Big Brother in 1984 Essay Example

📌Category: 1984, Books, Orwell, Writers
📌Words: 1211
📌Pages: 5
📌Published: 12 April 2022

1984 is a dystopian social science fiction novel written by George Orwell, which is an experience of living under a totalitarian civilization. Our lead protagonist Winston Smith lives in Oceania; the setting of 1984. Which is under complete control by Big Brother, The novel includes multiple statements that can conclude the idea that Big Brother has complete control over the people even if it makes them suffer for instance, Thought control, Language, Slogans and more. Even if it means that people are distressed, control and war is all the parties and Big Brother care for.

Controlling one's life is already a way to make them suffer, in 1984 it was Thought control, Language, and Telescreens all were the overextensions that Big Brother used to control people.  In 1984 citizens were under total control from their superiors;Big Brother and the parties. They used multiple tools to control the people, one being thought and mind control. Traditional law enforcement is replaced by the “Thought police” whose job is to serve as the judge, jury, or executioner for any crimes against the Parties including negative thoughts that one were to have. They discover and punish thoughtcrime; personal and political thoughts that are unapproved by the party's Ingsoc Regime. Winston was well aware that the Thought police had been watching him for well over 7 years, all of the times he had thought of rebellion were documented; they had every idea to believe Winston was against the party, “Thought Police had watched him like a beetle under a magnifying glass. There was no physical act, no word spoken aloud, that they had not noticed, no train of thought that they had not been able to infer.” (Orwell 349) When Winston was being “Re-educated” he finally realized his rebellion against the party was no good.  He finally knew that the party had been watching him like “A beetle under a magnifying glass” Everything he did, every move, breath, step he took was being inspected. Big Brother used these people in order to catch whoever was against him, being watched constantly is intolerable. This was a necessity to Big Brother because It gave complete control to make the next move on who's against and who's with the party. In Oceania at all times you are being watched, the constant reminders of this keep people strained from breaking any rules placed, ““Thought Police plugged in on any individual wire was guesswork. It was even conceivable that they watched everybody all the time. But at any rate they could plug in your wire whenever they wanted to. You had to live—did live, from habit that became instinct—in the assumption that every sound you made was overheard,and, except in darkness, every movement scrutinized.” (Orwell 5) At Any Rate the party could plug into your telescreen and watch every move you make which means you must be perceptive of your actions, you must follow the rules and regulations that are placed on you. If not you will simply be vaporized;when a person is secretly murdered and erased from society, the present, the universe, and existence. 

Every little thing you do is being recorded and documented, which makes people so mindful of their actions to do what they are told. The Agony of constantly being watched is what makes sure the party’s and Big Brother have that jurisdiction and control over you. 

Orwell created Newspeak; the official language of Oceania, there are  three distinct classes of this language. The A,B, and C vocabularies allow the party to control the way people think and talk. The Physiological meaning of Newspeak is to only allow thoughts and phrases that  are allowed by the parties Ingsoc rules.  To illustrate this idea that language can corrupt thought and that totalitarian systems use language to restrict, rather than broaden, ideas. 

Winston example the thought processes to readers he introduces the rules and reality control as he explained, ““Reality control’, they called it: in Newspeak, ‘doublethink’.” (Orwell 44) As said in the quote “Reality control” This language was completely used for supremacy, People were not allowed to speak how they truly felt which gave complete domination to the parties. Newspeak is used to limit people's free thoughts and speech. In Totalitarian governments those in charge, will try to control every aspect of people's lives, even down to personal habits.  Winston then explains what newspeak is and which meanings can mean what he says,“but in the final version of Newspeak there’ll be nothing else. In the end the whole notion of goodness and badness will be covered by only six words—in reality, only one word.” (Orwell 66) By suppressing people's use of language they will soon come to no understanding of any other words to express their thoughts and feelings. They will only know what they have been told by the government. 

Every little thing you do is being recorded and documented, which makes people so mindful of their actions to do what they are told. The Agony of constantly being watched is what makes sure the party’s and Big Brother have that jurisdiction and control over you. 

In Orwell's novel 1984, War is Peace, Freedom is Slavery, and Ignorange is Strength are the parties three bewildering slogans, which are quintessential examples of the ruling government and how it uses their language newspeak to manipulate and control the populations thought operations.  Winston communicates with readers on why he feels so much distaste for the younger population of Oceania he explained, “On the contrary, they adored the Party and everything connected with it. The songs, the processions, the banners, the hiking, the drilling with dummy rifles, the yelling of slogans, the worship of Big Brother—it was all a sort of glorious game to them.” (Orwell 31) As Winston explains his thoughts on the children developing in Oceania, he deeply expresses his concern that they adored Big Brother and the party’s themselves. Winston described the children as “Horrible” because they are so brainwashed by youth spies, to the point where they examine parents behavior and  frame of mind which explains why most people ``Over thirty” are frightened of their children. Children are taught to love the government of their own country along with obedience, energy, and patriotism. Anyone that alarms the system is a threat to the children and the government.  Other Slogans including “Big Brother is watching you” is an additional reminder to individuals to stay clear headed because you are persistently, night and day being observed. Winston vindicates this idea by saying, ““Even from the coin the eyes pursued you. On coins, on stamps, on the covers of books, on banners, on posters, and on the wrappings of a cigarette packet—everywhere. Always the eyes watching you and the voice enveloping you. Asleep or awake, working or eating, indoors or out of doors, in the bath or in bed—no escape. Nothing was your own except the few cubic centimetres inside your skull.” (Orwell 34)  As Winston explains how there's no way to escape the party for the reason that your always being watched as well as Big Brother is everywhere it’s a constant reminder that the Slogan “Big Brother is Watching You” is to not only make the people aware that they are under constant surveillance but are being judged as well. 

Controlling one's life is already a way to make them suffer, in 1984 it was Thought control, Language, and Telescreens all were the overextensions that Big Brother used to control people.  

This is a society in which people have no rights, where the government can do whatever whenever they like. The figure of Big Brother implements complete control that the government exerts over the people.  The novel 1984,  includes multiple statements that can conclude the idea that Big Brother has complete control over the people even if it makes them suffer.

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