Truth And Power in George Orwell’s Book "1984"
A George Orwell, in his famous novel, Nineteen Eighty-Four (1984), drew his themes from is observations of Nazi Germany, and the Communist rise in the Soviet Union and Spain. As a Socialist, one of the writer’s goals was to illuminate the pitfalls of totalitarian control. The movie adaptation of the novel (Welles, 1984) opens with the slogan: “Those who control the past, control the future. ” This suggests that those who control how history is told, the way some dictators were determined to revise the stories of their countries, have the power to affect the way that future generations learn from history and, therefore, develop. This slogan attempts dismantle the psychological freedom of its subjects: a chant or slogan is an effective mind-control tool.
In the film, the people are forbidden to keep any written records of their own history (though the protagonist, Winston Smith, keeps an illegal diary). O’Brien, the main antagonist in the film, says: “The past is forbidden. Why? Because when we can cut man from his own past, then we can cut him from his family, his children, other men. There is no loyalty, except loyalty to the Party” (1984). By eliminating records of personal history and memory, the party, led by Big Brother, upholds an ability to keep its members loyal. In addition, the party also requests members to destroy and photographs using “memory holes”; as O’Brien says, “Power is tearing human minds apart and putting them back together in new shapes of your own choosing” (1984). By destroying images of members’ individual pasts, the party is able to recreate their memories, as the truth becomes forgotten. Instead, the people become much more willing to believe anything they are told by the party, subscribing to the party’s version of the past – which is far from the truth. The “ Big Brother is watching” quote that permeates the film – and that has become infamous in today’s society – is aimed at assuring citizens that the party is always keeping track of them. This slogan discourages the masses from doing anything that goes against the party’s rules.
The film (and novel) depict a miserable, dysfunctional society, characterized by a totalitarian system that oppresses its citizens. The leaders in this dystopian state deceive their citizens by convincing them that they are well off, and that the government cares for them. Yet, the truth is the opposite. Orwell created a fictional totalitarian government called “Oceania” which perpetually surveys all activities of its citizens. The primary intention for surveillance is to identify traitors among the citizens, and allegedly improving the lives of the people of Oceania as a whole. Wherever the citizens go, they will be met with Big Brother's face. For example, it is plastered on papers in the streets, on the coins, and even on staircases. The poster shows a sinister face looking out at the citizens, as if directly at them.
The face is accompanied by the caption: “Big Brother is watching you. ” This image acts as a constant reminder to the citizens that they should always behave obediently, or else they will be subject to disciplinary actions. The face is also seen across the Telescreens which use cameras and microphones to act as security camera and record citizen behavior. Another way in which Big Brother watches its people is through the Thought Police, whose role is to punish Thoughtcrime – any thought which might seem to go against the party. Thus, citizens’ actions, whereabouts, and even thoughts, are supposedly being watched at all times. The party in Oceania state used fear, enemies, and war to maintain control over the citizens. The idea that “A war is not meant to be won, but to be continuous” means that the government used war in order to solidify support from its people and against its enemies, yet most of the dangerous enemies exist within the government. The authority applied perpetual war to take away the people's liberty and to determine how they should be ruled: if the people are under threat, real or imagined, they will be more devoted to those who assumedly protect them.
For example, in “Hate Week”, the people of Oceania must sing, march, and show support for the party, who use propaganda to control citizens’ understanding of the war atrocities committed by their enemies, fueling their hatred for them. They command that the enemy must “be wiped from the face of the earth” and be stamped out (1984). In this creation of constant fear of The Other, the party can maintain control and keep its people loyal. A Many of the themes of the film are analogous to the way in which various American presidents have used similar means to control the American electorates and gain or retain power. Some have sponsored and facilitated the invasion of other nations across the world, such as Iraq, to seize power over them, whilst building fear in their home country and thus developing a hatred of a supposed enemy. For example, President Bush ignored his constitutional power limit and invaded Iraq: He employed fake claims of protecting America against terrorism and countering Sadam’s nuclear war weapons. Perhaps synonymous to the surveillance used by Big Brother, Bush continually monitored people’s phones and the media. The purported War on Terror continued for a long time, in particular because it did not target a single power of nation but it was against a particular technique. In the same way, the war in 1984 is against a wider enemy and ideology than one specific people. Moreover, President Trump attempted to control the American narrative by manipulating the truth and the politicians. As in the film, historical truths are distorted for the purpose of control. The American presidents have asserted power through changing perceptions and falsifying reality.
