From the ancient civilization of Greece to modern day America, books have been written to be cherished for generations to come. The authors who write these books have a purpose. For some, it may be entertainment, but for others, it may be a piece of advice. These books influence today’s society, either hinting at good ideas, or warning the reader which lines never should be crossed. One such author that has created a book, not only for entertainment, but with a clear warning is Eric Blair, or as most know him George Orwell. In his most famous book, 1984, Orwell tells of a future where a totalitarian government rules to warn future generations that man can be an end in himself. Known for his bleak outlook on the future of humanity, Orwell clearly illustrates his thoughts on what could happen in the future. Thus, this paper will compare and evaluate literary criticisms pertaining to the themes of George Orwell’s novel 1984.
Critics of the novel 1984 hold similar opinions on the theme of mankind’s intellect under a totalitarian government. The critic Knapp believes that mankind will never fully control all aspects of nature, unless brainwashed into thinking so (2063). Furthermore, Knapp thinks that for humans to be at liberty and have true freedom, one must listen and pay attention to what he is afraid to hear (2061). Agreeing with this is Kazin who believes that if mankind is raised in ignorance, the world is only what we know it to be. Any other knowledge is unnecessary (DA). Also, “… we are creatures of society, which is why the tyrant state arises in answer to some mass deprivation. Then the tyranny that afflicts us in our name attempts to reconstitute us by force so implacable that we internalize them.” (Kazin DA). When mankind takes this mindset, then Elkins believes that history is not what happened in the past, it is what people believe has happened in the past (239). Moreover, if people are brainwashed their entire life, then history and truth no longer exist, save false, misleading information (Elkins 239). Finally, and agreeing with all, Bloom thinks that when history is rewritten, the past is destroyed, but only when none remember or believe in it. (59-60). Hence, these critics clearly depict one of Orwell’s major themes, the manner in which a totalitarian government affects mankind’s intellect.
The novel 1984 supports all the critics’ views on the theme of mankind’s intellect under a totalitarian government. Throughout this novel, Winston’s intellect is contorted and transformed by the effects of the government. For example, when Winston is finally arrested for thought crime, a crime in which one only has to think some evil to be convicted of it, O’Brien goes through the rigorous process of cleansing Winston’s mind by a torturous brainwashing. One of the first things he makes Winston believe is that he can fly, but he chooses not to because the party does not wish it. This statement by O’Brien does in fact sound very illogical, but in a society where almost everyone believes that what the party says is the truth, it is impossible to hold separate beliefs. The only reason Winston allows his brain to believe this fake idea is because he highly respects O’Brien and even more, because he is emaciated from lengthy imprisonment with little food. To have true freedom and liberty, as described by Knapp, one must listen to all facts, no matter how horrible, instead of changing facts to make a false future. From the beginning of the novel, Winston knows that the party rewrites all past newspapers and documents, because that is his job. And to further prove this point, Winston is accidentally sent an article about four honored party members that were later accused of treason. At this point, Winston should have kept this article and proved to the world that their party consisted of lies built up upon more lies. Only by viewing hard copy proof do people have a reason for abandoning the party. If this were to happen, then liberty and freedom would be regained. This also illustrates that in a totalitarian society what people believe is true becomes the accepted truth, whether or not it in fact happened. Because of this, truth has lost all identifying factors that make truth, truth. In Winston’s society, people have no desire to learn new ideas because throughout their lives, they have been taught to believe only what the party deems acceptable. This allows for extremely easy control by the party, thus enabling the party to use people like pawns. Near the summation of 1984, Winston is taken into the dreaded Room 101 which contains an electric chair used to torture the party’s rebels. To force Winston to finally love Big Brother and the party, O’Brien puts him in a situation where giant rats are going to eat him alive, Rats, of course, are his biggest fear. Winston’s only possibility for salvation is by begging O’Brien to put Julia in his place. He does in fact concede, and when he does, he begins to love Big Brother and the party. This demonstrates that with enough tyranny and force, anyone can be transformed into a mindless human whose existence is meaningless. Due to the fact Winston is now thoroughly brainwashed, it is impossible for him to be a human with the same needs as humans in today’s world. To Winston, feeling is now insignificant, time means naught, and the party is the principle factor in his life. Therefore, Winston’s contorted and transformed intellect is the chief platform on which the critics base their ideas about totalitarian government control.
