1984 A Totalitarian Government Analysis

“I would be opposed to any kind of totalitarian control” said B.F. Skinner, an American psychologist. The definition of a totalitarian government is: “of or relating to a centralized government that does not tolerate parties of differing opinion and that exercises dictatorial control over many aspects of life”; as defined by the Merriam Webster dictionary. However, this definition is missing a key aspect; the ability for a totalitarian government to destroy an individual. 1984, written by George Orwell, is a novel that clearly portrays a totalitarian government and the power it possesses. As the story came to a close, it was evident that Winston had transformed into a completely different person, emphasizing that a totalitarian government will …show more content…
What a person does with that freedom defines them as an individual. However, in a totalitarian society, the authorities limit what one can do, leaving them with little to no freedom. In the novel, there are telescreens and microphones in the citizen’s homes, workplace, and everywhere inbetween to monitor their every move. During the beginning of the novel, Winston was alone in his room with “his back turned to the telescreen. It was safer; though, as he well knew, even a back can be revealing” (Orwell 7). Winston is well aware that there is a telescreen in his room monitoring his every move. He is so afraid because he knows that he is considered a rebel, so he turns his back to the telescreen in order to prevent being caught by Big Brother. Afterwards, when Winston was writing in his diary, he let his thoughts wander and subconsciously wrote “DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER” in his journal five times. He was contemplating on whether or not he would be guilty if he did not write it, but he knew that it would have been no different, as “the thought police would get him just the same. He had committed—would have committed, even if he had never set pen to paper—the essential crime that contained all others in itself. Thoughtcrime, they called it. Thoughtcrime was not a thing that could be concealed forever. You might dodge successfully for a while, even for years, but sooner or later they were bound to get you” (Orwell 19). It is …show more content…
These relationships are being denied when ruled under a totalitarian government to prevent rebellion and ensure that one’s loyalty exists only for the nation and its leaders. In the book, Winston and Julia were both released from the Ministry of Love and decide to meet each other to discuss what had happened. When they met, Winston “did not attempt to kiss her, nor did they speak. As they walked back across the gate she looked directly at him for the first time. It was only a momentary glance, full of contempt and dislike” (Orwell 240). The government has completely broken the bond between Winston and Julia by torturing them in the Ministry of Love, ensuring that their loyalty is only to the Party. Also, Winston trusted O’Brien when he told him that he was a part of the Brotherhood, a secret organization working to oppose Big Brother. However, Winston was caught because of the trust he put into O’Brien, who was actually a member of the Thought Police. The government completely shattered the bond as O’Brien betrayed Winston. Afterwards, when he was locked up in the Ministry of Love, he sees his neighbour Tom Parsons being locked up as well. Parsons tells him that he committed a thought crime and that his daughter “listened at the keyhole. Heard what I was saying, and nipped off to the patrols the very next day” (Orwell 193). This type of government makes it so that trust does not