What Does Religion Mean In 1984

In George Orwell’s “1984”, we are introduced to a totalitarian government, who monitor their citizens closely. They are ruled by a figure head named Big Brother. Big Brother and the Party engross their citizens into loving them by portraying themselves as a secular religion; through religious thoughts and practices. The party invites their citizens to Rituals, which help model them into a better lover of Big Brother. As well the party has adopted a godlike head; also known as Big Brother. When needed the party is able to help those who are drowning in the sins that they have committed towards Big Brother. Due to this Big Brother and the party are a nightmarish political system, which uses different aspects of religious views such as; Rituals,

an eternal Godhead, and Sin and Redemption.
Rituals in religion can vary greatly as they can involve many aspects of the people.

In 1984 rituals can be seen throughout such as the Two Minute Hate and Public executions. The Two Minute Hate is a type of ritual that brings the anger out of the citizens and towards a specific person. Then afterwards they show their love and happiness towards Big Brother. (Insert Essay Quote Entry) “Two minutes Hate, which celebrates Big Brother’s victory over the satanic Goldstein and culminates in the fervent prayer “Long live Big Brother”” This quote gives us a sense of a ritual which incorporates a good and bad aspect. They host the Two Minute Hate for every citizen to take part in. During this ritual they express their animosity towards a so called “devil”, and their elation toward their godhead. Like in Christianity where there is the devil and god; they embody this in their rituals. They teach their followers to act as per god’s wishes. Thus this brings the followers compassion out through this type of ritual, by allowing them to believe that the party is giving them an opportunity to show their devotion towards their motives and teachings. (Insert Essay Quote Entry) “The Two Minute Hate, the daily ritual of public worship” As seen in many religion, religious practices occur daily and is a way for worshipers to convey their sentiment to their god. In that same way the Two Minute Hate occurs daily, in which all comrades must attend; thus showing their allegiance. A quote which

supports the party using an illusion of rituals, can be found on page 25. “Some Eurasian prisoners, guilty of war crimes, were to be hanged in the Park that evening, Winston remembered. This happened about once a month, and was a popular spectacle” Apart from the party using the Two Minute Hate, as a representation of a religious ritual. The party also uses public hanging as a religious practice. By having public executions of those who oppose Big Brother, they feel the admiration towards their leader. As they believe that Big Brother is keeping them safe from those who wish to hurt them. In the same sense as religious followers pray to god to help them and keep them safe from bad activities. As the party creates a silhouette off of the beliefs that they believe to be true. By using this silhouette they are able to create a mirage of religious like activities which keeps the comrades loyalty strong.
A god in religions can be represented in a variety of forms. Each one of these forms have unique features. Knowing this we can see that in 1984 there is a clear representation of a god, or a godlike being; this being Big Brother. Even though no one knows for sure if Big Brother exists, comrades worship him like he is all knowing and that he see’s all. (Insert Essay Quote Entry) “Brother’s hypnotic gaze, which penetrates all minds of Oceania” This quote helps us understand what makes Big Brother to be contemplated that he is an embodiment of god. God in religion is considered a being, which is able to know what you’re thinking and doing at any given time; even with him not being present. In the same way the gaze of Big Brother is like he is in your own mind, learning of all the things you have done and all the things you plan to do. In 1984 comrades think of Big Brother as their only hope for salvation. An example of this can be found on page 18 of the novel. “The little sandy-haired woman had flung herself forward over the back of the chair in front of her. With a tremulous murmur that sounded like “My Saviour!” [...] It was apparent that she was uttering a prayer.” This quote shows us that just by one glance of their beloved Big Brother it could bring so much joy and happiness from them. As this woman said outloud “My saviour!”, we come to understand that Big Brother was truly worshiped by many comrades. As they believed he would be their saviour. Another quote which supports this idea is found on page 107 in the novel. “[...], he slid a coin out of his pocket and looked at it. The face gazed up at him, heavy, calm, protecting [...]” Big Brother being their leader had his face on a coin. But when Winston took that coin out and looked at it he seemed to have felt a bit strange. This was due to the fact that the eyes of Big Brother even though they were on a coin, they seemed to have given him the feeling that he was indeed present and watching him. While at the same time he felt as if Big Brother gave a heavy, calm and protecting presence as. This goes back to the fact that god in many religions can be present not physically but spiritually and he may be watching you at any given moment.
Sin, Penitence, and Redemption, these three concepts can be found in the religions; but in different forms.

Sin, Penitence, and Redemption refer to the wrong deeds someone has done. They must show regret towards their wrong doings. Only after that they may start to redeem themselves back into society. In 1984 the party uses this same concept in order to help rehabilitate comrades. (Insert Essay Quote Entry) “”Learning, Understanding and Acceptance,” which I suggest is Orwell’s parody of the spiritual journey” Through these three steps which are mirror Sin, Penitence, and Redemption we come to understand that the party is trying to show a “parody of the spiritual journey”; which people take to help them realize that they are on the wrong path. They must first Learn what they did wrong. They must accept that what they did is wrong and that they should feel guilty because of it. Only after learning and understanding they can finally accept it and change their lives around. The party incorporates the illusion of a spiritual journey , in order to establish their teachings into lost comrades.In the book on page 31 an example of Sin and Learning can be seen. “Thoughtcrime does not entail death; thoughtcrime IS death” As Winston writes this line into his diary he starts to realize the crime that he is committing. He knows and understands that by writing in his diary it is guilty for thought crime. Thus he begins to take the first step into following the spiritual journey, by

understanding that in the eyes of the party he is dead. A quote from the book which encompasses the act of Redemption and Acceptance can be found on page 311. “He had won the victory over himself. He loved Big Brother.” After completing the steps of Learning and Understanding Winston finally realizes that what he has done in the past was all but a war inside of him; of contradicting thoughts. After he won that war “over himself”. He finally accepted himself as a lover of Big Brother. Thus he completed the spiritual journey, that the party wished for him to complete. By this he redeemed himself back into society as a trusting and firm believer of Big Brother.
In conclusion, we can see that all though Big Brother and the party are a strict, totalitarian government system. They utilize religious views and conventions to help further engross their citizens in their ways. By using Rituals, Presence of a Godhead, and Sin, Penitence, and Redemption they are able to show that a nightmarish political system can have aspects of a secular religion.