Manipulation Shown Through Big Brother and the British Government Erin McGonigle Honors Literature II Mr. Christopher Spalding May 24, 2024. Introduction and Thesis By definition, totalitarianism is “a form of government that theoretically permits no individual freedom and that seeks to subordinate all aspects of individual life to the authority of the state.” Since the beginning of empires in the early centuries, there have been totalitarian governments and rulers who took advantage of their citizens. They belittle their people and brainwash them into believing that their way of governing is the most effective way to create a successful society. In George Orwell’s 1984, he portrays a totalitarian country, Oceania, which Big Brother …show more content…
1984 Background George Orwell created a ruling system in 1984 where Big Brother and the Party controlled all the people of Oceania. The Party is split into two parts: the Inner Party and the Outer Party. The Inner Party is primarily rich people who make important decisions for Oceania, while the Outer Party conveys messages to the people of Oceania through different ministries. Each ministry, the Ministry of Truth, Ministry of Love, Ministry of Peace, and Ministry of Plenty, had an individual job. The Ministry of Truth, which Winston Smith works for, is responsible for the propaganda that the Party decides to put into society. For example, Winston had to eradicate pieces of evidence that show how Oceania was not always tyrannical and strict through a memory hole, leading to a large incinerator. The government enforced this task so citizens do not get ideas to rebel against Big Brother, such as people did in the past. The Ministry of Love enforced the ideologies that the Party promotes, the Ministry of Peace dealt with Oceania’s external affairs, and the Ministry of Plenty was responsible for economic issues. Big Brother and the Party …show more content…
They lived in the slums and constantly fought over food, money, and material items. Winston believed that there are people in his workplace who are against Big Brother, such as a mysterious dark-haired girl named Julia and a coworker named O’Brien. When Julia and Winston met, they explained their thoughts on Big Brother and later became romantically involved. O’Brien, a significant character in Orwell’s 1984, told the couple that he was part of the Brotherhood, a group that started to rebel against Big Brother and the Party. He gave them Goldstein’s book, telling the two about how to successfully overthrow Big Brother and giving background information on the party’s system. He made them swear to loyalty to the Brotherhood, including permission to die for each other. While Winston and Julia talk to each other in Mr. Charrington’s shop, where they believe they are safe, Mr. Charrington gets the couple arrested and reveals himself as a member of the thought crime police. Winston and Julia are taken and beaten by Big Brother’s military aid. They are tortured and manipulated, ending in the Party winning over Winston. By the end of the novel, Winston concluded that the Party was right all along, and he accepts the totalitarian