Preview

Nineteen Eighty-Four: a Response to Totalitarian Rule

Better Essays
Open Document
Open Document
2049 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Nineteen Eighty-Four: a Response to Totalitarian Rule
Nineteen Eighty-Four: A Response to Totalitarian Rule “The great strength of the totalitarian state is that it forces those who fear it to imitate it,” – Adolf Hitler. The concept of totalitarianism is a political system where the government ceases to recognize any limits to its authority, and in turn, successfully regulates every aspect of public and private life of the population. This type of regime is considered extremely undemocratic and fundamentally a dictatorship, where a sole party or leader controls the entire welfare of a nation. The idea of totalitarianism was first developed and practiced in the 1920s by the Italian fascists and the theory soon became popular in the Western political discourse during the Cold War era. The most popular example of this dystopian practice is Adolf Hitler of Nazi Germany. The repressive authoritarian governments intended to stay in power through all-encompassing propaganda communicated through the control of mass media, total dominance over the economy and society, mass surveillance of the population and the widespread use of terror to keep the populace in submission and under control. Orwell, being a realistic socialist, viewed the high-handed government as a cultism of people who were solely hungry for power and to whom the welfare of the population ceased to matter. George Orwell’s novel Nineteen Eighty-Four is considered a response against the practice of such a tyrannical and oppressive political point of view, where he sought to portray the result within a society if such a domineering regime would succeed. Although considered a futuristic fictional novel, Nineteen Eight-Four not only gives a response to the political endeavors of Orwell’s time but also attempts to display a prediction of the future, in which many aspects of the novel such as the elements of constant warfare and the panoptical practices of Big Brother, are just a few of the particular predictions existent in society today. To begin to understand


Cited: "Big Brother (Nineteen Eighty-Four)." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 01 Nov. 2011. . Bennett, John. "Orwell 's 1984: Was Orwell Right?" Institution of Historical Review. Web. . Olson, Bradley, and Zain Shauk. "Hundreds of Cameras Going up Downtown - Houston Chronicle." Houston News, Sports, Business, and Entertainment - The Houston Chronicle at Chron.com - Houston Chronicle. Houston Chronicle, 24 Nov. 2010. Web. 28 Oct. 2011. . Orwell, George. 1984: a Novel. New York, NY: Signet Classic, 2008. Print. Pittock, Malcolm. "George Orwell." Cambridge Quarterly 39.2 (2010): 172-76. Print.
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    How Did Stalin Gain Power In 1984
    • 1020 Words
    • 5 Pages

    How Did Stalin Gain Power In 1984

    The terrors of a totalitarian government presented in George Orwell's 1984 apply not only to the Party, but also to the Stalinist Russia of the 1930's. Frightening similarities exist between these two bodies which both started out as forms of government, and then mutated into life-controlling political organizations which "subordinated all institutions and classes under one supreme power" (Buckler 924). Orwell shows how such a system can impose its will on the people through manipulation of media, constant supervision as aided by technology, and the threat of pain, both physical and mental. Orwell also shows how the state has more subtle methods for imposing its authority, such as the manipulation of language and propaganda as they are used to achieve the goal of absolute power for the system. A key parallel between the Party and Stalin's Communism is the use of technology and communication to control the economic, social, and personal aspects of life.…

    • 1020 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Totalitarianism Thrives on the Exploitation of the Weak by the Strong
    • 1590 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Totalitarianism Thrives on the Exploitation of the Weak by the Strong

    In the course of my essay, I will attempt to clarify the meaning of totalitarianism, briefly analyze a dictatorial mind and its weapons; highlight a few historical as well as present-day examples of oligarchic governance and offer an in-depth analysis of the novel Animal Farm by George Orwell as well as the novel Nineteen Eighty Four by the same author while relating it to the topic of discussion. My personal opinion has also been included.…

    • 1590 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    1984: Nineteen Eighty-four and People
    • 1645 Words
    • 7 Pages

    1984: Nineteen Eighty-four and People

    Imagine living in a world where politics are everything and all forms of individuality and personal identities are shattered. A world where everybody is stripped of their rights to talk, act, think, or even form their own opinions, simply because they do not agree with the government’s beliefs. These aspects are just a few of the examples of things dictators would have control over in a totalitarianism form of government. Aggressive leaders such as Hitler and Joseph Stalin are examples of such dictators. They used their power for terror and murder, and their motive is simply to maximize their own personal power. George Orwell had witnessed World War II, the fall of Hitler and Stalin’s dictatorships, and the fatal outcomes that have come from these governments. To warn future generations of the harsh effects of totalitarianism governments, he wrote the book Nineteen Eighty-Four. Published in 1946, Nineteen Eighty-Four describes life in a totalitarianism form of government, following the main character, Winston Smith, as he takes risks in discovering how he believes life should truly be. Literary critic Irving Howe states, “Were it possible, in the world of 1984, to show human character in anything resembling genuine freedom...it would not be the world of 1984” (62). In Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four, the government uses its power to suppress individuality among the people.…

