12/18/2008
Winston Smith’s Escape from Reality
George Orwell’s 1984, is a gripping novel written post World War Two, that is primarily about the use of control in a war sought country against the good of the people. It depicts a communist society, where the leader of the government has a say in everything, everywhere. Nineteen Eighty-Four ultimately illustrates Orwell’s view of a futuristic society based on his past. Having lived through the regimes of Mussolini, Hitler and Stalin, it seems acceptable that Orwell could dream of such a harsh reality. Overall, this novel can be seen as a warning against the quest for power due to the totalitarian nature of the party, the socially constricted setting, and the rebellious desire of the Brotherhood to overwhelm the party.
Orwell himself considers 1984 a satiric exaggeration of the abuse of power in a totalitarian society. In the novel, Big Brother is portrayed as the leader of the party and ultimately brainwashes the citizens of Oceania to support his regime. It is the use of power that he has, that causes people in Oceania to believe in him. The extent of his control can be seen through the numerous signs and videos that depict his sovereignty. An example of this is the constantly displayed poster depicting Big Brother, with the line “BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU” underneath. This caption signifies the totalitarian nature of Big Brother because it shows that at all times you are being watched, giving you no freedom what so ever. Similarly, the use of the Two Minutes Hate allows Big Brother to gain more control over his people. As people begin to love the Big Brother, they lose their own mindset, and ultimately submit themselves to the control of Big Brother. “The horrible thing about the two minutes hate was not that one was obliged to act a part, but that it was impossible to avoid joining in”. Winston describes a scene where the people of Oceania chant in support of the Big Brother. The totalitarian nature of the Big Brother can be seen as a warning against the abuse of power because in the end, all totalitarian regimes are defeated, and this can be seen through the rule of Hitler, or Stalin. When a party abuses its power, a social uproar occurs causing the downfall of the party. Another key element contributing to the totalitarian nature of the government is the use of telescreens to watch the citizens of Oceania. By placing telescreens, people no longer have the freedom to do what they want, and therefore they lose their emotions over time.
