The Power Of Government In 1984 By George Orwell

Governments are often portrayed as unified powers, ones that always operate in the best interests of their citizens. Though in the novel 1984, George Orwell takes a different stance, offering a new perspective and range of possibilities for the motives and ideals of the government, or “Party” as it is called. Throughout this novel, the Party uses physical and mental torture, gaslighting, and various other techniques to maintain control of the citizens of Oceania. Despite how susceptible people are to these tactics, individuals in this society are told that the Party knows best and are supervised intently day to day to ensure that they are following the rules that have been set in place. Those who disobey the Party face miserable consequences

There are many instances in this novel in which Winston almost confidently puts his trust in the people around him without any indication of truthfulness. Behavior such as this can be very self destructive, especially for someone who has so much to lose. The Party has always done everything in their power to prevent the citizens of Oceania from trusting anyone other than the government. They instill doubt in the minds of the people to avoid any conflict or uprising in the states with the ultimate goal of diminishing any human connections between people in order to maintain control. “There was only one meaning that the episode could possibly have. It had been contrived as a way of letting Winston know O’Brien’s address… ‘If you want to see me, this is where I can be found,’ was what O’Brien had been saying to him. Perhaps there would even be a message concealed somewhere in the dictionary… The conspiracy that he dreamed of did exist, and he had reached the outer edges of it” (189). Although Winston only knew O’Brien as an acquaintance, he trusted him with little reassurance, despite the potential repercussions associated with that. Previously, Winston similarly trusted Julia on a whim because she slipped him a note. Prior to this, when he had seen her at the Two Minutes Hate, he mentioned how he wanted to

Throughout this novel I saw many indicators of deceit, manipulation, abuse, gaslighting, and various other tactics of oppression. The Party used these tactics with the goal of maintaining control over the states of Oceania. Because they have lived in this tyrannical society all of their lives, the people who live in Oceania don’t know any better, as they were never able to experience a real connection with those around them. Due to these factors, they are highly susceptible to a lack or misplacement of trust in others. At the end of the novel though, nothing is ever resolved, and society continues in the cycle of manipulation as if none of it ever happened. It almost makes you wonder, is this novel the only case of manipulation between authority and societies, or could something like this really