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How Did The Totalitarian Government Influence George Orwell's 1984?

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In the summer of 1949, the dystopian novel “1984” was released by author George Orwell. Its eventual impact would be wholly unpredictable. With themes centered around government involvement and the consequences of totalitarian rule, this novel serves as a social commentary on society's potential future if totalitarian leadership continues to run rampant. Its influence is widespread, as the timeless teachings of the novel have developed into lessons even modern readers can heed. George Orwell's “1984” has morphed into cult classic literature riddled with warnings on government interference and other social commentary prompted by Orwell's lived history. George Orwell was born Eric Arthur Blair and is known for his famous works centered around …show more content…

This party keeps an eye on all members through telescreens and is led by an unseen authority figure named “Big Brother”. Political unrest and rebellion are strictly banned, and the Party enforces these rules by limiting the speech of all the members of society. A new speech that eliminates any wording that could relate to political rebellion is being enforced. Alongside speech, any form of individual or sexual content is prohibited. However, speech is not the only form of protest outlawed; to even dare to think against the party would be a “thought crime," a crime that comes with drastic consequences. The only areas most free of party monitoring are the poorest and most decrepit neighborhoods, where the proletarians are housed. The main character is an employee of the “Ministry of Truth," a government organization dedicated to rewriting historical records according to the party's agenda. Winston is troubled with many criminal thoughts—not only lustful thoughts about a woman but a dangerous growing interest in joining the Brotherhood, an organization dedicated to overthrowing the party's …show more content…

Joseph Goebbels worked for the Nazi Party as the minister of propaganda, having been appointed in 933, essentially being given the task of convincing the public that the Nazi ideology was for the betterment of the people. This was mostly achieved through censorship, and according to BBC News, in 1933, a public book burning commenced, destroying all literature that did not align with the Nazi Party's ideologies. A specific reference in the novel is to the use of slogans to promote loyalty to the party alongside ever-parent imagery and telescreens. Some of the most common slogans used in Nazi media to deprive the German public of their ideologies were "Free Germany from the Jews," "Smash Communism," and "One People, One Empire, One Leader." Alongside these slogans, the use of radios was common to broadcast Nazi propaganda in public places

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