Another key theme that critics of 1984 all agree upon is the all powerful role of the totalitarian government. According to Bloom, when a person starts living in a totalitarian government run society, there is no possible way to escape (76). Furthermore, a totalitarian government is “a hideous ingenuity in the perversions of a dying capitalism.” (Bloom 82). Another critic feels that the only purpose of a totalitarian government is having total control and in the end, only power matters (Franks 1420). Moreover, totalitarian governments not only control peoples’ bodies, but in fact have full control over peoples’ minds too (Franks 1416). Horne believes that Big Brother’s totalitarian government is the end of true human life. Instead of embracing imagination, the government destroys it and implants new, more primitive ideas like: having no luxuries to improve the quality of life, demolishing the idea of any individualism, and the end to any solution that might solve a problem or accomplish some task (35). What is more, in a totalitarian government, people are taught that all of their personal ideas are inferior to that of the government as a whole (Bloom 38). Finally, Zehr believes that totalitarian governments can only come to power when the individual gives in to that power (DA). Hence, these critics all show the all powerful role of the totalitarian government in 1984‘s society.
1984 supports the views of all the critics, but it especially supports Bloom, Horne, and Frank on the role of the totalitarian government. This type of government puts an end to individualism and the defining characteristics of the human entity. From the novel’s inception, Winston tries to discover the location of the group who can help him fight the government and eventually provide guidance to create universal happiness. Yet as the novel progresses, Winston learns that O’Brien, who gave him a copy of Goldstein’s book that describes the real truth of mankind, in fact helped write it and was the one who caught on to Winston’s rebellious scheme in the first place. This clearly shows that no matter how hard a person tries, that person is trapped by the totalitarian government. No matter what the individual does, the party is ten steps ahead. Generation after generation, it only gets harder and harder for people to revert back to individualism and makes it more and more definite that the totalitarian government has forever won. A totalitarian government is created by a capitalistic society that is influenced by socialistic ideas until it is unrecognizable as a free nation. This unrecognizable nation, led by a totalitarian government, is depicted as Oceania, the country where Winston lives. As for the subject of control, totalitarian governments have that too. At the novel’s beginning, Winston describes the Two Minute Hate, a massive rally supporting Big Brother, as “a hideous ecstasy of fear and vindictiveness, a desire to kill, to torture, to smash faces in with a sledgehammer, seemed to flow through the whole group of people like an electric current, turning one even against one’s will into a grimacing, screaming lunatic.” (16). The Two Minute Hate is the summit of the totalitarian government’s mind control. Instead of allowing people to use this massive amount of energy for productive actions, which in turn may lead to the overthrow of the government, the party uses it to shape peoples’ minds in whatever way the party sees fit. As a result, the totalitarian government is unstoppable. For if no one is unhappy, there is no reason to revert back to individualism. In addition to mind control, the party takes human characteristics out of everyday life. All art is destroyed: music is repetitive with almost machinelike noises, statues are absent, paintings, save those in the very few prole antique shops left, are nonexistent. Without these things, life lacks its luster, its zeal. With no culture, humans have destroyed a major part of themselves — that which makes them individuals. Without culture, humans are no better than comatose machines. Hence, the beliefs of Bloom and Frank concerning the destruction of individualism and its defining human characteristics by the totalitarian government, supports the theme in 1984.
Consequently, the literary element of theme in George Orwell’s 1984 is the reason it is considered a “must read classic.” Even though the date in which this novel takes place has long expired, its lessons are timeless. During the reader’s journey with Winston, it becomes clear that when mankind creates a totalitarian government, hell on earth ensues. Intellects are contorted and transformed and individualism is nonexistent. George Orwell’s 1984 unmistakably communicates his important message that a totalitarian utopia is the ultimate threat to mankind. For this reason, 1984 remains a highly regarded classic many years after its intended use.
Works Cited
Bloom, Harold, ed. George Orwell’s 1984. Broomall: Chelsea House Publishers, 2004.
Elkins, Charles L. George Orwell.” Science Fiction Writers. Ed. E. F. Bleiler. United States of America: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1982.
Franks, Carol. “Ninteen Eighty-Four.” Magill’s Survey of World Literature. Vol. 4. North Bellmore: Marshall Cavendish Corporation, 1993.
Horne, Irving. “1984 On Totalitarian Government’s Effect.” George Orwell’s 1984. Ed. Harold Bloom. Broomall: Chelsea House Publishers, 1996.
Kazin, Alfred. “Not One of Us.” The New York Review of Books 14 June 1984: 13-14, 16, 18. Excerpted in DISCovering Authors. CD ROM. Detroit: Gale Research, 1993.
Knapp, John V. “George Orwell.” Critical Survey of Long Fiction. Ed. Carl Rollyson. Pasadena: Salem Press, Inc., 2000.
Orwell, George. 1984. New York: Harcourt Brace Javanovich, Inc., 1977.
Zehr, David Morgan. “George Orwell.” British Novelists: 1930-1959. Ed. Bernard Oldsey. Gale Research Company: no city cited, 1983. Excerpted in DISCovering Authors. CD ROM. Detroit: Gale Research, 1993.
