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Themes, Motifs, and Symbols in 1984

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  • Last Updated On: March 1, 2022

theme of 1984 essay

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Major Themes in 1984

In the dystopian novel 1984 , George Orwell’s use of a totalitarian government exemplifies its themes throughout the story. Themes and motifs such as censorship, freedom, and propaganda are prevalent throughout the novel and explored through the suspense of Big Brother’s control and motives. Orwell’s use of language defines what it means to be a citizen of Oceania and its threats to individuality and freedom. 

Propaganda is defined as information, typically biased, used to support a certain point of view. Through the use of telescreens, slogans, and other pieces of propaganda, the loyalty of the Oceania citizens is controlled and manipulated by the Party. Unbeknownst to themselves, the citizens lose their ability to think on their own and live in a world full of devotion and patriotism. Much like the World War I Uncle Sam poster, which is a United States staple piece of propaganda, the Party uses posters of Big Brother as a patriotic symbol. 

theme of 1984 essay

The Ministry of Truth, where the protagonist, Winston Smith, works, is responsible for dispersing all information to its people. The Ministry distorts history and facts, regardless of their accuracy, to support and promote the ideology behind the Party. This form of propaganda is just one of many that diminish the individualistic freedoms of Oceania. 

The propaganda used in Orwell’s dystopia defines what it means to be a loyal citizen to the Party. The propaganda influences the citizen’s perception of what is real and what isn’t. 

Loyalty to the Party is more than dedication to government. In 1984, the citizens must be submissive to the Party in every way. Without submissive behavior and unquestionable compliance, the totalitarian government cannot exist. Loyalty within the Party lies deeper than any other relationship, including those of father and child. 

theme of 1984 essay

The most prevalent example of loyalty lies within Winston and Julia. Winston and Julia’s relationship with each other proves that there is no loyalty beyond that of the government. The only love accepted in Oceania is the love that serves Big Brother. However, Julia and Winston’s mutual hatred for the Party and its ideologies create their faithfulness to each other. As the relationship and individual loyalty develop, a secret Thought Policeman, O’Brien, intervenes and develops a relationship with Winston when he senses noncompliance to Big Brother’s loyalty.

Julia and Winston’s love and rebellion against the totalitarian government ends in dismay when captured by the O’Brien and the Thought Police. After their capture, Winston’s love for Julia is replaced by the love for Big Brother, exemplifying the loyalty mindset of the Party. As O’Brien states, “You must love Big Brother. It is not enough to obey him; you must love him” (Orwell 252). 

Manipulation

There are many forms of manipulation strewn throughout 1984. The biggest form of manipulation is the language of Newspeak, Oceania’s replacement for English. Language allows individuality, knowledge and freedom to think and speak as one feels. As a manipulation tactic, the Party controls the masses through this new use of language. Newspeak is constantly being altered and perfected. The Party perfects the language by continuously limiting what the individual can think and speak. Through this manipulation, The Party ensures that there is no rebellion or thought that goes against the Party’s ideology.  

Beyond mind manipulation, the Party also controls the body. The citizens of Oceania are required to complete Physical Jerks daily, then go to their government job, and keep up with the Party’s political agenda. The punishment for any sort of rebellion is met with physical and mental torture. With this manipulation of mind and body, the Party reaches its ideology behind totalitarianism. 

Motifs and Symbols in 1984

The ideology and dangers behind totalitarianism, propaganda, and censorship are conveyed through Orwell’s use of symbolism and motifs. Orwell uses the irony of doublethink to show how manipulation and control can restrict one’s individuality and freedom. The concept behind Big Brother represents more than just the leader of Oceania, but rather the dictatorial presence over the nation. 

Doublethink

theme of 1984 essay

Doublethink is a mind-manipulation strategy in which individuals hold two contradictory ideas simultaneously and believe both are true. Orwell’s language use throughout 1984 illustrates what it is to doublethink. The Party uses this strategy to invoke loyalty in its citizens.

The names of the Ministries in 1984 exemplify the idea of doublethink, “The Ministry of Truth, which concerned itself with news, entertainment, education, and the fine arts. The Ministry of Peace, which concerned itself with war. The Ministry of Love, which maintained law and order. And the Ministry of Plenty, which was responsible for economic affairs. Their names, in Newspeak: Minitrue, Minipax, Miniluv, and Miniplenty” (Orwell 4).  

