Theme Of Manipulation In George Orwell's 1984

George Orwell’s 1984, written in 1949 is a novel about what George Orwell thinks the future of the human race will look like. A frightening, and confronting novel, George Orwell explores the fine line between protection and oppression. Using ideas such as psychological manipulation, the dangers of totalitarianism, and control over the past, the present, and the future, George Orwell challenges the reader to enter and imagine this dystopia.

Orwell explores the fine line between protection and oppression in society, by exploring the idea of totalitarianism. In a society where totalitarianism exists, all control over public and private life is forfeit over to the government, which is what has happened to 1984’s Oceania, as ‘Big Brother’ and
1984 is written from the main protagonist, Winston’s, point of view, allowing the reader to imagine, and feel what it is like to live in a totalitarian society, where psychological manipulation is used everyday. The setting of crumbling London, and Winston’s tone throughout the novel, particularly when he displays a calm voice when in the presence of other party members, and a high pitched tone when scared, additionally allows the reader to imagine this dystopia. Showing that if a citizen of Oceania wishes to “to keep a secret, [they] must also hide it from [themselves.]” Orwell has used the characterisation of Winston, and Julia to show the fine line between oppression and protection in his novel. For while both Winston and Julia wish to rebel, they are scared of the outcome if they are caught. The paperweight that Winston finds, and keeps is a symbol of his and Julia’s relationship, that has been classed as ‘wrong’. When it is whole, it symbolises protection, as they haven’t been caught yet, and when it smashes it symbolises oppression, as they have been caught in a relationship, that in a normal setting would be allowed. This is an example of the oppression that psychological manipulation can incur, for in the Ministry of Love the party turns Winston and Julia against each other, for “power is tearing human minds to pieces and putting them together again in new shapes of your own choosing.” Orwell has achieved this by using high modality language, and exclamation points, specifically when Winston shouts “Do it to Julia!” Additionally, this symbolism of Winston, and Julia’s relationship can also show Winston felt safe with Julia, but was oppressed by the knowledge they’d be caught. As when Winston first obtained the paperweight he knew he shouldn’t have it, but it brought a sense of calm over