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Analyse George Orwell's 1984 work
How does the society envisioned by Orwell epitomize the synopsis of totalitarian experience in the book 1984
1984, Orwell and its comparisons to our modern world
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Recommended: Analyse George Orwell's 1984 work
Quite Similar: Orwell and the U.S. “War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength.” Shockingly true. A quote from George Orwell’s novel, 1984, still resonates today as it was published in 1948; sixty-eight years ago. In the novel, his fictional world of gruesome totalitarian power through constant surveillance, prostitution, drug abuse, manipulation, and so on, keep the people of Oceania in control. Though it may seem as if Orwell’s terrifying utopia is just a fantasy, the horrifying fact is that it -- to some extent -- exists today, especially in the United States. War is Peace. In the fabricated society, war creates a peaceful environment through patriotism; where the citizens of Oceania devote themselves to their country over anything they do. Where does that seem familiar? Here, right at home. When we look back in history and even look around today, the pride of fighting overseas and protecting the country exist in minds of many young men and women; not to mention the supportive families and friends who proudly stay at home to …show more content…
The Party brainwashes its citizens and force them into following strict rules simply to keep the hierarchy and maintain authority. There is no “freedom” for the citizens. Not only the physical matter of being free, but their emotions are also enslaved. For example, none of its citizens can have a relationship or have sex. The Party believes that being in a relationship means dedicating everything to their soulmate and not focusing on of course, the beautiful world of totalitarianism. (Yes, that was sarcastic.) New generations of Americans might not relate to slavery that well, but we can still recognize the fact that not so long ago, people were enslaved in this country. It took decades for African Americans to receive the same treatment as others. Through their exhausting and terrifying experiences of being whipped, raped, or even killed, their courage and dedication of equality established
The novel, 1984, written by George Orwell, gives readers an insight to a possible frightening future where one government has complete and definite control of the people. But “control” might not be the term to describe such a rule. The Party dominates every aspect of life. There is not a single thing that is not under the Party’s rule. Feelings, history, language, statistics, and even human nature are submissive to the Party. They corrupt the mind so much that there is no longer a line that separates truth from a lie. Slogans are repeated through telescreens on a daily basis so the people are gradually forced to believe in illogical statements. Upon first glance, it may seem that a 1984 society is not even imaginable in the world we live in currently. But is it really logical to make such an assumption so quickly? Do we know that what we see on the news and read in our history textbooks is completely accurate? The Internet is one of the most powerful technologies our world has, consisting of an insurmountable amount of information, which is not always what it seems. Ultimately, there are so many things that we do not know, some of which is being held a secret from us. Modern day society shockingly has evidence of a transformation into a menacing 1984 society because of similar government actions and abuse of advanced technology.
George Orwell’s novel, 1984, is a dystopian literary text that illuminates the tenets of totalitarian and authoritarian governance in most areas where the leaders seek total loyalty and near hero worship. It was published in 1949, but has since remained relevant because its details promoted authoritarian political constructs and the political leadership concepts that evolved in the globe over time. Set at Oceania province in Airstrip One, formerly known as Great Britain, the book displays an omnipresent government that institutes constant state surveillance on the people that it suspects to be a threat to its regime and agitators of rebellion. It infringes on human rights
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.
"The historian Will Durant calculated that there have been twenty nine years in all of human history during which a war was not underway somewhere." (Hedges, 2003). In fact more than half of my lifetime has consisted of the United States, my country, being at war. It is sad to know that I have no experienced peace. It is also alarming because I, like my peers, have become somewhat immune and numb to war. We have come to think of it as just another issue going on, and do not really see it as the drastic event that it really is. It is something that is just there; just in the background.
Each phrase is a paradox within itself. When analyzed in the context of the political and social atmosphere, each contradictory motto becomes logical. The first concept, “WAR IS PEACE”, is thoroughly brought into light by the untitled book that O’Brien lends Winston after Winston expresses his interest in the Brotherhood. War in Oceania is actually peaceful because “the object of the war is not to make or prevent conquests of territory, but to keep the structure of society intact” according to this informative book (164). The continuous wars between Oceania, Eastasia, and Eurasia prove that these regions have surprisingly civilized relationships with one another, with the book even stating “the effect would be much the same if the three super-states, instead of fighting one another, should agree to live in perpetual peace, each inviolate within its own boundaries” (164).