In reality, the Ministry of Peace is in charge of waging war, the Ministry of Truth manipulates and distorts information, the Ministry of Love oversees punishment, and the Ministry of Plenty focuses on economic shortcomings. Orwell’s use of irony in these examples highlights how Oceania manipulates its citizens’ minds in order to gain complete control and remove the ability for citizens to have independent thought, creating the idealistic totalitarian government.  

Big Brother

Orwell’s totalitarian government focuses heavily on Big Brother. The face of the Party has never been seen, however, and fear reigns across a nation as his presence is shown.  As described in the text, “…the face of Big Brother seemed to persist for several seconds on the screen, as though the impact that it had made on everyone’s eyeballs was too vivid to wear off immediately,” Big Brother’s intimidation lies deep within its citizens (Orwell 21). Big Brother symbolizes power and the state and the complete oppression of society.

Telescreens

theme of 1984 essay

Telescreens are used as constant surveillance for the people of Oceania and as a tactic to spread the Party’s propaganda. Orwell uses telescreens to symbolize how the totalitarian government abuses its power through different means; in this case, the telescreens are directly an abuse of technology. The telescreens watch citizens’ every move, tracking their facial features and reporting any suspicion to the Thought Police. As described in 1984:

“ The telescreen received and transmitted simultaneously. Any sound that Winston made, above the level of a very low whisper, would be picked up by it, moreover, so long as he remained within the field of vision which the metal plaque commanded, he could be seen as well as heard. There was of course no way of knowing whether you were being watched at any given moment. How often, or on what system, the 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 2)

The dehumanizing political philosophies of the Party are established through the various themes and motifs of the story. Orwell’s warnings about government control are manifested throughout this novel by the use of propaganda, mind- manipulation, and fear. By looking deeper into the use of language and symbolism, it is abundantly apparent: Big Brother is watching you. 

Works Cited

Elder, Natalie. “Uncle Sam: The Man and the Meme.” National Museum of American History , 3 May 2016, americanhistory.si.edu/blog/2013/09/uncle-sam-the-man-and-the-meme-the-origins-of-uncle-sam.html. Orwell, George. 1984 . Penguin Books, 2020.

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1984 Themes – Meaning and Main Ideas

Home » Literature Explained – Literary Synopses and Book Summaries » 1984 Book » 1984 Themes – Meaning and Main Ideas

Main Theme of 1984 – Introduction

The novel takes place in a futuristic and dystopian version of London, UK. The citizens of this nation, Oceania, are ruled by Big Brother and The Party. They are under constant surveillance and the information that they receive is controlled by The Party before it reaches any citizens. The novel was written in 1949 but the exact year of the story is unknown. Even the main character, Winston, is unsure of the exact date anymore because The Party keeps its citizens uninformed and he lost track. We know that it is “the future” because of all of the technology and the title leads us to guess it may be in the year 1984, which shows Orwell’s intentional message that a government takeover with advanced technologies could be more imminent than anyone would want to believe.

There are several very strong themes in this short novel, and a couple of motifs that back those themes up and support the overall message Orwell intended to create. Doublethink is a motif in the novel—it occurs when The Party suddenly changes the information that they’ve been giving the citizens. The citizens agree to just go along with the changes and are able to believe whatever they need too, even if it is all directly contradictory. For example, when a speech is being given, the orator randomly changes which nation he refers to as their enemy. The people believe it right away and feel bad that they made the wrong signs to bring to the speech. Another motif is the decay of the city as a result of the violent revolution that occurred some years prior. The city is in a state of decay, but The Party ignores this, mismanaging a city of the size completely. This leaves the proles (lower class citizens) largely unmonitored, which is an oversight on the part of the government because it poses the potential for revolution.

Main Themes in 1984

Here’s a list of major themes in 1984.

  • Totalitarianism
  • State control of expression
  • Control over information

Individual Identity

The inherent destruction in totalitarianism.

1984 book themes

Psychological Manipulation Through Technology

1984 novel themes

State Control Over Expression

Since The Party is always watching, they also control how citizens use their bodies. They cannot have sex outside of procreation, and even a misgiving facial twitch could lead to an arrest and subsequent torture to break that individual into submission. The Party also requires daily exercises from all citizens, and they will be yelled at through their telescreens if they do not exercise hard enough. When people turn to anti-Party activities, they will be tortured by officials until they relent and show full brainwashed support for The Party.

