The Methods of Totalitarianism
The novel 1984 by George Orwell explores a world of complete and total government control. Being a dystopian novel, 1984 explores a bleak world in which all thoughts are monitored and the three major world powers are in constant warfare. Oceania, the superstate in which the book takes place, is under the control of Big Brother and the four ministries that help run the government. The four ministries can control all life within Oceania. 1984 shows totalitarianism in a few major ways, including: use of propaganda, control of thought and truth, and the use of violence to secure the interests of Big Brother.
First, the use of propaganda by Big Brother is extremely prevalent throughout Oceania in 1984. The government consistently shows news updates about battles that have been won, and new positive developments that the government is initiating. One of the discernable examples of propaganda is the two-minute hate, which is a section of everyday set aside simply for hating the enemy of Big Brother. The topics generally change, but the two-minute hate is …show more content…
An example is how the government implements thought control is the idea of thoughtcrime and the mobilization of the Thought Police. One night Winston began writing “Down with Big Brother” on a piece of paper. He stopped, but realized it didn’t matter considering the Thought Police would have already known he committed thoughtcrime so he continued (Orwell 19). Beyond the monitoring of thought, Big Brother also controls what’s true and what is false. Using the Ministry of Truth, Big Brother can manipulate the past into making it look as though it was always right. Changing the past to make Big Brother seem omniscient was Winston’s job at the Ministry of Truth (Orwell pg. 38). Therefore, Oceania is an example totalitarianism due to Big Brother literally controls what is
The novel 1984 by George Orwell explores a world of complete and total government control. Being a dystopian novel, 1984 explores a bleak world in which all thoughts are monitored and the three major world powers are in constant warfare. Oceania, the superstate in which the book takes place, is under the control of Big Brother and the four ministries that help run the government. The four ministries can control all life within Oceania. 1984 shows totalitarianism in a few major ways, including: use of propaganda, control of thought and truth, and the use of violence to secure the interests of Big Brother.
First, the use of propaganda by Big Brother is extremely prevalent throughout Oceania in 1984. The government consistently shows news updates about battles that have been won, and new positive developments that the government is initiating. One of the discernable examples of propaganda is the two-minute hate, which is a section of everyday set aside simply for hating the enemy of Big Brother. The topics generally change, but the two-minute hate is …show more content…
An example is how the government implements thought control is the idea of thoughtcrime and the mobilization of the Thought Police. One night Winston began writing “Down with Big Brother” on a piece of paper. He stopped, but realized it didn’t matter considering the Thought Police would have already known he committed thoughtcrime so he continued (Orwell 19). Beyond the monitoring of thought, Big Brother also controls what’s true and what is false. Using the Ministry of Truth, Big Brother can manipulate the past into making it look as though it was always right. Changing the past to make Big Brother seem omniscient was Winston’s job at the Ministry of Truth (Orwell pg. 38). Therefore, Oceania is an example totalitarianism due to Big Brother literally controls what is