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Examples Of Totalitarianism In 1984 By George Orwell

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During times of political strife authors have long considered the suppression of free ideals by totalitarian regimes who seek to maintain absolute authority by undermining the freedom of the individual. George Orwell’s dystopian fiction novel 1984 presents a harrowing perspective on the pervasive influence of totalitarian control. While Orwell suggests that the freedom of expression is an inherent human necessity to maintaining free and critical thinking, he reasons that the truth, integrity and humanity is fragile and is vulnerable to the ravenous jaws of totalitarian regimes. Orwell suggests that the right to intellectual autonomy is a fundamental human necessity that is essential to preserving humanity. Questioning the integrity of the ideological …show more content…

Denigrated by a delirious state apparatus whose sole purpose is to purge them of the very essence of humanity, the human heritage is trampled under the soles of the totalitarian boot. Thus, the frightening future presented by Orwell constitutes a world devoid of hope and lucidity where purpose lies in the sole domination of the human will by the party as their willing subservience to the state is made complete and absolute. Building on this idea, Orwell continues to examine the consequences of failing to hold government institutions to account for their actions through Winston’s continued torture in Room 101. As a shattered Winston gasps for relief as he is confronted with his greatest fears, O’Brien cruelly taunts him that “never again” will the traitor to the party be “capable of love, friendship, or joy, or curiosity, or integrity” for he who resists the party shall be made “hollow”. Here Orwell presents a terrifying reality where innate human qualities are deprived as the empty shells are reforged into the willing subservient of the

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Totalitarianism is a system of government that is centralized and dictatorial and requires complete subservience to the state. 1984 Is the concept of what a complete totalitarian government could’ve been. 1984 brings in multiple ideas and concepts that represent our current world, using Proles, Goldstein, Telescreens, and doublethink to represent this. An example of the poor/working class translated to both sides of this is the Proles, the Proles are the 85% of Oceania’s workforce. They are the physically strong, yet unconscious mass of people.

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One of the main themes of 1984 is totalitarianism, a form of government in which no opposition to the leader is allowed. Big Brother and the Inner Party managed to keep to totalitarian government through several means: newspeak, Thought Police, and propaganda. Newspeak is the official language of Oceania and its purpose is to provide a simple way for citizens to communicate without allowing the use of words that would cause controversial thoughts. Most words are either changed in meaning, simplified, or are opposites of other words. For example, the word ‘free’ exists in Newspeak, but it is only possible to use it as something being taken away.

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These connections between the book 1984 by George Orwell and America’s modern government is why I believe this book goes against my views of the world and what I consider to be

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Throughout the novel, The 1984, the theme of totalitarianism is very present and significant, it defines the structure of government and life for the protagonist, Winston Smith. The environment around Winston Smith, and the rest of the citizens of Oceania is highly controlled by the government through surveillance and propaganda. A totalitarian government is a centralized governing style that seeks absolute control over everything, what people’s actions are, their level of freedom, and even what people think and believe. The governmental power that embodies the citizens of Oceania creates a lack of freedom, and lack of identity. The people of Oceania no longer have the ability to express themselves or change themselves to be different from

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George Orwell's Swiftian satire 1984 (1949) exposes the dangerous potential of totalitarian regimes which exploit vulnerable individuals to maintain ubiquitous power over society. Orwell enhances audiences' understanding of human vulnerability through his representation of a totalitarian regime that disempowers its citizens and eradicates their agency. Also, he demonstrates how constant political indoctrination and intimidation create a brutalised society devoid of compassion, leaving human relationships susceptible to destruction. Furthermore, Orwell depicts the futility of rebellion against totalitarian regimes, demonstrating the vulnerability of humanity to tyrannical oppressors.

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736 Words | 3 Pages

Nineteen Eighty-Four follows Winston Smith, a man living in what used to be Britain but is now known as Airstrip One. He works as an editor for the Ministry of Truth where he works to revise historical events in any way that Big Brother, the overruling party of Oceania, deems correct in their society. This is not the only questionable motive seen throughout the novel as Thought Police are used to regulate any threatening ideas that could somehow overpower the government. George Orwell uses the lack of political awareness to portray the consequences of a dictatorship in which facts are changed and the truth does not exist. He also makes many references toward a totalitarian regime.