Control Over Information

The Party has decided to control all information, being very careful what kinds of history the citizens are able to access. They develop Newspeak, which is a modified form of English that eliminates any words that could threaten The Party’s control over its people. People’s memories become fuzzy, they lose track of the year, and eventually they just comply because they don’t know any better.

1984 george orwell themes

The novel centers on Winston’s various acts of resistance that start small but then become bolder and bolder until he is finally arrested and tortured for it. He dreams of revolution, imagining that the proles will be the key to overthrowing The Party and giving future generations freedom. He finds inspiration in items that remind him of the past, which he can barely remember. He starts up a love affair with the beautiful Julia. All of these things lead Winston to seek out an anti-Party movement. Ultimately, though, he is arrested by double agents and this desire to resist is tortured out of him. The Party does not treat any opposition lightly, making sure to use every method they can possibly find to brainwash and remove desire for resistance in their citizens.

theme of 1984 essay

George Orwell

Everything you need for every book you read..

Welcome to the LitCharts study guide on George Orwell's 1984 . Created by the original team behind SparkNotes, LitCharts are the world's best literature guides.

1984: Introduction

1984: plot summary, 1984: detailed summary & analysis, 1984: themes, 1984: quotes, 1984: characters, 1984: symbols, 1984: theme wheel, brief biography of george orwell.

1984 PDF

Historical Context of 1984

Other books related to 1984.

  • Full Title: Nineteen Eighty-Four: A Novel
  • When Written: 1945-49; outline written 1943
  • Where Written: Jura, Scotland
  • When Published: June 1949
  • Literary Period: Late Modernism
  • Genre: Novel / Satire / Parable
  • Setting: London in the year 1984
  • Climax: Winston is tortured in Room 101
  • Antagonist: O'Brien
  • Point of View: Third-Person Limited

Extra Credit for 1984

Outspoken Anti-Communist. Orwell didn't just write literature that condemned the Communist state of the USSR. He did everything he could, from writing editorials to compiling lists of men he knew were Soviet spies, to combat the willful blindness of many intellectuals in the West to USSR atrocities.

Working Title. Orwell's working title for the novel was The Last Man in Europe .

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1984 Themes

‘ Theme ’ is an overarching idea, philosophy, and belief used in the literary works by a writer to show these concepts directly or indirectly. In George Orwell ’s Nineteen Eighty-Four now mostly published as 1984 , themes are diverse, yet they can be related to the current governments and social structures. Some of the major ideas have been discussed below.

Themes in 1984

Totalitarianism

Totalitarianism is one of the major themes of the novel , 1984. It presents the type of government where even the head of the government is unknown to the public. This theme serves as a warning to the people because such regime unleashes propaganda to make people believe in the lies presented by the government. Throughout the novel, there is no proof of Big Brother’s existence in Oceania. The Party exercises complete control not only on the sexual lives of their citizens such as Julia’s and Winston Smith but also on their thoughts, feelings and even writing a diary. The overall monitoring and surveillance of the people through telescreens and subversion of history through the Ministry of Truth are some of the common casualties of such regimes. The third casualty of the totalitarianism is the truth through language. This happens in the shape of mottos such as “ War is Peace .”

Propaganda is another major theme of 1984. The novel clearly shows the way propaganda is used to control people, along with its impacts and pitfalls. Orwell has presented this theme through an organized propaganda machine of the Ministry of Truth in Oceania. Winston Smith is also involved in this propaganda. His work requires distortion of facts and truths and altering historical facts and then propagate them throughout the country. It means that the Party wants to have complete control over the thoughts and actions of the public. This propaganda has also invented new information and new words such as ‘Two Minutes Hate’, ‘Big Brother is watching’ and new mottos. The objective of propaganda is to make people loyal to the Party and the country.

Subversion of Reality

Subversion of reality is another major theme of this novel. The novel has presented most people living in abject poverty , while others are engaged in working against each other. The children are spying on the adults with what they have learned in “Spies” groups. Winston Smith has been taught not to enjoy a life of love and sex in romance . The language is turned topsy-turvy to make people believe in what they do not know. The facts are turned into lies, and then these lies are disseminated as truths. The public memory is being manipulated with new information that further alienate the people from reality.

