ipl-logo

Repression Of The Id In George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four

1237 Words5 Pages

Control and Repression of the Id in George Orwell’s
Nineteen Eighty-Four

George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four is undoubtedly one of the foremost novels of the 20th century, portraying, in connection to the historical context of the time in which it was written, the ways of life in a dystopian, totalitarian society and the continuous struggle that goes on inside the human being, reprimanded even to the point of being dehumanized. Orwell reveals how, in order for such a society to be maintained, the party (representing the interests of Big Brother) uses various methods of suppression and successfully depicts how the unconscious, always under the pressure of being subdued, revolts, consequently leading to its destruction and the loss of humanity:
“Never again will you be capable of ordinary human feeling. Everything will be dead inside you. Never again will you be capable of love, or friendship, or joy of living, or laughter, or curiosity, or courage, or integrity. You will be hollow.” (Orwell)
Thus, in view of the above, the …show more content…

the telescreens), newspeak (the ultra-political language), doublethink, fear and punishment by the Thought Police etc., all of which are a constant presence in everyday life. Likewise, all the Ministries in Oceania are concerned with some form of control or manipulation. For example, The Ministry of Truth where Winston works is concerned with propaganda. In Winston’s department, the Records department, all information ever published is to be readapted again and again, according to what suits the party and its leader at the given moment. Nonetheless, Winston is not only subjected to propaganda and manipulation, but he also takes part in it while admitting that “[statistics] were just as much a fantasy in their original version as in their rectified version”. (Yeo, p.

Show More
Related

Examples Of Autonomy In 1984 By George Orwell

342 Words | 2 Pages

Winston’s explanation of the Party and these beliefs illustrates the corruption they experience for they are unable to think for themselves and are forced to accept whatever they are told to believe. Orwell uses diction to convey a theme of totalitarianism

Read More

Examples Of Heroism In 1984

1627 Words | 7 Pages

Imagine your TV is always on and always watching your every move. Welcome to 1984. From now on you must be very careful what you think for you must always live in fear of committing a thought crime. Even one negative thought about Big Brother could force the Thought Police to erase you from existence or, as they say in Newspeak, to make you an unperson. This is the daily life of a citizen of George Orwell’s fictional country called Oceania.

Read More

How Does Orwell Use Abuse Of Power In 1984

748 Words | 3 Pages

The major characteristic of Winston’s society is the lack of individual thought and privacy. Every aspect of their lives is monitored by telescreens and microphones in the

Read More

Diction In 1984

419 Words | 2 Pages

In George Orwell’s novel, 1984, Orwell conveys the theme of conformity though his diction, and through his depiction of the “fixing process” employed by the government. After every governmental message in the novel, Big Brother, the leader of Oceania, states the country’s slogan of “War Is Peace, Freedom Is Slavery, Ignorance Is Strength.” (Orwell, 16). Orwell’s diction in this slogan is used to essentially list the characteristics of a conformed society, showing that they do not have free thought, are ignorant towards governmental flaws, and believe that what they are doing is for a good cause. As O’Brien is “fixing” Winston, he has Winston to believe that when he is holding up four fingers, “there are five fingers there.”

Read More

Examples Of Reintegration In 1984

1190 Words | 5 Pages

In the novel 1984, George Orwell applies the three steps of reintegration to the readers understanding, while comparing his philosophical worldview to Winston and Julia’s. Orwells ultimate message to the readers is to understand the dangers of totalitarianism, and how the government has complete control over its citizens. Totalitarianism is a political concept where the state recognizes no limits to its authority and strives to regulate every aspect of public and private life wherever feasible. This concept is shown throughout 1984, when the inner party is constantly controlling and watching over its citizens as well as limiting them from things such as privacy, sexual activity, and family interaction. The citizens receive lack of privacy

Read More

Examples Of Distortion In 1984 By George Orwell

911 Words | 4 Pages

In questioning the value of literary realism, what Flannery O’Connor has written about distortion making people realize the truth is a valid way to open their eyes. A great example of distortion is in George Orwell’s novel “1984”, as it provides an excellent “case for distortion”, as it takes place in a dystopian society full of distortions within its boundaries. The distortions which are present in “1984” range from aspects of the world of the book to the themes such as manipulation, mind control, and the dangers of totalitarianism. Like a big storm brewing in the midst of air, the world of George Orwell’s “1984” is a constant reminder of a world that can possibly happen in the future. In order to capture the audience reading the book, Orwell distorted our world to shape it into the world of “1984”.

