1984's Totalitarian Government

Looking back on Europe’s totalitarian past, one can conclude that a totalitarian regime is one to be feared as they have many negative effects on the society they rule over. George Orwell’s work 1984 effectively demonstrates this fact while incorporating many dystopian characteristics to convey a clear warning to readers against the changes of totalitarianism. In his book, the totalitarian government “Big Brother” assumes absolute control over its population by creating the idea that the citizens are constantly being watched however the regime also wants the population to think that their lives benefit from Big Brothers power. This essay will discuss all of 1984’s imperative dystopian elements, and the effects they have on the society of

The regime’s propaganda aims to manipulate its citizens actions, as it wants the population to think that Big Brother is present in all of their everyday activities. Posters featuring the phrase “BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU” (Orwell 4) with the face of a man described as “[A] black-moustachoi’d face gazed down from every corner”(4) can be found throughout Oceania. The constant use of propaganda by the party, highlights the fact that 1984 displays a dystopian society. The thought of constantly being watched ensures that the citizens do not commit acts against the party as they will be known immediately.This propaganda indirectly influences people’s actions, as it puts people into a constant state of fear of being watched during any given moment. By this logic, the citizens actions are limited (especially ones against the party) which ultimately secures the party’s total control in an effective manner. For the purpose of truly having an eye on its citizens, Big Brother involves itself in their private lives by having telescreens in the homes of Outer Party and Inner Party members.

This in fact tells the reader that Oceania has a dystopian society as a figure-head (which in this case is Big Brother) is worshipped. Big Brother masks the ordeal in which Oceania’s citizens live in by shaping the news and history which people like Winston must believe. In the Ministry of Truth, Winston describes his job and the reason behind it in the following quotation, “Day by day and a. As described by the quotation, Big Brother must manipulate historical information in order to further establish his power as if he is always right, the citizens will fully trust Big Brother; this exemplifies that just as in any dystopian society, information and thought are both restricted. This constant reformatting of past events establishes Big Brother's position as Oceania’s all knowing leader, disregarding the fact that he does in fact get certain things wrong. In doing this, doubt against the party is unimaginable as he will always know what is right which makes the thought of a rebellion unjustifiable. The information which the population of Oceania digest not only present Big Brother as very knowledgeable but as virtuous as well. Big Brother selfless nature is explained in the following quotation. This quotation successfully presents the fact that the party seeks to convince its