Subversion of Love and Feelings

Another theme of 1984 is the subversion of love and feelings. It means that the people are taught not to love, and to curb their feelings or any passions of love. According to the regime, sex just as a duty of the government or “duty to the Party.” It means Winston Smith needs to engage in sex only to produce children for the Party. This has led to his failed marriage with Katherine and his rebellion by loving Julia and thus engaging with her intimately. The memory of his mother realizes Winston about the love of parents from which the Party has deprived him. In fact, his loveless life shows how the totalitarian regimes destroy family, love and individual’s lives to make the ruling class strong.

Loss of Identity and Independence

Totalitarian governments often adopt strategies that make people lose identities and independence so that the citizen will not question the supremacy of the governing class. Thus, proving that totalitarianism, which is one of its major themes in the novel has ripped people of their own personality. The uniformity in food, clothes and what the people hear and absorb in 1984 shows that the Party and its supposed head, Big Brother, are engaged in erasing the individualities and identities. Winston Smith’s feeling of criminality in writing his dairy is a dangerous act. The final torture scene when O’Brien confronts Winston to erase his integrity and his significant resistance brings out response from O’Brien. He explains Winston Smith that he is the last man on earth if he is harboring rebellious thoughts. This is an example of how individuality and identity are not tolerated in totalitarian regimes.

Political Loyalty

Political loyalty is another overarching theme that pervades 1984. It is present from the beginning to the end of the novel. Winston Smith is a loyal employee, yet he harbors thoughts against the Party and questions most of the information he is asked to feed. However, loyalty in Oceania does not expect only work dedication; they want every person to become loyal to the point of submissiveness with unconditional obedience. O’Brien, a secret ‘Thought Police’ is an example of such a loyal person. He senses rebellion in Winston Smith and befriends him, then hands him over to the police to brainwash him. He warns Winston that it is the Party whose perspective will prevail what he might do or not do. This is the loyalty that the omnipresent Big Brother wants from the people.

Class System

Another pervasive theme of the novel is the class system. It means Oceania is divided into different classes. There is Inner Party that is considered the elite class, having servants and luxury lifestyle. The ordinary members like Winston Smith, on the other hand, live in state-run small apartments with no permission to enjoy conjugal or familial lives. The poor are living in the no-go area with constant propaganda to feed them with lies and program their minds to believe them as truths. That is why O’Brien thinks that the society beyond the suburban areas is living in a single moment, for the Party defines and controls this society based on a class system.

Controlled Information and Rewriting of History

In the state of Oceania, there is a single party system where only the Party rules with its leader, Big Brother. It broadcasts, manages and distributes information and control the people. Though the information is taken from history, it is rewritten to suit the current occasion. Even Winston Smith has a hard time, thinking why the diary writing is punishable. The people are becoming unsure, and then sure that they are members of a great government, the Party. O’ Brien also harbors the same notions due to the subversion of information and rewriting of the history.

Use of Technology

Orwell has shown another theme that is the use of technology for governing the people. In this novel, the writer shows that the party uses telescreens and some other apparatuses as one of the primary tools control the public. The use of technology to monitor people is very much present in this century as George Orwell had predicted through 1984.

Use and Abuse of Language

Language is very important for mental and physical control. The Party has employed language to control the masses. The use of words such as Newspeak, doublethink, Ingsoc and various other words speak volumes about this tactic. O’Brien and Winston Smith are engaged in the Ministry of Truth to use and abuse language to rewrite history and distort facts for the public consumption.

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Essays on 1984

Hook examples for "1984" essays, the dystopian warning hook.

Open your essay by discussing George Orwell's "1984" as a prophetic warning against totalitarianism and government surveillance. Explore how the novel's themes are eerily relevant in today's world.

The Orwellian Language Hook

Delve into the concept of Newspeak in "1984" and its parallels to modern language manipulation. Discuss how the novel's portrayal of controlled language reflects real-world instances of propaganda and censorship.

Big Brother is Watching Hook

Begin with a focus on surveillance and privacy concerns. Analyze the omnipresent surveillance in the novel and draw connections to contemporary debates over surveillance technologies, data privacy, and civil liberties.

The Power of Doublethink Hook

Explore the psychological manipulation in "1984" through the concept of doublethink. Discuss how individuals in the novel are coerced into accepting contradictory beliefs, and examine instances of cognitive dissonance in society today.

