The Symbolism Of Big Brother In George Orwell's 1984
1087 Words
5 Pages
Do you ever get the feeling that you’re being watched? That even when you’re in a room alone, someone is peering over your shoulder? George Orwell’s 1984 creates a world where the people of Oceania, an empire in the dystopian year 1984, are under constant surveillance of a being called Big Brother, who was either created by or was the leader of the Oceania’s government, the Party. In everybody’s home, there is a device called a telescreen, which can never be turned off and is always watching the citizens of Oceania. The streets are lined with pictures and propaganda of Big Brother, commanding them with a strong visage and reminding them that “Big Brother is watching you.” Big Brother symbolizes the lack of freedom, the oppressive society, and
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Winston notices this kind of comparison during Two Minutes Hate, a time when everyone is gathered together to watch a propaganda video designed to make Big Brother a kind of hero. A woman is so overwhelmed by his appearance, that she reacts, “with a tremulous murmur that sounded like ‘My Savior!’ [and] she extended her arms toward the screen. Then she buried her face in her hands. It was apparent that she was uttering a prayer” (Orwell 16). Despite the complete prohibition of religion, the Party allows and even encourages this kind of behavior toward Big Brother. They want him to be represented as a replacement to the typical god, so that people do not unite like they would in a normal setting. When the people are given this new god, the Party can control what he says, making their citizens easier to manage. They all love one being, and they become a more easily controlled collective. During the Two Minutes Hate, another character, named Goldstein, is shown as a kind of devil, as something for everyone to blame their problems on. He is portrayed in the propaganda as a corrupter and somebody who wants mass chaos and destruction for …show more content…
He is used by Orwell as a symbol of how watching everyone and everything is oppressive, crushes individualism, and infringes on the rights that every human is naturally given. Orwell uses this as a message to the world that letting a government survey everything that you do can destroy your personal freedoms. The theme of this book is important because it leaves the reader with an idea of what their world could become if they don’t take control of their free speech to maintain their individuality. So, if you’re worried that too much of your day-to-day life is being monitored, go online and sign the petition from the organization “Stop Watching Us” to tell congress to repeal the act that allows the NSA to survey your activities in many different ways including your phone calls and internet history. The only way to preserve your right to personal freedom and your individuality itself is to fight for
Winston notices this kind of comparison during Two Minutes Hate, a time when everyone is gathered together to watch a propaganda video designed to make Big Brother a kind of hero. A woman is so overwhelmed by his appearance, that she reacts, “with a tremulous murmur that sounded like ‘My Savior!’ [and] she extended her arms toward the screen. Then she buried her face in her hands. It was apparent that she was uttering a prayer” (Orwell 16). Despite the complete prohibition of religion, the Party allows and even encourages this kind of behavior toward Big Brother. They want him to be represented as a replacement to the typical god, so that people do not unite like they would in a normal setting. When the people are given this new god, the Party can control what he says, making their citizens easier to manage. They all love one being, and they become a more easily controlled collective. During the Two Minutes Hate, another character, named Goldstein, is shown as a kind of devil, as something for everyone to blame their problems on. He is portrayed in the propaganda as a corrupter and somebody who wants mass chaos and destruction for …show more content…
He is used by Orwell as a symbol of how watching everyone and everything is oppressive, crushes individualism, and infringes on the rights that every human is naturally given. Orwell uses this as a message to the world that letting a government survey everything that you do can destroy your personal freedoms. The theme of this book is important because it leaves the reader with an idea of what their world could become if they don’t take control of their free speech to maintain their individuality. So, if you’re worried that too much of your day-to-day life is being monitored, go online and sign the petition from the organization “Stop Watching Us” to tell congress to repeal the act that allows the NSA to survey your activities in many different ways including your phone calls and internet history. The only way to preserve your right to personal freedom and your individuality itself is to fight for