    • 1645 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    1984 Metropolis Essay
    • 1294 Words
    • 4 Pages

    1984 Metropolis Essay

    Through the use of Orwell’s and Lang’s intertextual connections of political reform and shared perspectives of dystopic societies it becomes apparent that the quote “The object of power is power” is strongly supported throughout the two texts. The meaning of this quote is also made abundantly clear within the texts as the dictatorship rulers within both texts acquire power simply to have power and authority, instead of for the good of the people. This features predominantly in both texts through their shared perspectives on dystopic settings made apparent by their use of symbolism. In Orwell’s ‘1984’ only 2% of the populace resides in the ‘Inner Party’ whilst the other 98% is suppressed within the lower classes in either the ‘Outer Party’ or the ‘Proles’. This totalitarian, power based society is made dystopic by the overwhelming power and control exhibited by the tyrant dictator ‘Big Brother’. This is emphasised through Orwell’s use of symbolism in O’Brien’s words as he says “If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face – for ever.” (pg 307) The symbolism between the boot and big brother, and the human face and society emphasises the suppressive nature of this totalitarianism rule, casting the society into dystopia. This also forms a contextual connection to Nazi…

    • 1294 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Individuality In Nineteen Eighty-Four
    • 1785 Words
    • 8 Pages

    Individuality In Nineteen Eighty-Four

    In the world of Nineteen Eighty-Four, individuality is an offence punishable by death, and the people live under constant supervision. The main character, Winston, lives in the totalitarian state of Oceania, where a figurehead known only as Big Brother is revered by the majority of the populace. In this state, those in positions of power are members of the Inner Party, while the rest of the people are either members of the Outer Party or part of the proletariat. Those who choose to rebel against the principles of the Party are not only killed, however, and instead are tortured until not even a trace of individuality remains within them. W.H. New stated that “Nineteen Eighty-Four is very…

    • 1785 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Utopia In George Orwell's 1984
    • 637 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Utopia In George Orwell's 1984

    In the year of 1949, George Orwell saw a possible future from his reflection of the totalitarian regimes of World War II and experience in Spain as well as Russia, especially with Stalin. This would culminate into the novel known as 1984, in which the Party and their leader – Big Brother – have complete control of the nation known as Oceania, where everyone is under constant surveillance by the Thought Police. The story is set in London which has decayed just as much as the people’s souls and minds, shown as a “negative utopia”.…

    • 637 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Totalitarianism In 1984
    • 86 Words
    • 1 Page

    Totalitarianism In 1984

    A totalitarian government must be simultaneously admired and feared by its citizens in order to maintain absolute control. Oceania’s Inner Party in George Orwell’s 1984 takes extreme measures, such as putting its people through physical and mental torture, to ensure that they will always remain in power. Citizens are robbed of any personal rights and freedoms, bringing about their suffering and the Party’s success. Inequality between the social classes as well as unreasonable punishment for crime keeps the citizens in line and the Party in…

    • 86 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    1984
    • 1374 Words
    • 6 Pages

    1984

    Cited: Enteen, George M. "George Orwell and the Theory of Totalitarianism: A 1984 Retrospective." Journal of General Education 36.3 (n.d.): 206-15. Print.…

    • 1374 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The Once And Future King Literary Analysis
    • 701 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The Once And Future King Literary Analysis

    ‘Everything not forbidden is compulsory’ as wrote by the 20th-century writer, T.H. White in his Arthurian novel, The Once and Future King, displaying the authoritative rule of many totalitarian governments. Totalitarianism has been a central theme in many notable dystopian novels such as Margaret Atwood’s, The Handmaid’s Tale, Ray Bradbury’s, Fahrenheit 451, and John Wyndham’s, The Chrysalids. Perhaps the reason why totalitarianism is featured heavily throughout literature is perhaps because these novels are acting as a warning to mankind and - in a world rife with political change - we would do well to heed their advice. Possibly the most powerful warnings ever issued about the danger of totalitarian governments can be found in George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four where the protagonist – Winston – despises the forced oppression of the Party on the otherwise oblivious citizens of Oceania, yet, by the climax of the novel Winston is punished for his disloyalty to Big Brother and is obliged to become the epitome of ignorance which he so strongly detested at the beginning of the…

