1984 - George Orwell

Throughout the evolution of man, power and control have been idealized. When power is attained by manipulative dictators, citizens may initially view them as a means to satisfy their need for structure and direction. An author's grim prophecy of mankind in a totalitarian society is depicted in George Orwell's, 1984. Citizens in Oceania are governed by the Party Big Brother, which succeeds in controlling their actions and minds. The concept of oppression is taken to a new level, until there is no sense of humanity within the society.

Natural instincts and emotions do not exist for the citizens in Oceania, as they are conditioned since birth to be working bodies, lacking mercy and compassion. "By careful early conditioning, by games and cold water, by the rubbish that was dinned into them at school and in the Spies and the Youth League, by lectures, parades, songs, slogans and martial music, the natural feeling had been driven out of them." (Orwell, p.71) The main repetitive means of conditioning were the Party slogans which citizens must adhere to; War is Peace, Freedom is Slavery, Ignorance is Strength. War is linked with peace and security, rather than horror and grief. Freedom is viewed as being an individual, therefore more susceptible to torture. The individual is defeated and therefore enslaved to the government rather than being apart of the government. In result, there is no freedom of thought, expression, language, religion, etc. Ignorance is bliss since there is no need to criticize the government and therefore, fewer confrontations.

The proles (proletariats) in the novel are allowed and appreciate primitive emotions. Sex, scent, expression, and the true sense of freedom embody this in the novel. It is ironic that they reserve a sense of humanity, yet are considered inhumane. Eighty five per cent of Oceania's population is proles, and they are unaware of their potential power. "If there is hope, it lies in the proles. Until they become conscious they will never rebel, and until after they have rebelled they cannot become conscious." (Orwell, p.52) Although it could lead to a counter-revolution, they are content in the purity of their lives, and see no need for power since they have not yet been exposed to the oppression in Oceania. "The lower strata of the middle class - the small tradespeople, shopkeepers, and retired tradesmen generally, the handicraftsmen and peasants - all these sink gradually into the proletariat, partly because their diminutive capital does not suffice for the scale on which modern industry is carried on..." (Feuer) This contrasts the bourgeoisie (i.e. Big Brother, the inner party) who are driven by power, are considered socially superior, and are the ones responsible for the struggle between the classes within their regime. They successfully change the upper class (outer Party members) to fit their image, and it is only a matter of time before they attempt to convert the proles. The inner party dictates to the upper class that speaking to the proles is considered social deviation, therefore these two realms are impermeable.

One way of implementing the structure is to keep all physical objects in society comprised of the Party configuration. Their market, their attire, and products are screened, and helicopter police and telescreens are used to surveil every citizen. Big Brother has abolished private industry, and has replaced it with one government, one code of "law" (absolute ruling), and one national class interest. In utilizing these tangible entities, the Party gradually gains control, and each citizen becomes nothing more than an appendage to the machine.

A sexual experience of the outer party citizens is viewed as a vile and dirty instinct, and is oppressed by Big Brother. The motive of the Party to prevent these physical bonds, is so that they do not lead to emotional bonds, thus directing all positive emotions towards Big Brother. "Chastity was deeply ingrained in them as Party loyalty." (p.71)

To control the mentality of their citizens, the Party establishes INGSOC socialist principles. They are categorized into Newspeak, Doublethink, and the Mutability of the Past. Newspeak is a new language, which strips it to basic vocabulary, and provides no means of expression or imagination. Only orthodox words are kept, so that no citizen can express their desire to revolt against the Party. Doublethink is reality control. "The essential act of the Party is to use conscious deception while retaining the firmness of purpose that goes with complete honesty...to deny the existence of objective reality and all the while to take account of the reality which one denies." (Orwell, p.37) They achieve this by denying all that is real or was real at some point in time. A prime example of this, is how they are involved