The Character of Winston Smith Hook

Introduce your readers to the protagonist, Winston Smith, and his journey of rebellion against the Party. Analyze his character development and the universal theme of resistance against oppressive regimes.

Technology and Control Hook

Discuss the role of technology in "1984" and its implications for control. Explore how advancements in surveillance technology, social media, and artificial intelligence resonate with the novel's themes of control and manipulation.

The Ministry of Truth Hook

Examine the Ministry of Truth in the novel, responsible for rewriting history. Compare this to the manipulation of information and historical revisionism in contemporary politics and media.

Media Manipulation and Fake News Hook

Draw parallels between the Party's manipulation of information in "1984" and the spread of misinformation and fake news in today's media landscape. Discuss the consequences of a distorted reality.

Relevance of Thoughtcrime Hook

Explore the concept of thoughtcrime and its impact on individual freedom in the novel. Discuss how society today grapples with issues related to freedom of thought, expression, and censorship.

Effects of "Utopia-esque" Societies on People

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Orwell's Use of Literary Devices to Portray The Theme of Totalitarianism in 1984

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Dictatorship of The People: Orwell's 1984 as an Allegory for The Early Soviet Union

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The Theme of Survival and Selfishness in The Handmaid's Tale in 1984

Government surveillance in 1984 by george orwell: bogus security, george orwell's 1984 as a historical allegory, exploitation of language in george orwell's 1984, how orwell's 1984 is relevant to today's audience, the relation of orwel’s 1984 to the uighur conflict in china, symbolism in 1984: the soviet union as representation of the fears people, parallels to today in 1984 by george orwell, the relationship between power and emotions in 1984, proletariat vs protagonist: winston smith's class conflict in 1984, a review of george orwell’s book, 1984, o'brien as a dehumanizing villain in 1984, family in 1984 and persepolis, the philosophy of determinism in 1984, orwell's use of rhetorical strategies in 1984, control the citizens in the orwell's novel 1984, dangers of totalitarianism as depicted in 1984, dystopian life in '1984' was a real-life in china, dystopian world in the novel '1984' awaits us in the future, the internal conflict of the protagonist of the dystopia '1984'.

8 June 1949, George Orwell

Novel; Dystopia, Political Fiction, Social Science Fiction Novel

Winston Smith, Julia, O'Brien, Aaronson, Jones, and Rutherford, Ampleforth, Charrington, Tom Parsons, Syme, Mrs. Parsons, Katharine Smith

Since Orwell has been a democratic socialist, he has modelled his book and motives after the Stalinist Russia

Power, Repressive Behaviors, Totalitarianism, Mass Surveillance, Human Behaviors

The novel has brought up the "Orwellian" term, which stands for "Big Brother" "Thoughtcrime" and many other terms that we know well. It has been the reflection of totalitarianism

1984 represents a dystopian writing that has followed the life of Winston Smith who belongs to the "Party",which stands for the total control, which is also known as the Big Brother. It controls every aspect of people's lives. Is it ever possible to go against the system or will it take even more control. It constantly follows the fear and oppression with the surveillance being the main part of 1984. There is Party’s official O’Brien who is following the resistance movement, which represents an alternative, which is the symbol of hope.

Before George Orwell wrote his famous book, he worked for the BBC as the propagandist during World War II. The novel has been named 1980, then 1982 before finally settling on its name. Orwell fought tuberculosis while writing the novel. He died seven months after 1984 was published. Orwell almost died during the boating trip while he was writing the novel. Orwell himself has been under government surveillance. It was because of his socialist opinions. The slogan that the book uses "2 + 2 = 5" originally came from Communist Russia and stood for the five-year plan that had to be achieved during only four years. Orwell also used various Japanese propaganda when writing his novel, precisely his "Thought Police" idea.

“Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past.” “But if thought corrupts language, language can also corrupt thought.” “Being in a minority, even in a minority of one, did not make you mad. There was truth and there was untruth, and if you clung to the truth even against the whole world, you were not mad.” “Confession is not betrayal. What you say or do doesn't matter; only feelings matter. If they could make me stop loving you-that would be the real betrayal.” “Power is in tearing human minds to pieces and putting them together again in new shapes of your own choosing.” "But you could not have pure love or pure lust nowadays. No emotion was pure, because everything was mixed up with fear and hatred."

