insidious means of the ‘totalitarian’ control of reality.” (Rai) Communication and language have shaped our world and will continue to help expand the reaches of human existence; as with anyone’s reality, your thoughts and dreams are all made up of communication and ideas. Its only when someone treads on your deepest sense of personality, that you understand the power of human thought and language. “Orwell’s novel validates that language, when used in a manner that has a political standpoint, can tread on the very existence of reality.”

Show More
Related

  • Government Power in 1984, by George Orwell

    1058 Words  | 3 Pages

    The book 1984, by George Orwell is based on the theory of “Big Brother” and how he is always watching you. In the book, the Oceania government controls their citizens by saying and ordering them into not doing certain things. Which then forced their citizens to deceive their government by going in to hiding. When Pearl Harbor was attacked in 1941, Japanese-Americans were ordered to do certain things as well. Both of these two events prove that the government can force their citizens to do anything under their power. I think some parts of the government abuse the right of their power and manipulate their citizens into doing unlawful events.

    Read More

  • George Orwell's Use Of Manipulation In 1984

    661 Words  | 2 Pages

    In 1984, the manipulation of the body is an effective practice that oppresses a population. The Party maintains absolute control over Oceania’s citizens by manipulating their physical state to better repress them. This leads to them being more about their own pain and physical well being, thus distracting them from the suffering that is happening in the world around them, and distracting them from thought of rebellion. The Party uses physical manipulation via overworking them to exhaustion and torture methods.The Party keeps their citizens in a state of exhaustion as they are easier to control, as the narrator explains while Winston works in the Ministry of Truth:

    Read More

  • Why Do We Exist In George Orwell's 1984

    925 Words  | 2 Pages

    I strongly agree with Fromm’s viewpoints and interpretations of Orwell’s 1984 text. He warns that the future federal powers will dehumanize society and leave everyone alienated. Thus, I agree with Fromm to the extent that he acknowledges the fact that humanity can indeed cease to exist as a result of our own self-destruction as well as the effect of our actions. Many of his opinions and warnings expressed by Orwell to an extent appear in contemporary society.

    Read More

  • Fear And Hysteria By George Orwell

    1061 Words  | 3 Pages

    1984 was a representation of what the future held in store, and how society could change. By creating a leader who people feared and appreciated society could easily be controlled and how one person could control everyone. Orwell predicted the future in a sense with things he noticed in real life experiences and how the world was changing in such an early time. Based on ideas he had, he was correct! We are all watched, we are controlled and the world is in fact changing.

    Read More

  • The Dangers Of Government Control In George Orwell's 1984

    753 Words  | 2 Pages

    In today’s society, most people don’t realize the government is taking advantage of their power. The government is here to protect and keep society safe, but I believe they are abusing their authority against us for their own benefits. In the novel 1984, George Orwell is a foreshadowing to our present day living. Orwell brings forth a feeling of hopelessness and paranoia. The government can use the term reasonable cause to get a warrant to tap phones, to intercept our mail and use satellites to view us without our knowledge. The novel portrays these issues with “Big Brother is Watching.”

    Read More

  • The Theme Of Suppression And Government In George Orwell's 1984

    1546 Words  | 4 Pages

    The novel entitled 1984 by George Orwell depicts a dystopian society where citizens are under complete control by an invisible yet superior force, labeled as “Big Brother.” In the story, the world had been divided into three assemblies, and although the novel focused on one–Oceania–it was evident that all of Earth was undergoing the same sort of totalitarian political system. It never became clear to readers or main characters just how the revolution from a Capitalist society to a dictatorship of sorts occurred, it was only clear that Big Brother was an almighty force; one not to be reckoned with. This government had gained complete control; the class system that consisted of the Inner and Outer Parties as well

    Read More

  • Government Control In George Orwell's 1984

    601 Words  | 2 Pages

    Imagine being controlled about what people eat, drink, think or do. How would the citizens feel being controlled even by having sex? Government control minimizes pleasure in a society because it would give the federal government more control over the people because pleasure would give the people freedom of feeling and thinking. Therefore, they will not have the freedom to have sex, eat chocolate, drink coffee or even wear makeup, some of the simplest daily activities.

