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Effects Of Power In 1984

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Unity by Division: The Effects of Power on Society in 1984 The one goal every society strives for is unity among its people. Possibilities often arise about how to achieve this, but the idea of complete power over a people does not seem like the obvious choice. George Orwell explores this idea of large divisions of power in society and its implications for unity. In his novel, 1984, the Party’s obsession and endeavor for power reveal that complete power stems from physical and psychological suffering, which establishes a united society at the cost of individual freedom. Physical suffering is illustrated as an essential factor in obtaining power over a people. In the novel, the Party has immense control over its people, which it gained through …show more content…

The Party uses telescreens to monitor its people and propaganda to manipulate thought. This establishes fear and paranoia among the people, causing them to comply with the Party. The concept of doublethink expands on this idea, as the Party’s system of manipulation proves that “who controls the past, controls the future: who controls the present controls the past,” essentially establishing doublethink to be “reality control” (Orwell 34). Doublethink allows for the manipulation of thoughts and beliefs through contradicting ideas. The ability to warp reality into whatever the Party pleases often will create a sense of doubt and confusion among the people, making them susceptible to manipulation. Through the people’s psychological suffering, the Party achieved a society in which the people are united under a shared submission to the ruling power. However, this also results in the absence of individual freedom, as they are all psychologically manipulated into obeying the one source of “truth” they have been brainwashed to believe. Additionally, the Party used telescreens as another method to maintain power over the people. The incredibly strict laws and the full access the Party has to view people’s lives foster a great sense of fear. People consider it “terribly dangerous to let your thoughts wander when you were in any public place or within range of a telescreen” (Orwell 62). The fear and paranoia that this society’s people suffer from are the direct results of the Party’s efforts to suppress and manipulate thoughts to retain control. The constant surveillance and propaganda unite the people to follow the guidance of one authority, but in turn, also strips the people of their freedom of thought. Psychological suffering may bring about a version of unity, but it is one of a shared reliance on one manipulative authority. Complete power stems from the

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The Party controls its citizens with psychological pressures designed to overrun one's independent thought process. Every single person must love and conform to the Party and Big Brother, there are no exceptions. The love that the citizens have for Big Brother is produced out of their fear of the Party. Citizens must obey the Party and its demands because something as simple as having an opinion is frowned upon, which is clear when Orwell states that the “... smallest thing could give you away. A nervous tic, an unconscious look of anxiety, a habit of muttering to yourself…” (62).

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They have methods of monitoring people that are set up so that, hypothetically, the Party could be watching them at all times. This panoptical nature of society is what inspired the common slogan plastered on posters around Oceania, “Big Brother is watching you” (Huxley 3). If someone is caught doing something that goes against the Party’s ideology, or even just thinking it, they are taken by the Thought Police and

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One of which involves the use of scare tactics, such as posters featuring a large face with the words, “BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU” underneath in bold, white letters. This should not only be unsettling to the reader, as the intimidating tone of the poster makes citizens believe that their every move is being watched, but it should also be of concern because of the message behind the slogan. It is threatening punishment of those who partake in any actions to undermine the government, thus creating a society in which everyone is afraid of going against the government. The same goes for the Party’s slogan, “WAR IS PEACE, IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH, FREEDOM IS SLAVERY” as the Party is trying to convey the message that the operation of the current societal system, where people are being oppressed from speaking up for their beliefs, is for the benefit of the people (Orwell, 4). This leads many to trust the government’s decisions, regardless of whether they provide benefits to the people or cause more damage to their well-being, resulting in a complete blind following of the government.

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Thus their freedom of associating with others is indirectly affected. Without bonds between citizens, each citizen stands for themselves and thus they are much more easily controlled and manipulated into thinking and doing whatever the government wants them to think. In addition to separating bonds, the Party also makes the citizens fear that they are being watched at all times. As Fyvel says, “Big Brother from giant poster and his eyes watch the citizens through the telescreens” (331). It shows that by having the citizens know that they are always being watched, fear is instilled into them and thus they are afraid to rebel since they will be caught and suffer painful punishment.

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Orwell suggests that by utilising propaganda in everyday life, higher authorities ultimately assert authority over society. Illustrated through the Party’s ability to fabricate history to align with the likings of Big Brother, Orwell emphasises the ease with which higher authorities can coerce individuals into unquestionably trusting the flaunted acts of the government, exemplifying how propaganda is a potent tool used by governments to acquire unrestrained control and power over society. Furthermore, Orwell conveys the idea that propaganda is used for psychological control, brainwashing individuals into trusting higher authorities without question. Through the use of the Party’s slogan, “War is peace”. Freedom is a form of slavery.

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