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In the novel 1984 by George Orwell, cruelty is commonly used by the party to gain power over the nation of Oceania, which is used to create the overall theme of totalitarianism. The cruelty throughout the novel, which is seen in moments such as; when Winston, the main character, catches himself going against the ideals of the party, when Winston and Julia, Winston’s love interest, get caught together, and when Winston is sent to Room 101. This shows that cruelty creates a basis of fear in each person throughout the work as a whole. In the beginning of the novel Winston constantly finds himself committing thoughtcrime, which is when someone thinks of something that does not “align” with what the Party says.

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In novel 1984, George Orwell creates a dark, totalitarianism society where the party controls everything of the citizen. The protagonist Winston works in the ministry of truth, where the fake news and wrong historical records are made. He knows the dark truth about the ministry of love and the party,he is an effective example of a rebel. This is demonstrated through his individual thoughts and behavior, which is considered as a crime. First of all,His individual thoughts caused his rebellion against the party.

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His unique position in the career field allows him the exact proof that that collective brain is indeed wrong. Winston experiences firsthand the limiting of one’s language and observes how the society is attempting to even further restrict it. Through his character of Winston Orwell displays his belief that he “ hated totalitarianism, but, distinctively, he believed that the ultimate totalitarianism was a totalitarianism of language and thought, of ideas in the mind” (Roelofs). Limiting one’s language limits the experience the the words alone express. The society Orwell depicts in his 1984 illustrates his personal “concern being not only with Party but with the old civic morality and its expression in government” (Mezciems).

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I am a free African American, but in a since I am not free. I am not a free person because I am not allowed to vote or speak out for myself and my country where I live in. I want to have rights, but I am not allowed to due to some circumstances. Even though I am a free African American, people are saying that there is no proof that I am a free African American. Also, when a white American captures me, I do not have proof that I was a free African American, and I will be sent into slavery.

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When Faced With Tyranny When one is faced with an oppressive government, they can lose control over all aspects of their daily lives. It is also easy for one to lose authority over themselves when faced with a stronger force. What might one’s response be when they possess little to no control over their lives? Many people may blindly follow society, but others might choose to disobey the rules. In 1984 by George Orwell, Winston Smith’s defiant nature and curious attitude display that one may turn to rebellion when faced with tyranny.

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In George Orwell’s, 1984, there are several external factors, including the people encountered, that significantly change the protagonist, Winston Smith, throughout the novel. In the beginning, Winston has a strong hatred for Oceania’s ruler, Big Brother. However, he is trying to survive in his dystopian society so so in order to ensure his safety, he keeps his disdain concealed from the public eye. He believes there are other people against the party, like himself; he just needs to figure out who he can trust. As the novel progresses, he finds trust in Julia and O’Brien.

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782 Words | 4 Pages

A totalitarian regime strikes fear in the hearts of those who cannot challenge. “1984” by George Orwell explores the depths of a destructive dystopian nightmare. The novel captures elements of a “negative utopia” that oppresses individuals of “Oceania” from the shadows of absolute power. This oppression is an intrinsic property of the novel, but the protagonist, Winston Smith, attempts to challenge the power of the apparatus of the state with intangible evidence of their subterfuge. Orwell constructs an unorthodox self-imagined hero who is ultimately defeated by “Big Brother”, the symbol of the Party’s unchallenged power.

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Totalitarianism in 1984 and the Real World The concept of a totalitarian society is a major theme throughout the novel 1984. This theme of totalitarianism can also be applied to the world today. The definition of totalitarianism, a concept used by some political scientists, is a state which holds total authority over the society and seeks to control all aspects of public and private life wherever possible. Totalitarianism can be related between the novel 1984 and current events in the real world. George Orwell incorporated the theme of totalitarianism into his novel 1984 to display the ever changing world around him during the time it was written.

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In George Orwell’s bleak novel titled 1984, a totalitarian government takes hold of an entire country. Actually, the totalitarian government had already taken hold of the aforementioned country, named Oceania, and controlled all of its citizens by fear and hatred before the plot of the book began. Readers of 1984 quickly get to experience the main character’s life and experiences in a dystopian society. Getting to peer into a bizarre and dismal lifestyle of an unhappy man who is determined to fight against his government is not only a surreal educational experience for readers, but it is also a relevant opportunity to take heed of 1984’s warnings and prevent a world of dictatorships and restrictive social codes.

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