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The Societal Effects of Totalitarian Control in 1984

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The Societal Effects of Totalitarian Control in 1984
The main goal of Totalitarian government is to limit and regulate every aspect of public and private life. George Orwell’s novel, 1984, illustrates a society lacking in freedom and expression. His fictional society in 1984 stands as a metaphor for a Totalitarian society. Communication, personal beliefs, and national loyalty are controlled by the inner party which governs the people of Oceania in order to keep society from rebelling. Oceania, where main character Winston Smith lives, is ruled by the INGSOC. The Inner Party, controlled by Big Brother, dictates several aspects of the people’s life. The Inner Party’s aim was to make any other alternative thinking a “thought crime” or “crime think” . The Inner Party only allows words that empower or respect the Inner Party and Big Brother. An example of the control the Inner Party has over the people is found in Syme’s dialogue on page 46, “It’s a beautiful thing, the destruction of words…You haven’t a real appreciation for , Winston…Don’t you see the whole aim of is to narrow the range of thought?” As a society, Oceania has been brainwashed to use only words or phrases that empower and respect INGSOC . Syme, who rewrites the dictionary using and erases oldspeak, understands the purpose and follows the rules because he has been trained. The overall concept of is designed to control personal beliefs of the citizens by limiting their form of expression. Controlling the communication fits with the Totalitarian aspects of governing. During the Cold War, communication was stifled between America and the Soviet Union. George Orwell envisioned the lack of communication could possibly result to total dominance and control of the people. The concept of also controls the personal beliefs of the citizens and promotes Totalitarianism by limiting the form of expression. The citizens of Oceania were forced to work long days which limited self expression because they were too tired to do anything else. For example, the


Cited: Edgar R. Robert, Neil J. Hackett, George F. Jewsbury, Barbara Molony, and Mathew S. Gordon. Civilizations Past and Present. Vol. 2: from 1300. New York: Pearson Longman, 2008. Print. Orwell, George. 1984. New York: Harcourt Inc, 1950. Print. Seppala, Tuna. “War, Media, and International System: Propaganda and Censorship in the Image Wars- Constructing and Maintaining the Hierarhical International System” Presented at the annual meeting of the International Studies Associations, Hilton Hawaiin Village, Honolulu, Hawaii. 5 March 2005 http://www.allacademic.com/meta/p70248_index.html.
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