Exploring Totalitarianism in Orwell's 'Nineteen Eighty-Four'

In George Orwell 's "Nineteen Eighty-Four," the main storyline revolves around a dystopian society whose self-thought has been corrupted by an over empowered governing body. Orwell’s intention was to bring Hitler’s ideas to life. Smith is a middle-aged frail man who is ambivalent towards his government, however is unable to resist the strength of the indoctrination he has been subjected to, during the entirety of his life. As the reader progresses through the novel, ideas of totalitarianism are illustrated throughout the story via Smith’s internal and external conflicts with his government. It quickly becomes apparent that there is an uncopiable amount of government power which is something that is seen as early as the second paragraph. Propaganda

This being so, he admitted himself that he felt no hatred for the man. Orwell lived through being tricked by Hitler’s manipulative rise to power and hypnotic control, and felt that he needed to warn the common people of any possible similar situation. During the time Orwell was writing "Nineteen Eighty-Four," he was not in great physical and mental condition, another writer remarked. "Orwell 's health was poor; then, too, his wife died in 1945. Orwell was sick and gloomy; in 1947 he retired to a small farm on a distant, lonely island in the Hebrides, and cut himself off from society. Personal facts obviously predisposed him toward looking at public facts with bitterness (Kateb, 574)." Orwell 's weakness could be an explanation for the severity of the situation within "Nineteen Eighty-Four," as he was vulnerable, and likely wrote for a cause. Because of his intimidation by the recent events in Germany, the war and potential for Nazism to seize control, Orwell wrote "Nineteen Eighty-Four" full of fear. This is likely the cause for the tremendous amount of pessimism, and obvious connections that can be seen in the