Totalitarianism is a political system in which a society is completely ruled by the government or any authority in power. Elements of this type of government ruling has been present throughout history starting from the 1920’s with Joseph Stalin in the Soviet Union to present day North Korea who has been ruled by the same family since the 1940’s. George Orwell, author of 1984, was inspired to write the dystopic novel after experiencing the horrific ending of World War II where many countries were overtaken by dictatorships. He decided to write the futuristic novel 1984 and base it on a totalistic society because he wanted people to be aware of what could happen to society if individuals’ rights and freedom were taken away. In his book, Orwell
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Manipulation is an effective tool in maintaining power of the government because it prevents individualistic thinking through fear and abuse. By controlling individuals, people have no way or reason to think for themselves and essentially become puppets to those in power. Technology plays an important part in 1984 because the government used it to watch over its people. Things such as telescreens, hidden cameras and hidden microphones were used to spy on Oceania’s citizens and people were always living in fear since they were always being watched and did not want to offend the government. Telescreens were a type of technology that were used as televisions but doubled as security cameras for the government, so they could spy on people in their own …show more content…
However, the law enforcement known as the “Thought Police” in 1984 manipulates citizens instead. Their job is to punish any person that commits “thought crime”. Thought crime entails the breach of thinking certain subjects in which the Party deems illegal like rebellion against the government. Citizens could not freely think something without fear of getting caught by the thought police. They must always think what they are told to think and believe what they are told to believe. If an individual does rebel against the Party, they would be vaporized. No one could even say anything about the injustice that occurs when their friend or family member is vaporized in fear that they would be vaporized themselves. A person could not even own a diary without fear of being caught by the Thought Police. In chapter one, Orwell wrote, “Whether he went on with the diary…. The Thought Police would get him….You might dodge successfully for a while, even for years, but sooner or later they were bound to get you”(19). The Party banned diaries since they allowed a person privacy which was illegal. It could also spur up thoughts of rebellion against the government which was unacceptable. Orwell stated, “It was terribly dangerous to let your thoughts wonder when you were in any public place… In any case, to wear an improper expression on your face was itself a punishable offense” (62). In this society,
Manipulation is an effective tool in maintaining power of the government because it prevents individualistic thinking through fear and abuse. By controlling individuals, people have no way or reason to think for themselves and essentially become puppets to those in power. Technology plays an important part in 1984 because the government used it to watch over its people. Things such as telescreens, hidden cameras and hidden microphones were used to spy on Oceania’s citizens and people were always living in fear since they were always being watched and did not want to offend the government. Telescreens were a type of technology that were used as televisions but doubled as security cameras for the government, so they could spy on people in their own …show more content…
However, the law enforcement known as the “Thought Police” in 1984 manipulates citizens instead. Their job is to punish any person that commits “thought crime”. Thought crime entails the breach of thinking certain subjects in which the Party deems illegal like rebellion against the government. Citizens could not freely think something without fear of getting caught by the thought police. They must always think what they are told to think and believe what they are told to believe. If an individual does rebel against the Party, they would be vaporized. No one could even say anything about the injustice that occurs when their friend or family member is vaporized in fear that they would be vaporized themselves. A person could not even own a diary without fear of being caught by the Thought Police. In chapter one, Orwell wrote, “Whether he went on with the diary…. The Thought Police would get him….You might dodge successfully for a while, even for years, but sooner or later they were bound to get you”(19). The Party banned diaries since they allowed a person privacy which was illegal. It could also spur up thoughts of rebellion against the government which was unacceptable. Orwell stated, “It was terribly dangerous to let your thoughts wonder when you were in any public place… In any case, to wear an improper expression on your face was itself a punishable offense” (62). In this society,