The most important aspect of 1984 is Thought Police, which controls every thought. It has been featured in numerous books, plays, music pieces, poetry, and anything that has been created when one had to deal with Social Science and Politics. Another factor that represents culmination is thinking about overthrowing the system or trying to organize a resistance movement. It has numerous reflections of the post WW2 world. Although the novella is graphic and quite intense, it portrays dictatorship and is driven by fear through the lens of its characters.

This essay topic is often used when writing about “The Big Brother” or totalitarian regimes, which makes 1984 a flexible topic that can be taken as the foundation. Even if you have to write about the use of fear by the political regimes, knowing the facts about this novel will help you to provide an example.

1. Enteen, G. M. (1984). George Orwell And the Theory of Totalitarianism: A 1984 Retrospective. The Journal of General Education, 36(3), 206-215. (https://www.jstor.org/stable/27797000) 2. Hughes, I. (2021). 1984. Literary Cultures, 4(2). (https://journals.ntu.ac.uk/index.php/litc/article/view/340) 3. Patai, D. (1982). Gamesmanship and Androcentrism in Orwell's 1984. PMLA, 97(5), 856-870. (https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/pmla/article/abs/gamesmanship-and-androcentrism-in-orwells-1984/F1B026BE9D97EE0114E248AA733B189D) 4. Paden, R. (1984). Surveillance and Torture: Foucault and Orwell on the Methods of Discipline. Social Theory and Practice, 10(3), 261-271. (https://www.pdcnet.org/soctheorpract/content/soctheorpract_1984_0010_0003_0261_0272) 5. Tyner, J. A. (2004). Self and space, resistance and discipline: a Foucauldian reading of George Orwell's 1984. Social & Cultural Geography, 5(1), 129-149. (https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/1464936032000137966) 6. Kellner, D. (1990). From 1984 to one-dimensional man: Critical reflections on Orwell and Marcuse. Current Perspectives in Social Theory, 10, 223-52. (https://pages.gseis.ucla.edu/faculty/kellner/essays/from1984toonedimensional.pdf) 7. Samuelson, P. (1984). Good legal writing: of Orwell and window panes. U. Pitt. L. Rev., 46, 149. (https://heinonline.org/HOL/LandingPage?handle=hein.journals/upitt46&div=13&id=&page=) 8. Fadaee, E. (2011). Translation techniques of figures of speech: A case study of George Orwell's" 1984 and Animal Farm. Journal of English and Literature, 2(8), 174-181. (https://academicjournals.org/article/article1379427897_Fadaee.pdf) 9. Patai, D. (1984, January). Orwell's despair, Burdekin's hope: Gender and power in dystopia. In Women's Studies International Forum (Vol. 7, No. 2, pp. 85-95). Pergamon. (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/0277539584900621) 10. Cole, M. B. (2022). The Desperate Radicalism of Orwell’s 1984: Power, Socialism, and Utopia in Dystopian Times. Political Research Quarterly, 10659129221083286. (https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/10659129221083286)

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1984 Essays

The reflection of george orwell crystal epps.

"On each landing, opposite the lift shaft, the poster with the enormous face gazed from the wall. It was one of those pictures which are so contrived that the eyes follow you about when you move. BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU, the caption beneath it...

Totalitarian Collectivism in 1984, or, Big Brother Loves You Tiffany Shropshire

Following the political upheaval and struggle for power after the second world war, George Orwell's novel 1984 cautions against the dangers of oppression and exemplifies the consequential nightmarish world of the near future. The plot traces the...

Sex as Rebellion Joe Ward

The opening of Book Two of 1984, in which Winston meets Julia and begins the erotic affair he has so deeply desired, commences the main section of the novel and strikes an immediate contrast between the two lovers. Unlike Winston, Julia is neither...

Class Ties: The Dealings of Human Nature Depicted through Social Classes in 1984 Zachary Zill

In George Orwell's 1984, the differences and relationships between the proles, the Outer Party, and the Inner Party reflect different aspects of human nature and the various levels of the human psyche. The most base, savage level of humanity is...

1984: The Ultimate Parody of the Utopian World Anonymous

"When Thomas More wrote Utopia in 1515, he started a literary genre with lasting appeal for writers who wanted not only to satirize existing evils but to postulate the state, a kind of Golden Age in the face of reality" (Hewitt 127). Unlike a...

