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Individualism In George Orwell's 1984

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In the dystopian society of “1984” by George Orwell, INGSOC, the totalitarian governing party of Oceania rules all. Through the destruction of individualism, INGSOC with the help of “Big Brother” blurs all signs of separation between religion and state, and in the end, even the ability to conceptualize this collapse is made impossible through “doublethink.” The party has created such a tightly monitored and cultivated society so deeply ingrained in the people that they rule, the ritualistic nature of required daily habits paired with even personal thought being regulated creates an almost religion surrounding Big Brother. Through “1984” we discover how a society can be established and maintained through destroying the concepts of religion and secularity, individualism, and intentional struggles. So now we raise the question, what differentiates a …show more content…

The reason being, such a practice of pure emotional outlet works to evoke chaos in the mind of participants and when practiced daily, slowly abolishes their ability of rational thought. In contrast with meditation, which clears the mind and restores the rational thought process, two minutes of hate works to blind with raw emotion. Even Winston himself states that the worst thing about these brief two minutes was “not that one was obliged to act a part, but, on the contrary, that it was impossible to avoid joining in.” This is a powerful statement because it goes to show that this unfiltered, undirected emotion that is conjured through chanting and pure hatred can be wielded “like the flame of a blowlamp,” with Big Brother, finger on the trigger. This ritualistic practice is yet another element of the party that contributes to the religious tone that may be missed at first glance. On that note, let us digress into how the state is

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“Witch hunt” is a phrase that is not only used to describe the historic Salem Witch Trials, but has also been used to describe more recent historical events. Joseph McCarthy’s hunt for members of the Communist party was often referred to as a “witch hunt”, as a reference to the Salem Witch Trials. Furthermore, Arthur Miller drew inspiration from Joseph McCarthy’s Communist hunts to write his novel “The Crucible”, which takes place in Massachusetts during the time of the Salem Witch Trials. With this knowledge, it is clear that there are many similarities between the Salem Witch Trials and McCarthyism. However, with the similarities come several obvious differences, such as time period and reasoning for accusations.

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During Winston’s hours of torture and questioning, O’Brien described the future of Oceania and its citizens as being equivalent to a boot continuously stomping down on a face. He preceded this by explaining the steps already taken in order to destroy humanity and individualism including breaking the ties of friendship, disrupting the love between a man and woman, and perhaps most frightening of all, creating distrust between children and their parents. Ultimately the boot crashing down on the human face is a symbol for what the Party plans to do: continue crushing the individual human spirit into being a thoughtless body that is able to be manipulated into anything the party wants it to be. The strange thing though is that O’Brien seems to be preaching collectivity but in actuality he supports the individual. Note the word “the”.

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In “1984” George Orwell conveys many themes. The theme I’ll be focusing on is individuality/Freedom of thought and speech. The entire plot of the book is based around Winston’s individuality. The book is based on his need for freedom of speech. The need for freedom of thought is what lands many different characters in jail.

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On December 16, 1773, after months of suppression of taxes, finally the people of boston, rebelled against the governing party. They had so much individualism that they were not used and they didn’t like the idea that the British were making them pay more for their tea so because of that, the people used their individuality to work together to rebel, just as Winston and Julia used their individuality to rebel against their governing party. In 1984 by George Orwell, Winston Smith, a man in his mid 40’s, lead a lonely, rebellious life, living in Oceania, until he met Julia, who he believed to be his true love. Together, they rebel against their governing power, the Party or Big Brother, but in the end, both Winston and Julia and end up getting caught.

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Corruption. Poverty. Terrorism. These are things most people say will cause society to fall apart if they are not contained or suppressed by the government, but in George Orwell’s 1984, none of these problems are a concern of the overbearing government known as the Party; instead, there is only one characteristic--one fatal flaw with the power to tug on that first string and cause the entire Party to unravel: individuality. In the book the character Winston, who is not blinded by the government’s propaganda, purposefully refuses to conform as an act of rebellion.

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George Orwell, the author of 1984, emphasizes his aversion towards totalitarian states throughout the novel. While Orwell develops a dystopia where freedom and individualism are nonexistent, he also displays a deep-seated sense of skepticism about the ability for the individual heart-its spirit of love and freedom-to survive against tyrannical inculcation. Strong leadership usually govern us to better things, but in 1984, Orwell illustrates how the power given to the government leads to corruption: Winston-the main character of 1984- notices this corruption. To seek complete control over the people, the party not only implemented physical restriction, but also mental restrictions also.

