1984 Essay

Submitted By taylerromanelli
Words: 1082
Pages: 5
Open Document
Tayler Romanelli
Mr. Cox
Dual Enrollment English; B2
18 May 2014
Totalitarian Society In the book 1984 by George Orwell, the author illustrates the value and power of the individual in a totalitarian society. Orwell communicates the power in a totalitarian society generally through O'Brien. He explains that this type of society is based on power of only those in the controlling party. Orwell shows that the society is not only controlled by one individual, the society is solely about power not others that rule against it, and that an individual in this type of society still has the power to think for themselves. All of World State society can be described as an effort to eliminate the individual from society. That doesn't mean the elimination of all people; it means the conditioning of those people so that they don't really think of themselves as individuals. What makes a person an individual? Having a sense of oneself as being separate, distinct, unique. This sense includes both the joy of one's own talents and thoughts, and the sorrows of loneliness and isolation. These experiences of individuality are what are referred to as "the Human condition," and everything in the World State is designed to avoid anyone ever feeling individual in any way, either through sadness or joy. But these safeguards aren't enough for all the citizens of the World State, and they become aware of their individuality. In 1984, Orwell portrays the perfect totalitarian society, the most extreme realization imaginable of a modern-day government with absolute power. The title of the novel was meant to indicate to its readers in 1949 that the story represented a real possibility for the near future: if totalitarianism were not opposed, the title suggested, some variation of the world described in the novel could become a reality in only thirty-five years. Orwell portrays a state in which government monitors and controls every aspect of human life to the extent that even having a disloyal thought is against the law. As the novel progresses, the timidly rebellious Winston Smith sets out to challenge the limits of the Party’s power, only to discover that its ability to control and enslave its subjects dwarfs even his most paranoid conceptions of its reach. As the reader comes to understand through Winston’s eyes, The Party uses a number of techniques to control its citizens, each of which is an important theme of its own in the novel. The author communicates that the society is not merely ruled by one person by explaining how "The Party" works. O'Brien tells Winston about The Party and how it is different from any other oligarchy in the past. "We know that no one ever seizes power with the intention of relinquishing it. Power is not a means, it is an end." O'Brien explained. He is saying that The Party will continue with every other generation of people after the next. O'Brien also says "the individual is only a cell" and asks Winston "Do you die when you cut your fingernails off?" O'Brien is telling Winston that The Party will not die off when members of it do. The goal of a totalitarian society is not to end. Orwell shows that in a totalitarian society, the individuals do not care for those who are not joined on their side. He does this through O'Brien and his explanation of The Party as well. "The party seeks power entirely for its own sake." O'Brien said that they are not interested in the good of other but exclusively the power itself. The novel explains that power is the only thing an individual in this society wants. The Party barrages its subjects with psychological stimuli designed to overwhelm the mind’s capacity for independent thought. The giant telescreen in every citizen’s room blasts a constant stream of propaganda designed to make the failures and shortcomings of the Party appear to be triumphant successes. The telescreens also monitor behavior — everywhere they go, citizens are continuously reminded, especially by means of the
Show More

Related Documents: 1984 Essay

1984 Essay

1984 Essay: Dystopian Fiction Hailey Rutherford Mr. Chornie March 10th, 2015 Over time, there have been many different versions of dystopian fiction. Some of the most popular examples include; Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, The Time Machine by H. G. Wells, and of course, 1984 by George Orwell. Dystopian fiction It has been characterized as a type of literature that consists of an imaginary place or condition in which everything that could go wrong, goes wrong (Oxford Dictionary Reference)…

Words 1185 - Pages 5

Response to 1984 Essay

Hailey Smith English 101-10017 Essay 2 July 9, 2009 Is Their World Really That Different? 1984 by George Orwell is a novel consisting of a world controlled by a higher power. A world where people live in constant fear of doing or saying something wrong and thoughts can be incriminating. Thoughts of impurity result in disappearance and people are constantly being watched and observed without knowing. Telescreens are everywhere and could constantly be watching every facial expression, abnormal…

