Big Brother, Best Friend
Big Brother, Best Friend Oceania: a society where people are completely unified against the treachery of one Emmanuel Goldstein. In rejection of Goldstein, they fully accept Big Brother, their eternal guardian and savior. While citizens are strongly bound together by these shared views, little emotional connection exists between individuals. Isolation and alienation of is a tool used by the government to regulate emotions and thought of citizens.
As a primary characteristic of dystopian literature, isolation is prominent throughout the novel. Oceania is a society based on keeping people apart, both physically and emotionally. Citizens are expected to “…not have friends, [but] comrades,” which places a neutral connotation on all relationships, as opposed to the close, trusting connotation of ‘friend’ (48). The strict use of the word ‘comrade’ is a simple form of control that has a powerful impact; in eliminating the trust from relationships, people are forced to keep their thoughts private. By keeping communications to a minimum, the Party is eliminating the ability to organize, to plan, and to rebel. Although the citizens of Oceania are kept detached from others, they unite for one thing; the Two Minutes Hate. The Party only allows for homogeneity in hate, which completely restricts people’s ability to form loving relationships. As the Party forbids fornication simply for pleasure, they are once again denying the citizens of passion (67). Instead, the Party gives citizens Big Brother as an outlet for their adoration, therefore fueling the fondness of the government. While the people of Oceania are being isolated from other human beings, they are welcomed warmly into the arms of Big Brother.
Alienation is a useful tool to the Party in emphasizing the disaffection between citizens. “Not to let one’s feelings appear in one’s face [is] a habit that [has] acquired the status of an instinct…” in Oceania (106). Such habits are now standard in this dystopian society,
As a primary characteristic of dystopian literature, isolation is prominent throughout the novel. Oceania is a society based on keeping people apart, both physically and emotionally. Citizens are expected to “…not have friends, [but] comrades,” which places a neutral connotation on all relationships, as opposed to the close, trusting connotation of ‘friend’ (48). The strict use of the word ‘comrade’ is a simple form of control that has a powerful impact; in eliminating the trust from relationships, people are forced to keep their thoughts private. By keeping communications to a minimum, the Party is eliminating the ability to organize, to plan, and to rebel. Although the citizens of Oceania are kept detached from others, they unite for one thing; the Two Minutes Hate. The Party only allows for homogeneity in hate, which completely restricts people’s ability to form loving relationships. As the Party forbids fornication simply for pleasure, they are once again denying the citizens of passion (67). Instead, the Party gives citizens Big Brother as an outlet for their adoration, therefore fueling the fondness of the government. While the people of Oceania are being isolated from other human beings, they are welcomed warmly into the arms of Big Brother.
Alienation is a useful tool to the Party in emphasizing the disaffection between citizens. “Not to let one’s feelings appear in one’s face [is] a habit that [has] acquired the status of an instinct…” in Oceania (106). Such habits are now standard in this dystopian society,