Pilot Essay Title “BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU”. This saying found throughout, as well on the very first page of George Orwell’s classic novel, Nineteen Eighty-Four, epitomizes the totalitarian regime of the novel’s principal country, fictitious Oceania. Orwell depicts the regime so well, in fact, that the term Orwellian, meaning a situation that is destructive for the welfare of a people, has become synonymous with the idea of totalitarianism as a whole. Orwell’s ability to accurately depict this type of governing body has many sources, however the most prevalent and most helpful to him is his use of psychological manipulation throughout the work. Primarily, Orwell’s depiction of the presence of Telescreens, the “Two Minutes Hate” and Room
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The citizens gather in groups to watch its propaganda, and although the people are not forced to partake, Winston says that “it was impossible to avoid joining in” (Orwell, 16). The government clearly wishes to take advantage of a great mob mentality opportunity in order to coerce every member of the society to join in the verbal and sometimes physical hatred for those traitors of the country. This deep-rooted idea that those traitors are evil contributes to the fear in Oceania’s formula for manipulation. It is obvious for anyone thinking of rebellion against the government that they will become like those whom they have been breed to hate. Therefore, it becomes even more psychologically challenging to betray the government because doing so would turn them into those whom they have thrown repeated and daily hate at, and also they then see what people would think of them if they were to turn heel. This fear of becoming the apparent villain is certainly a large deterrent for those leaning that way, and further brainwashes the citizens into believing that the government is right, as if everyone else hates the traitors, how can you not hate the traitors as well? Adding this fear to the first one gives the public even less time to think about whether or not they are right for hating the rebels, and this furthers …show more content…
When Winston asks O’Brien what is in the mysterious room, he replies “The thing that is in Room 101 is the worst thing in the world" (Orwell, 296). The idea that the room holds the “worst thing in the world” itself is a form of psychological torture on the public. Having the knowledge that the government apparently has access to the subjective idea of the “worst thing in the world” is enough the slowly devour the mind of any member of the public. This fear of what could happen to them if they were to be caught with rebellious thoughts eats away at the mind of Winston, and by the time he is subjected to it, he is already an emotional wreck. Like him, any other citizen most likely deals with the same type of stress from their lack of knowledge. The mystery of Room 101 allows each mind of the public the wander to their reality of what would be the worst thing in the world. This subjective, personal fear has an individual effect on the citizens and allows the government to prevent uprisings on a singular
The citizens gather in groups to watch its propaganda, and although the people are not forced to partake, Winston says that “it was impossible to avoid joining in” (Orwell, 16). The government clearly wishes to take advantage of a great mob mentality opportunity in order to coerce every member of the society to join in the verbal and sometimes physical hatred for those traitors of the country. This deep-rooted idea that those traitors are evil contributes to the fear in Oceania’s formula for manipulation. It is obvious for anyone thinking of rebellion against the government that they will become like those whom they have been breed to hate. Therefore, it becomes even more psychologically challenging to betray the government because doing so would turn them into those whom they have thrown repeated and daily hate at, and also they then see what people would think of them if they were to turn heel. This fear of becoming the apparent villain is certainly a large deterrent for those leaning that way, and further brainwashes the citizens into believing that the government is right, as if everyone else hates the traitors, how can you not hate the traitors as well? Adding this fear to the first one gives the public even less time to think about whether or not they are right for hating the rebels, and this furthers …show more content…
When Winston asks O’Brien what is in the mysterious room, he replies “The thing that is in Room 101 is the worst thing in the world" (Orwell, 296). The idea that the room holds the “worst thing in the world” itself is a form of psychological torture on the public. Having the knowledge that the government apparently has access to the subjective idea of the “worst thing in the world” is enough the slowly devour the mind of any member of the public. This fear of what could happen to them if they were to be caught with rebellious thoughts eats away at the mind of Winston, and by the time he is subjected to it, he is already an emotional wreck. Like him, any other citizen most likely deals with the same type of stress from their lack of knowledge. The mystery of Room 101 allows each mind of the public the wander to their reality of what would be the worst thing in the world. This subjective, personal fear has an individual effect on the citizens and allows the government to prevent uprisings on a singular