For example, Trump talked about the presence of over a million illegal voters, this assertion was untrue and was meant to intimidate the people. With the advancement of technology in the contemporary world, it has become much more comfortable for the government to monitor its people. With the presence of intelligence agencies like the NSA, FBI, and CIA, which can track people's movements, messages, and phone conversations, along with other private information. Besides, the government has installed telescreens and cameras in public places that can watch happenings and people’s behavior. There has also been an increase in the surveillance of people’s digital lives through social media applications such as Facebook and Google. Besides, the police now have devices that can monitor people’s cars and detect if it is stolen. Thus, today’s modern society may feel that they are constantly be watched and surveyed, just as the people of Oceania did. These developments actualize George Orwell’s dystopian perception of the future. In the film, from the government’s viewpoint, sex is seen merely as an act that results in the addition of more party members. Sex itself plays a critical role in connecting many aspects of the book as it acts as another means for the party to punish and control the people, but also to deceive them: they are conditioned to see sex not as an act of pleasure, but as something instead that is shameful. If they were to engage in sexual relationships, they would develop loyalties towards others instead of to the party. Sex is, therefore, an enemy to the party itself. In contemporary society, laws are also placed upon sex, with concerns to age, and, in some countries, gender. There are debates concerning whether the age of consent should be changed to be more permissive. This topic is remarkably controversial. Many argue that that the laws of nature are superior to those of man, insisting that, therefore, when a child enters the age of puberty, they should be allowed to satisfy themselves sexually with a partner.
On the other hand, others hold that the law should protect children from abuse and sexual exploitation. This debate is still relevant and critical as ever. Over many instances, America’s president Donald Trump has used the politics of fear to campaign and win himself the last elections. He has continuously reminded the Americans of the constant threat of terrorism and crimes. Trump won the election essentially by invoking fear in a countless number of times and creating a notion that he is the ultimate person to deliver the Americans from the horror of increased crimes and terrorism. For example, he was quoted saying that “The politician who does not grasp the danger that faces is America not fit to lead this country,” he also thundered “The attacks on our police, and terrorism in our cities, threaten our very own ways of life. ” E. 2+2= 4 is way of demonstrating that that people should speak up the truth without fears of punishment. This quote is expressly applicable in a dystopian system where outright fabrications, propaganda, and distortion of information is the order of the day. George Orwell said, “If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell the people what they do not want to hear. ” Also, Henry Louis Gates Jr was quoted saying “Censorship is to art as lynching is to justice,” these quotes pushed for respect to people’s privacy and inspired speaking of the truth to be able to solve the different kinds of problems facing the nation.
Conclusion
George Orwell’s ‘1984’ can be classified as a ‘futuristic’ novel since it highlighted many significant things that face people today. Many ideas such as totalitarianism, systems of vigilance, endless global war among other things still happen today. For example many governments today still monitor their citizens and control the media and public opinions to push for government's agenda. Also, the government intrude many aspects of people’s private lives, obtain data and exploit them to gain more controls. The only difference is that most country’s today have shunned the totalitarian system of government although not entirely, but to some considerable level. Fascism is a system of governance that embraces the one-party system that supports the suppression of the mass. The people need to learn of the history and the consequences of fascism and its danger to the unity and prosperity of the country. Also, the society should utterly reject the teaching for the pro-fascism to prevent it from influencing people to support their ideas.