Words 942 - Pages 4

1984 Essay

Rebels of the Party In the book 1984 by George Orwell, a new world order has been introduced. The book revolves around a member of the Outer Party of Oceania, Winston Smith. In the year 1984, the world is divided among 3 sections, Oceania, Eurasia and Eastasia. Oceania is split into 3 classes, the Inner Party as the upper class, the Outer Party being the middle, and the proles being the lowest. The Party is the government of Oceania, it controls everything, it sees everything and it is everything…

Words 614 - Pages 3

1984 Essay

The reader is filled with total cynicism after reading 1984. Do you agree? In his novel ‘1984’, George Orwell describes a terrifying vision of a totalitarian future in which everything and everyone is slave to a tyrannical regime. The citizens of Oceania are ruled by fear, brainwashed by propaganda, constantly being watched, have no rights and certainly no freedom of expression. The amount of power Ingsoc has on its people is so great that people in the society don’t even possess the ability to think…

Words 970 - Pages 4

1984 Essay

Nicole Chheda Mrs. Zavacki English 10 Seminar-3 22 October 2013 Irony of Orwell’s Novel, 1984 Even though Orwell’s dystopian novel, 198,4 was written in the late 40’s, the resemblance of their privacy, perpetual war and altered language methods seem to resemble modern day society. Orwell’s famous novel relates to our present day world in various ways. Based on many different circumstances, it remains hard to distinguish what Orwell’s true purpose was for writing this book. The thought…

Words 720 - Pages 3

Essay On 1984

‘The world will grapple with a range of problems in the future.’ Fellow year 11 students Don’t you think the future looks pretty bleak if we read Nineteen Eighty-Four? The Orwellian vision is so dark and horrible; most of us couldn’t bear to watch the film. And even though some of us weren’t able to follow the film, we were all able to see the struggles that Winston Smith faced, with being watched by ‘Big Brother’ 24/7. Who is ‘Big Brother’? It’s just the idea of your own big brother looking…

Words 659 - Pages 3

Essay 1984

1984 George Orwell Winston changes dramatically throughout the novel. At the beginning, he is trying to survive in his society, but all the while doubtful, questioning, and hateful towards the powers that ran it. He knew things weren't right, but didn't quite know how. He knew that he couldn't be the only one that hated the party, but felt hopeless that he could connect with anyone else. He was confused and struggling. As time passes, and he meets Julia, his confidence in his own mind and rebellion…

Words 308 - Pages 2

1984 Essay.

A totalitarian government eliminates luxuries in order to gain power and appreciation from his or her people. This is because people often grow to be unappreciative of the luxuries they are being provided with. So, by taking away or even eliminating a luxury, it forces people to be more appreciative and thankful for it. Even more so, they show love towards the provider in which case is the totalitarian government or leader. If the leader is gaining love and thankfulness from their people, it is equivalent…

Words 871 - Pages 4

1984 Essay

Secrets Have Consequences In George Orwell’s 1984, the main characters Winston Smith and Julia learn that one lie or secret can accumulate into many lies or secrets and affects not only themselves, but everyone around them. In the beginning Winston and Julia question the Party’s activity, but fear to even think or say aloud how they feel about the Party’s actions. They begin to constantly lie and accumulate secrets which inevitably backs Winston and Julia into a corner, and leaves them with no…

Words 935 - Pages 4

1984 essay

Government Manipulation in 1984 Nearly every aspect of the society in 1984 by George Orwell was controlled by The Government. The citizens of Oceania were physically controlled and confined to eating and drinking only certain things, living in designated areas, and participating in regulated activities. As physical control was relatively easy to establish using force, The Government also had full mental control over the people. This was accomplished through the regulation of media, music, poetry…

Words 942 - Pages 4