Examples Of Power In 1984 By George Orwell

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Power, everyone seeks it, but only one can possess it. As we have seen throughout history, power is hard to keep and control. In this dystopian story, we see how power changes one in the demand to have and contain it. In 1984, the power is with the Party and is shown through visual representations while it is maintained by technology and torture. To begin, the Party has all the power of Oceania and is represented through graphic visuals. “Imagine a boot stamping on a human face—forever” is what O’ Brien told Winston to think of about him against the Party (Orwell 267). In this instance, the boot symbolizes the Party while the citizens of Oceania is the human face. O’ Brien wants Winston to feel helpless, like he himself is being stepped on and can’t escape. By belittling their people, the Party will think of themselves as bigger and better. The boot and human explain the relationship between the government and its people in 1984. The Party will always have power over the people even if they don’t believe they are being controlled. Winston didn’t believe the Party was overpowering him, yet by the end of the book, he was in love with Big Brother. The Party will …show more content…

The use of technology is one way the Party controls power. Advanced technology allowed the Party to spy on the citizens at all times. Because of this, they are superior to the middle and lower class, and they can never lose power. They will do anything to keep it including a 24/7 watch. “There was no way of shutting the telescreen completely down” is proof that the Party will make sure you are not trying to gain power or overthrow them (Orwell 2). Also, the helicopters that “skim down between roofs and snoop into people’s windows” show how strict the Party is when defending and upholding their power (Orwell 2). The technology used by the Party to exploit the citizens of Oceania justifies that they will stop at nothing to keep their