"War is peace. Freedom is Slavery. Ignorance is strength."
In George Orwell's 1984, a light is shining on the concept of a negative utopia, or "dystopia" caused by totalitarianism. Totalitarianism is, "a form of government in which political authority exercises absolute and centralized control over all aspects of life…" and any opposing political and/or cultural expressions are suppressed. Having lived in a time of totalitarianism regime, Orwell had a firsthand account of its horrific lengths and negative affects. Within 1984, Orwell derives aspects of the actual government of his time to create, "The Party", "Big Brother", and the "Thought Police". Using these fictional recreations of reality, Orwell's 1984 continues to warn people of the horror of an all controlling government. Relating fact with fiction, Orwell expresses his disgust and fear for a totalitarianism government by creating a "nightmarish" vision of the negative utopia.
Government in the 1930's was what pushed Orwell to write 1984. By looking at the Soviet Union during this time, it could be said that 1984 was modeled after it.
Political trials, torture extracted confessions, labor camps, secret police, and the rewriting of history played a part in the Soviet's government. In 1984, Orwell uses "tele-screens" and "Thought Police" to monitor the people of Oceania. Following the story's protagonist, Winston, the reader can see that everywhere he goes, the party watches him. Everywhere he looks, he sees the figure of "Big Brother". Saying or thinking negatively of the party in any way can be "sensed" by the Thought Police and is considered a crime. When Winston writes, "DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER" in his diary, he doesn't refrain from writing it over and over again. "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.
Much like the Soviet Union's government, 1984 expresses the idea of History alteration. Working within the Ministry of Truth, Winston works to alter records of history to fit the Party's standards. Stalin use this concept in the 30's for the same reason as the party; to make the people believe the government was legitimate.
Another aspect of Orwell's prophetic novel is the thought of technology. During the time that Orwell wrote 1984, the radio was more comment than the television and computers had not even been considered. Nonetheless, Orwell found a way to include these things in his story. The tele-screen could be related to the modern TV. Also, in the book, the control of machinery and sources of information are controlled by computers. Orwell uses technology in this book to
show that these things that were made to help man, can lead to the corruptness and downfall of society, much like what is being seen today.
Living in a world that continues to make advancements technologically and politically, a book written more than 50 years ago still warns the world of what could happen if government becomes too forceful. Because of George Orwell's strong hatred for totalitarianism and its life dictating qualities, readers can get a taste of the perfect "dystopia". Though the people of today have been warned and are afraid of an all controlling government, they continue to allow the concept of 1984 to become more and more real. If people continue to just watch their governments make decisions and not ask questions, they will fall victim to its power. If a man not of this time understands the terror of totalitarianism, everyone should understand what society could and very well might become.
" A totalitarianism regime crushes all autonomous institutions in its drive to seize the human soul."
- Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr.
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