Read More

1984 Theme Essay

1559 Words | 7 Pages

This is the Ministry that Winston works at, and his job is to correct and edit documents. "This process of continuous alteration was applied not only to newspapers but to books, periodicals, pamphlets, posters, leaflets, films, soundtracks, cartoons, photographs to every kind of literature or documentation which might conceivably hold any political or ideological significance" (Orwell 40). This passage refers to the process of changing the past, which is Winston's job. By controlling the past, the Party is able to manipulate the minds of the citizens. This is an example of how the party lies to the people.

Read More

Individuality In George Orwell's 1984

1446 Words | 6 Pages

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.

Read More

The Importance Of Control In George Orwell's 1984

796 Words | 4 Pages

George Orwell’s 1984 is a precautionary tale of what happens when the government has too much control in our lives. The protagonist, Winston Smith, is at odds in a world in which he is not allowed to counter the government’s surveillance and control. Perhaps more striking is the noticeable relationship between the novel and modern society. In George Orwell’s novel 1984 the book predicts the surveillance of Big Brother in modern day societies.

Read More

The Importance Of Individualism In George Orwell's 1984

1022 Words | 5 Pages

As history has shown, sometimes all it takes is one person to turn a country on its head. Sometimes it’s for the better, sometimes it bares the worst. Under the all controlling hand of the government there are always a few people that do their best to slip through the fingertips. In George Orwell’s dystopian novel, 1984, that someone is Winston Smith and he is barely safe in his own mind. A government that values the people’s ignorance to their situation has little good to say about someone that feels differently than the majority.

Read More

The Characteristics Of The Party In George Orwell's 1984

825 Words | 4 Pages

The Party’s approach to life has not always been for everyone, including Winston who frequently gets angry at their actions. In the beginning of the book, Winston says he was writing, “as though by automatic action… DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER” (1.1.18). His thoughts and actions toward Big Brother and the Party have become so strong that he is involuntarily writing words against them. Winston also resents the rule that there can be no love in Oceania, and leaps at the chance to break it.

Read More

1984 Doublethink Analysis

925 Words | 4 Pages

All Oceania is overseen by a metaphorical man called Big Brother which represents the “eyes” of the government. Even though there is not actually one person deemed Big Brother, he is the “embodiment of the

Read More

Paradoxes In 1984 By George Orwell

1135 Words | 5 Pages

Within a totalitarian society, the individual is suppressed and is instead morphed into a collective group of loyal followers. Those with power exert control over these followers through means that elicit fear and discourage revolt. In 1984, the common theme of human individuality is explored throughout the entirety of the novel and is highlighted through the aspects of humanity that the Party attempts to eradicate. Specifically through the use of paradoxes, newspeak as a metaphor and foreshadowing, George Orwell examines the consequences of government oppression on personal identity.

Read More

1984 Totalitarianism

884 Words | 4 Pages

In 1984, George Orwell depicts a dystopian society pervaded by government control and the obsolescence of human emotion and society. Winston is forced to confront the reality of a totalitarian rule where the residents of Oceania are manipulated to ensure absolute government control and servitude of the people. The theme of totalitarianism and dystopia is employed in 1984 to grant absolute power to the government and ensure the deference of the people through the proliferation of propaganda, the repudiation of privacy and freedom, and the eradication of human thought and values. The repudiation of privacy and independent thought and the ubiquity of government surveillance is employed to secure absolute power to the government over the populace

Read More

Human Rights And Violence In George Orwell's 1984

1362 Words | 6 Pages

In George Orwell’s novel 1984, A theme of violation of human rights is thoroughly present, from violation of privacy, violation of the freedom of speech and religion, and the loss of humanity in general from the ever present form of Big Brother. As the villain of the novel, Big Brother- who represents the government -has absolute control over the citizens’ lives. While 1984 effectively conveys the dangers of a totalitarian government, Orwell’s predicted society is not present in today’s world. Comparatively speaking, the United States of America has more rights and freedoms than Orwell’s Oceania, but in some cases the rights of the citizens must be violated for safety reasons and other justifiable causes. Orwell’s novel 1984 paints a picture

Read More

More about Repression Of The Id In George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four

Related Topics

Open Document