Class Conflict: Winston Smith in George Orwell's 1984 Sarah Standish

The title year of George Orwell's most famous novel is nineteen years past, but the dystopian vision it draws has retained its ability to grip readers with a haunting sense of foreboding about the future. At the heart of many of the issues touched...

Methods of Control in 1984 and Brave New World Anonymous

The difference between the methods of control in 1984 and BRAVE NEW WORLD is the difference between external control by force and internal control, enforced only by the citizen's own mind. While 1984's method has real-world precedent and seems...

Time in Modernist Literature Nathan Ragolia

Perception of time represents a major motif in modernist literature. Many works address the subjectivity of our experiences, including how we process and consider the passage of time. Due to the modernist and post-modernist emphasis on style and...

The Impossibility of Redemption for Winston Smith in 1984 Timothy Sexton

In George Orwell's 1984, Winston Smith cannot escape the state's domination. Yet his inability is not only because of government power. Rather, even if he did have an opportunity to leave Oceania, his actions indicate that he would not have the...

Selfishness and Survival in The Handmaid’s Tale and 1984 Soh Li Yin

Are Winston, Julia and Offred eventually made into ‘reluctantly-selfish’ victims of totalitarian regimes or are they innately ‘pragmatically-selfish’ beings? Discuss in relation to The Handmaid’s Tale and 1984.

Offred and Winston, the main...

Power and Emotion in Orwell’s 1984 Anonymous

“How does one man assert his power over another, Winston?” O’Brien asks. Winston’s answer: “By making him suffer” (214). These two characters inhabit George Orwell’s vision of a future totalitarian government that has evolved to its most...

Imagery of Totalitarianism in Nineteen Eighty-Four Elizabeth Marcil 11th Grade

In the novel Nineteen Eighty-Four, Orwell uses several literary techniques to develop the theme that totalitarianism is destructive. He does so by using extensive imagery, focusing on the deterioration of the Victory Mansions, the canteen where...

Pursuit of Truth in 1984 Anonymous College

Contemporary political discourse often references George Orwell’s 1984 as an example of how government interference infringes on our rights as individuals while we remain complacent in the face of these violations. For example, the falsification...

Victorian, Romantic and Modernist Literature: Style as Cultural Commentary Anonymous College

Tony Harrison’s “A Cold Coming,” William Wordsworth’s “Lines Composed a Few Miles Above Tintern Abbey,” Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights and George Orwell’s 1984 each display distinct sensibilities that reflect the time from which they emerged....

The Currency of Power in 1984 Katherine Knapp College

The power of words is enough to control an entire nation. Although many would consider physical power and brute force to be absolute power, George Orwell’s 1984 demonstrates a dystopian society where language is the ultimate form of power. The...

Orwell's Language: Thought Control Tom Armstrong College

George Orwell’s 1984 portrays a dystopian society whose values and freedoms have been marred through the manipulation of language and thus thought processes. Language has become a tool of mind control for the oppressive government and...

The Freedom to Be Dominated: A Historical Comparison of 1984 to Communist Russia Anonymous 11th Grade

A government of an ideal society is meant to represent the people. It is the people’s choice to support, to select, and to seize government. The idea of open communication is employed as a way for people to choose the best representative. With the...

Models of Rebellion in 1984 and V for Vendetta Joseph Latorcai 12th Grade

Problems faced by characters in literature often repeat themselves, and when these characters decide to solve these standard problems, their actions are often more similar than they first appear. This idea is evident when comparing the actions...

Freud's Impact on 1984 Anonymous College

In his treatise Civilization and Its Discontents , Freud makes an interesting statement about advanced society. He argues that “the price of progress in civilization is paid in forfeiting happiness through the heightening of the sense of guilt,” to...

O’Brien’s Moral Dehumanization: Villainy in "1984" Dylan Kostadinov 10th Grade

“Nobody is a villain in their own story. We're all the heroes of our own stories.” According to George R.R. Martin, an estimable American novelist, an individual's perspective ultimately decides whether he views himself as a protagonist and deems...

Rebellion Across Media: Analyzing "1984" and "Metropolis" Joonhwy Kwon 12th Grade

George Orwell’s 1984 (1949) is a cautionary novel which explores a dystopian society mired in propaganda and totalitarianism. Similarly, director Fritz Lang’s Metropolis (1927) is a critique of a futuristic world where growth and industralisation...

