Examples Of Totalitarianism In George Orwell's '1984'

Nathaniel Arias

Ms. Alcaraz

Expository Reading & Writing Course

25 May, 2023

How a Totalitarian Government Would Be

“The further a society drifts from the truth the more it will hate those who speak it.” This quote said by George Orwell who is an English novelist, writes about opposition to totalitarianism and support of democratic socialism. 1984, a book written by George Orwell depicts a dystopian society in which the government has total control. Orwell uses Winston to explain the society he lives in through his actions when alone, watched, how the government traits him, his job, and rehabilitation. In reading Orwell’s book, the character Winston is examined to show how his life reflects the society he lives in. Winston begins

As Winstons meets people, he shows what he needs to do when being watched, even if the accompaniment is brief. Consider the text, “They had been standing straight in front of a telescreen when the thing happened. Nevertheless it had been very difficult not to betray a momentary surprise”(Pg.82-Panel.4). Winston needed to be careful when being watched because they would see him as a sign of betrayal. This reveals how the government views any sudden action of hiding to be suspicious through his cautiousness. Another text is support of this is, “Immediately beneath the telescreens, is such a position that anyone who was watching at the other end of the instrument could read what he was writing, he scribbled an address and tore out the page”(Pg,119-Panel.4). Winston again has an encounter where he's being watched, even tries to receive information through note. This encounter explicitly tells the reader that everything is being watched, not letting anything pass through the eyes of the government. Winston's actions show the life he lives in has no privacy, telling the audience the limited freedom there is in this

Winston brings up his past which is no different from where he is now but also describes how the system tries to control its people. For instance, “He remembered te periodical panics about air-raids, the gangs of youths, the enormous queues outside the bakeries, the intermittent machine- gun fires in the distance- above all, the fact that there was never enough to eat”(Pg,121-Panel.4). He grew up with fear, violence, gun fire, and above all is that he never got enough to eat. This is no different in how he lives today as he lives with constant wars and limited food which is rationed by the government. Equally as important is when it said, “They could lay bare in the utmost detail everything that you had done or said or thought; but the inner heart, whose working were mysterious even to yourself, remained impregnable”(Pg.126-Panel.4). Winston tells the audience a little flaw in watching their people through the telescreens. It is revealed that they can’t see within the heart meaning they don’t know Winstons motives, thoughts, or what the person truly feels from just watching. As Winston reveals more about himself, it is known more about how chaotic their society is and having to deal with a government that wants to get to the