1984 Government Essay

Do people really follow the beliefs of a government or are they forced to follow the beliefs? How could this shape the way a government is run? Some may argue that governments always do what is best for the people. Although this may sound like the right thing to do governments do not always follow that way. In the novel 1984, by George Orwell, an English novelist, essayist, journalist, and critic, the psychological state of manipulation and fear are explored. The Party uses its complete power to control the citizens in Oceania. Many party members, such as Julia and Winston, try to rebel against the Party’s beliefs although it is unsuccessful. Many other members do not even try to rebel against the party, out of fear, and instead follow their

The Party brings the people into the Ministry of Love and tortures the people until they fully believe in everything the Party says. By doing so there will be no person that has belief in anything other than what the Party wants. This will also ensure that the people will follow all orders that have been set in place to protect the Party’s power. With the people being brainwashed they do not remember a time before Big Brother, who everyone is now loyal to. The party is able to completely delete people's views on the past so that they will only remember how great life is with Big Brother. The Party manipulating people’s memories of the past gives them the power to control their people. The party's use of torture and manipulation only grants them more control over the

The People are obligated to use doublethink and to only think about how to support the party. This way of life causes people no matter what to follow every single action you present to them. When talking about how people protect their thoughts Orwell writes, “If you want to keep a secret, you must also hide it from yourself” (Orwell 281). People are not able to share thoughts no matter what it is about. Winston had to be taken into the Ministry of Love to be separated from Julia since they were sharing thoughts with each other. Winston also had a secret notebook that he would write down his thoughts in which was not allowed by the party. Those who were younger than Winston had no memory of what life was like prior to the Party. The party's role on their people may be seen as irrational authority. Fromm gives an example of irrational authority when he writes, “The interest of a slave and master are antagonistic, because what is advantageous to one is detrimental to the other” ( Fromm 577). This is exactly what is happening between the party and the people. The party is controlling the people’s everyday lives and thoughts which is advantageous to the party and detrimental to the people. By controlling the people, the party is able to get the full support of their people making their government stronger. By controlling the way people live their lives and who they support makes the party gain