When George Orwell’s epic novel 1984 was published in 1949 it opened the public’s imagination to a future world where privacy and freedom had no meaning. The year 1984 has come and gone and we generally believe ourselves to still live in “The Land of the Free;” however, as we now move into the 21st Century changes brought about by recent advances in technology have changed the way we live forever. Although these new developments have seamed to make everyday life more enjoyable, we must be cautious of the dangers that lie behind them for it is very possible that we are in fact living in a world more similar to that of 1984 than we would like to imagine.
War Is a Force That Gives Us Meaning, written by the talented author Chris Hedges, gives us provoking thoughts that are somewhat painful to read but at the same time are quite personal confessions. Chris Hedges, a talented journalist to say the least, brings nearly 15 years of being a foreign correspondent to this book and subjectively concludes how all of his world experiences tie together. Throughout his book, he unifies themes present in all wars he experienced first hand. The most important themes I was able to draw from this book were, war skews reality, dominates culture, seduces society with its heroic attributes, distorts memory, and supports a cause, and allures us by a constant battle between death and love.
Though the problems that Orwell fears do exist and have been present throughout the history of the United States, they are not as likely to ruin us as a society as Huxley’s predictions. In Orwell's negative utopia or dystopia, there is a totalitarian government that controls every aspect of its citizens’ lives including their private life, what they think, and what they believe. In 1984, a political body known as the Party rules the state Oceania. One technique that the Party utilizes to control the people of Oceania is psychological manipulation in which the government uses propaganda and doublethink to send contradictory messages such as...
Howe, Irving, and George Orwell. 1984 Revisited Totalitarianism in Our Century. New York: Harper & Row, 1983.
Ultimately, common ideas found in the novel 1984, totalitarianism, surveillance, and lack of privacy are also ubiquitous in modern society and government. Big Brother and modern day government have been able to control its citizens through surveillance equipment, and fear all for a little more power. There is much to learn from such an undesirable form of society much like the one of Oceania in 1984. Examining Big Brother government closely, alarming connections can be made to real-world government actions in the United States and the cruel world within Orwell's book.
These examples display the inevitable fact that all over the world subtle but significant events are taking place that appear to signify a shifting toward a totalitarian government, much like the one present in 1984. This is extremely disturbing because most people will agree that the life lived by the characters in 1984, is not one of any value. Though they are “protected” from several of the problems that many of the free world citizens and officials face, they have no control over their thoughts or actions. This leads to unbearable uniformity. It is chilling to know that though George Orwell’s book was written as fiction, portions of it are becoming factual.
Natural instincts and emotions do not exist for the citizens in Oceania, as they are conditioned since birth to be working bodies, lacking mercy and compassion. “By careful early conditioning, by games and cold water, by the rubbish that was dinned into them at school and in the Spies and the Youth League, by lectures, parades, songs, slogans and martial music, the natural feeling had been driven out of them.” (Orwell, p.71) The main repetitive means of conditioning were the Party slogans which citizens must adhere to; War is Peace, Freedom is Slavery, Ignorance is Strength. War is linked with peace and security, rather than horror and grief. Freedom is viewed as being an individual, therefore more susceptible to torture. The individual is defeated and therefore enslaved to the government rather than being apart of the government. In result, there is no freedom of thought, expression, language, religion, etc. Ignorance is bliss since there is no need to criticize the government and therefore, fewer confrontations.
George Orwell’s novel, 1984, is the most influential criticism of expansive government in modern times. Since its release in 1949, the novel has transformed the way in which citizens view their governments, as well as how governments serve their citizens. Orwell began work on the novel - which would eventually define him - in the immediate aftermath of the Second World War. The timing of the novel and its close associations with familiar leaders such as Hitler, Stalin, and Mussolini reverberated in the minds of the public, as much of the west eagerly accepted the novel into popular culture. The Second World War distinguishes itself from the many wars of the past in its atrocities
The Party changes records of the past constantly to match its needs. If someone commits a crime, they are vaporized, and then erased from any and all historical records. There are no more martyrs, because no one remembers them after they are killed. The government also changes history to make people believe that the Party has been in power since the beginning of man. Using the tactic of doublethink, the population is able to believe this, even if they possess memories from before the Party rose to power. This is an example of mental control.
George Orwell’s novel 1984, is the most powerful warnings ever released about the dangers and the controls of living under a totalitarian government. The main character, Winston Smith is at war, trying to control the Inner Party and rebelling against Big Brother, the dictator of Oceania. The author gives us readers an image of inhumanity and the impacts it has in the citizens, physically and mentally. Orwell uses literary elements such as imagery, foreshadowing, symbolism, and irony to demonstrate the theme of indestructible of a totalitarism.