Totalitarianism in 1984 Essay

Throughout human history people have been striving for a government that would function perfectly. Every society has its own government structure. From democratically elected government to a communist one, each structure has its own strengths and weaknesses, but the ultimate goal is to establish a utopian society, whatever that may be. A totalitarian government serves purely the desires of the government and the powerful members of society. Hitler took an outrageous number of lives trying to achieve such a world. The communist and fascist regimes in Russia and Italy did the same, also without much long-term success. George Orwells 1984 offers an in-depth exploration of the theme, the dangers of totalitarianism, to truly capture the nature of an oppressive regime by examining the use of psychological, physical and historical manipulation, used by the Party to achieve its ultimate objectives.

The total control of information and history is an integral aspect of a totalitarian government. It allows the government to control the general publics perception of what is the truth. The Party falsifies information with the main purpose of controlling what the citizens see and hear. For example, even though the rations of chocolate had decreased from 30 grams to 20 grams per week, the government claims that as a matter of fact the rations have increased. The state needs to give the citizens a sense of satisfaction that the Party is doing a good job governing the country. Therefore, the citizens will not rebel. As a matter of fact, the central character of the novel, Winston, works for the Records Department. Winstons job is to rewrite and alter history to fit the Partys agenda. The fact that Oceanias alliance changes so quickly from one to another. This is one way in which the Party has to be always right, even if it makes predictions that do not come true. Furthermore, the invention of Newspeak is used as a way to minimize the number of words used in everyday conversation. As Syme points out, in the future there will not be any need for certain words, such as freedom. Therefore, it is not possible for citizens to even comprehend the idea of freedom and revolt against the Party. Furthermore, Winston remembers that not so long ago, Oceania was at war with Eurasia, but all of a sudden now Oceania is allied with Eurasia. Therefore, the government alters the truth to its own liking, to fit its own agenda. Who controls the past controls the future; who controls the present controls the past (pg.330). If the Party is able to control the present, it then is able to manipulate what the past should be. Therefore, if the Party is able to control the events in the past, then it is able to justify its actions in the present. Using false history to break down the psychological independence of people, the Party is further able to control the minds of its citizens. In addition to the control of information and history, physical torture and psychological manipulation are two other techniques the Party uses to condition individual citizens to obey the state.

Physical and psychological control go hand in hand when used by the government to brainwash people in following the rules of the state and not revolt. The party believes that

WAR IS PEACE

FREEDOM IS SLAVERY

IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH (pg. 112).

These three slogans of the party encapsulate the objectives of the government. The Party, keeps its citizens very tightly monitored. Freedom is limited in a number of ways. The party claims that they discourage freedom because it leads to independence and failure. Oceanias citizens have become fearful of forming real relationships with others, working towards the partys goal. Essentially, residents of Oceania functions mindlessly like machines and are incapable of true thought. The party is unsupportive of such relationships (comrades instead of friends) and any type of relationships is kept to a minimum. Additionally, marriage is for the sake of reproduction. Spouses only have sexual intercourse to provide the state with law-abiding, obedient children who the Party can use to its advantage. As a result, people such as Winston live in constant fear, and must be careful with anyone they encounter. A curious emotion stirred in Winstons heart. In front of him was an enemy who was trying to kill him (pg.250). The way in which people are controlled by Big Brother and the Party live encourage an individualistic society. A rebellion is not possible because there are not enough personal and more meaningful interactions between people. Big Brother constantly watches the citizens of Oceania. The thought police play an important role in the governments combat against freethinking. Even children are encouraged at a young age to turn their parents to the thought police, if their parents exhibit any kind of behaviors that may prove suspicious. Furthermore, the thought police are not only a group designed to ensure the partys support and societys stability, but also is designed to cause fear and disruption in those that may cause trouble. Winston constantly fears the thought police, he is unsure of who he can trust, or when he will be found out. All he knows is that eventually he will be found, tortured, and killed.

Whether he went on with the diary, or whether he did not go on with it, made no difference. The thought police would get him just the same. He had committed - would have committed, even if he had never set the pen to paper - the essential crime that contained all others in itself. Thoughtcrime was not a thing that could be concealed forever. You might dodge successfully for a while, even for years, but sooner or later they were bound to get you (pg. 145).

Furthermore, Winston realizes that Thoughtcrime dos not entail death; thought crime is death (pg.150). Winston suffers tremendously. Mentally he is afraid, afraid of trusting, of the party, of people. In addition, he is tormented once the party reveals their knowledge of his behavior. In the Ministry of Love, he is constantly beat and physically abused to admit his act against the party. Room 101 especially torments him the most, and is a clear indicator of the partys use of fear and torture to cause stability and the utopia they aim for, for room 101 is where he is finally unraveled. Additionally, psychological manipulation is brought to a higher level when technology is used to ensure the success of the thought police and other methods the government uses to control the general public. Surveillance methods such as the telescreens constantly monitor each individual. Big Brother is constantly watching what one does, says or even thinks. In the end the Party would announce that two and two made five, and you would have to believe it (pg.125). This is the extent in which the government is able to control how citizens act and think. Physical control along with psychological manipulation is allowed the government to condition the citizens of Oceania to follow the rules set by the state.

By controlling its citizens through psychological, physical and historical manipulation, the government is able to use a variety of methods to manipulate individuals to be obedient to the Party. 1984 is a political cautionary tale warning future generations against allowing the government to take control of their personal lives. Orwell highlights many negative consequences associated with a totalitarian government. His message to the readers is to not become nave individuals who fail to question the motives of the government, but instead constantly ponder upon the countless possibilities linked with how their lives should be run.