George Orwell's Dystopian Novel, The Inner Party
An author writes with a purpose in mind; in fact, if no purpose exists, no good work of writing exists. In George Orwell’s dystopian novel 1984, the Inner Party acts exactly as a real life totalitarian government, severely oppressing the people of Oceania to bend them to its will. It takes away any sense of freedom a person holds and erases considered “threats” from existence. Privacy no longer exists either: the Inner Party hears every sound and action a person makes. The rebels and the Inner Party’s control tactics not only allow Orwell to comment on the atrocities a tyrannical authority brings with it, but also to teach his audience to appreciate the value of freedom. Orwell’s desire to criticize authoritarian government acts as his motivation
to author 1984. Contemplating the Party’s lies about its wars, Winston describes its control over past, present, and future events as “more terrifying than mere torture or death” (34). Orwell tears every aspect of autocratic leadership even from the beginning of the novel. In his eyes, totalitarian authority twists the truth to their advantage no matter how far away from it that twisting gets; the people blindly follow because of their inability to speak up or prove the contrary. Additionally, when Winston turns to more active revolt, Orwell’s intentions in writing the novel become clearer. In his first act of defiance by meeting Julia, he openly expresses how “corruption always filled him with a wild hope. Who knew?” (125) Winston’s rebellious thoughts become less spastic and more frequent, giving Orwell more room for thought. His ironic realization that corruption means goodness in the world of the Inner Party reflects Orwell’s warning of the dangers of conformity to a dictatorial society. Ultimately, Orwell makes known the full extent to which a totalitarian government uses its power to create the illusion of a perfect community, hiding the secret inhumanity beneath the surface. Using the Inner Party’s maintenance of a chaotic order, Orwell paints a picture of the atrocities of an authoritarian government. In Winston’s panic of committing thoughtcrime, he explains vaporization as when someone’s “one-time existence was denied and then forgotten” (19). The Inner Party destroys freedom of thought by eliminating anyone opposing any Party ideal. Individuality ceases to exist: every citizen of Oceania works for and loves Big Brother, and peace only exists because the government forces it among its people. Furthermore, the Party instills their ideology into the innocent youth. Children are “systematically turned into ungovernable little savages” and they “adored the Party and everything connected with it” (24). From the start the Inner Party enforces obedience, so a person develops with these ideas intact in their brain. They know of little else and get the ability to think innovatively and for themselves cruelly taken away from them the minute they come out of their mother’s womb. Progression no longer occurs; every person’s life becomes a cycle of birth, propaganda, work, and death. Orwell exaggerates the powers of a totalitarian government to warn readers of an authority in the hands of corruption, cruelty, and control. The Inner Party takes away freedom from its citizens, maintaining order by eliminating the opposition and altering events in its favor. Learning from Winston and Julia, the reader prevents the takeover of such a government in their country to maintain control over their lives. Orwell illustrates the horrors of an administration obsessed with staying in power and the terrible effects their actions have on an entire population of people. Finally, Orwell encourages his readers not to let the mistake of history repeating itself happen again to allow the freedom and minds of every human being reign free.
to author 1984. Contemplating the Party’s lies about its wars, Winston describes its control over past, present, and future events as “more terrifying than mere torture or death” (34). Orwell tears every aspect of autocratic leadership even from the beginning of the novel. In his eyes, totalitarian authority twists the truth to their advantage no matter how far away from it that twisting gets; the people blindly follow because of their inability to speak up or prove the contrary. Additionally, when Winston turns to more active revolt, Orwell’s intentions in writing the novel become clearer. In his first act of defiance by meeting Julia, he openly expresses how “corruption always filled him with a wild hope. Who knew?” (125) Winston’s rebellious thoughts become less spastic and more frequent, giving Orwell more room for thought. His ironic realization that corruption means goodness in the world of the Inner Party reflects Orwell’s warning of the dangers of conformity to a dictatorial society. Ultimately, Orwell makes known the full extent to which a totalitarian government uses its power to create the illusion of a perfect community, hiding the secret inhumanity beneath the surface. Using the Inner Party’s maintenance of a chaotic order, Orwell paints a picture of the atrocities of an authoritarian government. In Winston’s panic of committing thoughtcrime, he explains vaporization as when someone’s “one-time existence was denied and then forgotten” (19). The Inner Party destroys freedom of thought by eliminating anyone opposing any Party ideal. Individuality ceases to exist: every citizen of Oceania works for and loves Big Brother, and peace only exists because the government forces it among its people. Furthermore, the Party instills their ideology into the innocent youth. Children are “systematically turned into ungovernable little savages” and they “adored the Party and everything connected with it” (24). From the start the Inner Party enforces obedience, so a person develops with these ideas intact in their brain. They know of little else and get the ability to think innovatively and for themselves cruelly taken away from them the minute they come out of their mother’s womb. Progression no longer occurs; every person’s life becomes a cycle of birth, propaganda, work, and death. Orwell exaggerates the powers of a totalitarian government to warn readers of an authority in the hands of corruption, cruelty, and control. The Inner Party takes away freedom from its citizens, maintaining order by eliminating the opposition and altering events in its favor. Learning from Winston and Julia, the reader prevents the takeover of such a government in their country to maintain control over their lives. Orwell illustrates the horrors of an administration obsessed with staying in power and the terrible effects their actions have on an entire population of people. Finally, Orwell encourages his readers not to let the mistake of history repeating itself happen again to allow the freedom and minds of every human being reign free.