    Read More

  • Power And Rebellion In George Orwell's 1984

    1163 Words  | 3 Pages

    “The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion.” These wise words once stated by Philosopher Albert Camus, effectively transpires and defends the idea of individual freedom. To be free is not to adjust or conform in certain circumstances, but to fully commit and identify one’s own views, opinions, and perspectives. In order to overcome hierarchies of power, the concept of rebellion and independence is crucial. George Orwell’s 1984, demonstrates the themes of power and rebellion a great length through its cunning tale of governmental influence and disobedience. In many ways, this definitive dystopian novel is comparable to James McTeigue’s film entitled, V For Vendetta.

    Read More

  • Examples Of Doublethink In 1984

    929 Words  | 2 Pages

    George Orwell’s 1984 is a grim vision of the future where the high class has figured out a way to maintain complete control over the middle and lower classes by eliminating free thought. This is done by maintaining a constant state of war with other nations, thereby maintaining undiminishing devotion for Big Brother and his ability to protect Oceania. This is all built on a series of continuous lies about the war, history, and a constantly increasing standard of living which the people blindly believe due to being conditioned to do so for decades. The Party uses language as a way of altering history and psychologically manipulating people’s minds to gain absolute power.

    Read More

  • Examples Of Power In 1984 By George Orwell

    2029 Words  | 5 Pages

    Power is everything to people, with power people are able to do whatever they desire with no repercussions. 1984 takes place in a dystopian future were the Party controls every aspect of their citizen’s life and make their lives miserable all in the name of keeping their power. The Party exerts their power in many different ways throughout Orwell’s book. The way the Party wields their power in 1984 leads to the conclusion that the Party is unable to be overthrown because of the amount of power and control they have over their citizens.

    Read More

  • Examples Of Power In 1984 By George Orwell

    1076 Words  | 3 Pages

    Language has an enormous amount of power and its impact simply depends on how it is used and manipulated. For as long as humans have roamed the earth, there has been a constant struggle for control. As Karl Marx (a German philosopher and economist) would explain it; there is a bourgeoisie and a proletariat. The bourgeoisie is the powerful upper class, while the proletariat can be described as the lower class. These aspects of power can also be be clearly seen throughout George Orwell’s novel, 1984. An example of the bourgeoisie in the novel is O’Brien, one of the Inner Party members. The Party is the governing body of Oceania, a totalitarian country in modern day London. Everyone who is not associated with the Party can be described as the

    Read More

  • Abuse Of Power In 1984 By George Orwell

    992 Words  | 2 Pages

    Can someone truly believe something that they know to be untrue? In the book 1984 by George Orwell, a man named Winston Smith is a member of the ruling party in London. He lives in the nation known as Oceania where he is watched by telescreens by the figure known as Big Brother. The novel takes us through the struggles and risk of living under a Totalitarian government. Winston must find a way to express his rebellious nature, which he accomplishes through his sexual relations with Julia. Throughout 1984, Big Brother attempts to manipulate and brainwash Winston and the public through various methods such as torture and fear, however this could never truly work.

    Read More

  • Abuse Of Power In George Orwell's 1984

    958 Words  | 2 Pages

    Orwell has an idea for a government in his novel “1984” based on what was occurring

    Read More

  • Abuse Of Power In 1984 By George Orwell

    1054 Words  | 3 Pages

    In George Orwell’s novel 1984, there are many powerful compelling themes such as the idea of having vast amounts of power, similar to an oligarchy, the concept of mind control, and finally the theory of War is Peace, Freedom is Slavery, and Ignorance is Strength. These three topics are all genuinely relevant to the Mongolian empire, and how Genghis Khan became one of the most influential and robust leaders of all time with similar actions of the party in the novel of 1984, but their power would be less prevailing if they did not have the support from a band of illiterate people.

    Read More

  • Abuse Of Power In 1984 By George Orwell

    1160 Words  | 3 Pages

    “To the future or to the past, to a time when thought is free, when men are different from one another and do not live alone, to a time when truth exists and what is done and cannot be undone, from the age of solitude, from the age of Big Brother, from the age of doublethink - greeting!”(Orwell 40-41) From the application of that quotation, Winston Smith reflects Orwell's desires to eliminate power from an omniscient government. Throughout 1984, writer George Orwell depicts society’s members living oppressed lives.  Government also appears excessively controlling and tyrant-like. With the usage of  extended metaphors, details, and ominous diction, writer Orwell warns readers of government’s extreme power and their individual oppression. This

    Read More

More about The Power Of Power In George Orwell's 1984

Open Document