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Joseph Goebbels once said,”Propaganda works best when those who are being manipulated are confident they are acting on their freewill”. This statement is proven to be true in 1984. The author, George Orwell, creates a fictional dystopian society in which the population is manipulated into thinking they live in a great world, whereas the government has full control over them. In 1984, George Orwell’s prime message, supported by the article called Liberty in North Korea by Hae Re, was the lack of individualism gives power to the applicable leader, which is conveyed using the characters speech and symbolism. Orwell’s dystopian society showed the author 's message through what a character was saying and symbolism.

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In George Orwell’s 1984, the society is negatively impacted by Big Brother and the Party’s totalitarian control, the limitations on individual expressiveness, and what it means to be “human”. Through the customs of one society, Orwell predicts what our future world could look like if we allow our government unregulated control. Issues such as the lack of input from community members and the lack of question towards laws and the customs created solely by Big Brother and the Party pose a largely negative effect on the improvement and survival of our society. Additional issues with a totalitarian government include the issue of persuasion over true belief. The society depicted in “1984” is fully monitored and leaves no room for privacy, this

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In his novel 1984, George Orwell portrays a dystopian society in which the citizens of Oceania are under the tyranny of an elite Inner Party. The Party’s reign is the materialization of organized terror, as it follows the pseudo-philosophical principles of Ingsoc. The ideology Oceania functions upon is inherently associated with the disintegration of human spirit and free will. The foundation of the Party lies in the dismantling of extended social constructs built upon innate human necessities - instincts of forming complex, social and filial relationships, and even instincts of indulging essential pleasures. Under totalitarianism, individualism is abolished and while the promise of collective security is an ostensible allayer to this dehumanization, it fails to preserve any sense of humanism.

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On the Fallibility of Human Individuality The way of man is to err. This truth cannot be denied, even with the most innate valor of individuality. George Orwell’s 1984 and Solomon Asch’s 1955 line conformity experiment illustrate the fallibility of human individuality. George Orwell’s society of Oceania is one in which individuality is always subdued and conformity is inevitable for every individual.

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In George Orwell’s novel 1984, conflicting forces within the novel’s protagonist, Winston Smith, illuminate the meaning of the novel. Two forces influence Winston: his desire to maintain his freedom and knowledge of the truth, and the Party’s effort to strip Winston of any rebellious thought and non-conformity. The Party’s efforts stem from their desire for totalitarian authority; they believe the key to controlling a nation is to control the citizens’ minds, bending the truth to assure the impossibility of any free thought. Winston, however, retains his memory and therefore his individuality; the novel follows his struggle to maintain integrity at the potential price of death. His personal conflict embodies the meaning of the novel as a whole,

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In George Orwell's 1984 novel, the theme of struggle and survival is a dominant commentary on the importance of individual freedom and the dangers of a society striving to control all aspects of human life. The novel depicts a dystopian society in which the government controls every aspect of citizens' lives, from their thoughts and actions to language and emotions. Winston and Julia's characters represent different approaches to survival in such a society, emphasizing the importance of individuality and the right to freedom of expression in all aspects of life. Winston's struggle for intellectual freedom is central to the novel.

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Sex creates an extremely exclusive bond between two individuals; it’s an unspoken contract of trust and love. Not only are sexual experiences private, but they also fulfill humanity’s instinctual desire and promote individuality. However, when this intimacy is either erased or condemned by society, individuals lose touch with that vital part of their humanity and individuality. In 1984 by George Orwell, sexuality plays an important role in both Oceania’s totalitarian government and Winston’s rebellion against his oppressors; as he explores his sexuality, Winston revolts against the Party’s manipulative political control, the destruction of individuality, the absence of human connection, and the practice of sexual puritanism.

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The idea of freedom in 1984 In modern politics, we are very accustomed to word such as “fake news.” Politicians use statistics and make statements that are not based in any facts, present them as hard evidence for their stances, and watch as people instantly believe what they say, simply because they are in a position of power. That is why George Orwell’s novel, 1984, is more relevant today than it ever has been before. In the past, people have viewed this novel as simply a story, a different look at how history could have been changed.

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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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