    • 701 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    How Does George Orwell Use Power In 1984
    • 1120 Words
    • 5 Pages

    How Does George Orwell Use Power In 1984

    Nineteen Eighty-Four is an American typical that probes the human mind in regards to control, corruption, power, and society. The author, George Orwell, suggests in an indirect matter that the regime will eventually become corrupted and attempt to use power which forces people to abide by the set rules. He portrays an imaginary dictatorial society in which citizens have no freedom and are being constantly brainwashed. Having no sense of fairness to individuals, the regime uses them for work. To attain this, the legislators in the story pacify individual's way of thinking and abolish their freedom by instituting fear through strict rules, commotion, and persistent surveillance.…

    • 1120 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Brave New World Technology Essay
    • 1027 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Brave New World Technology Essay

    In the Dystopian novels 1984 and Brave New World, George Orwell and Aldous Huxley create atmospheres that consist of their prediction of the future. “1984” and Brave New World contain totalitarian governments that encompass distorted views on the way societies should behave. Although the two leaders in the novels, Big Brother and His Fordship, carry out their regulations differently, the idea of how to control a society remains consistent. The key to maintain and establish a successful totalitarian society is through controlling the ideology toward personal relations and correctly using the advancement of technology for the “common good”.…

    • 1027 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    1984
    • 355 Words
    • 2 Pages

    1984

    Niccolo Machiavelli once said that "Since it is difficult to join them together, it is safer to be feared than to be loved when one of the two must be lacking." When it comes to the governance of human beings, communication and words outweigh violence. It is impossible to have one perfect society. There has yet to be a society in which there was not something wrong. Different attempts at a perfect society have come about but none has been proven to work without fault. Communism was a good thought but when put into action fails. Not far off from Communism comes the term Totalitarianism. A system of government where a class, group or party feel as though their authority has no bounds and strive to regulate every form of public or private life whatever way they see fit. Fighting in battles against totalitarian governments, such as the Nazi Party and the Soviet Union’s Joseph Stalin, was Eric Arthur Blair, better known as George Orwell. It is amongst the rise of dictators and the beginning of totalitarian societies that Orwell wrote and published the novel, 1984, a warning in disguise. Orwell’s predictions for what the future would look like if society continued its ways are seen through the eyes of Winston Smith. Winston’s life in the novel allows one to feel fear and concern toward Big Brother and his methods of power over civilization. Winston was able to experience dealing with three of Big Brother’s “tactics” of the government exploiting history, enforcing propaganda, and manipulating individuals’ thoughts at first hand. Winston lives in Oceania, a dystopia where the terrors of a totalitarian government are unavoidable. A totalitarian society is established through manipulation and control of one’s mind and body. It is maintained as a consequence of the threat of excessive abuse, propaganda, and force which can be seen in Winston’s everyday life.…

    • 355 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    George Orwell Research Paper
    • 1711 Words
    • 7 Pages

    George Orwell Research Paper

    Why does “1984” still have an impact even after 60 years after it was written and when the year 1984 has passed?…

    • 1711 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    1984 Totalitarianism
    • 853 Words
    • 4 Pages

    1984 Totalitarianism

    Governments are the powerhouse of a country. However, when they contain too much power, they not only run the country, but the lives of every citizen. In other words, governments like those are considered totalitarian, They control all parts of society, including the daily life of their inhabitants. Total submissiveness is required, and opposition is punished severely. In 1984 by George Orwell, the reader can infer that the government is totalitarian based on their ideals and values. Especially in aspects surrounding society and everyday life, Big Brother’s party is evidently a totalitarian regime.…

    • 853 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Examples Of Totalitarianism In 1984
    • 968 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Examples Of Totalitarianism In 1984

    In a totalitarian government, the people are not living in a reality, but rather the inverse, they are living in a reality made for them. 1984 by George Orwell is a story of Winston Smith's struggle against a totalitarian government that controls the ideas and thoughts of its citizens. In the mythical setting of Oceania, the Party is the ruling, and Big Brother is the fictitious leader that controls all the thoughts and actions of human life. The people's rebellious thoughts and actions are most likely suppressed, but that can only go so far for a totalitarian government. In the novel 1984, Oceania is controlled by a totalitarian government, which is similar to the government systems of Nazi Germany and North Korea because they used torture and food shortage.…

    • 968 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More

Related Topics