Totalitarian Techniques in 1984 and Red Azalea Anonymous 10th Grade

In order for one to exist in a totalitarian society whose government is successful in its control, one must deal on a day-to-day basis with strong persuasion and propaganda. These totalitarian societies have an iron grip on their people, leaving...

Humanity's Fear: A Comparison of 1984 and Metropolis Anonymous 12th Grade

The fear of a dystopian future that is explored in both Fritz Lang’s film Metropolis and George Orwell’s novel Nineteen Eighty Four is reflective of the values of the societies at the time and the context of the authors. As authors are considered...

The Feminist Lens: Sexism in Dystopian Literature Anonymous 12th Grade

“O, brave new world!” John joyfully proclaims after being told he will have the chance to live in the World State with Bernard and Lenina (Huxley 93). Upon first reading dystopian literature, one might feel much like John, assuming a more...

theme of 1984 essay

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COMMENTS

  1. 1984: Themes

    1984: Themes | SparkNotes By Section By Character Next Themes are the fundamental and often universal ideas explored in a literary work. The Dangers of Totalitarianism 1984 is a political novel written with the purpose of warning readers in the West of the dangers of totalitarian government.

  2. 1984 Themes

    Throughout Nineteen Eighty-Four, Winston tries to assert his individual nature against the collective identity the Party wishes him to adopt. He keeps a private diary, engages in a forbidden sexual relationship, and insists that his version of reality is the truth, as opposed to what the Party…

  3. 1984 Themes

    Totalitarianism In writing 1984, Orwell's main goal was to warn of the serious danger totalitarianism poses to society. He goes to great lengths to demonstrate the terrifying degree of power and control a totalitarian regime can acquire and maintain.

  4. 1984: Suggested Essay Topics

    1. Describe Winston's character as it relates to his attitude toward the Party. In what ways might his fatalistic streak contribute to his ultimate downfall? 2. How does technology affect the Party's ability to control its citizens? In what ways does the Party employ technology throughout the book? 3.

  5. 1984

    Context Themes Explored in 1984 Essay Analysis of 1984 1984 by George Orwell Summary & Key Messages The Politics of Oceania 1984 belongs in the dystopian, science fiction genre as it explores the dangers of corrupted power under a totalitarian regime.

  6. Themes, Motifs, and Symbols in 1984

    In the dystopian novel 1984, George Orwell's use of a totalitarian government exemplifies its themes throughout the story. Themes and motifs such as censorship, freedom, and propaganda are prevalent throughout the novel and explored through the suspense of Big Brother's control and motives. Orwell's use of language defines what it means ...

  7. 1984 Themes

    Here's a list of major themes in 1984. Totalitarianism Propaganda State control of expression Control over information Individual Identity Resistance The Inherent Destruction in Totalitarianism A major purpose of 1984 being written was to warn people of the dangers of totalitarian revolutions.

  8. 1984 Study Guide

    1984: Themes Explanations, analysis, and visualizations of 1984 's themes. 1984: Quotes 1984 's important quotes, sortable by theme, character, or chapter.

  9. 1984 Themes

    The main themes of 1984 are mind control, conformity vs. individuality, and humanity as a destructive force. Mind control: Orwell depicts how an authoritarian state can shape its citizens' view of ...

  10. Themes in 1984 with Examples and Analysis

    Theme #1 Totalitarianism Totalitarianism is one of the major themes of the novel, 1984. It presents the type of government where even the head of the government is unknown to the public. This theme serves as a warning to the people because such regime unleashes propaganda to make people believe in the lies presented by the government.

  11. Orwell's 1984: A+ Student Essay Examples

    Satisfactory 2 pages / 998 words Power, Used and Abused Control can easily be depicted as a thirst for power. Once that power is abused, chaos ensues, corrupting people all around or belittling them. In the novel 1984, George Orwell shows the power of a dystopian society by creating a totalitarian... 1984 George Orwell Topics:

  12. Themes in 1984 by George Orwell

    Discover the ''1984'' themes. Study the themes of surveillance, censorship, totalitarianism, loyalty, language, propaganda, and identity in George Orwell's novel.

  13. Themes from 1984

    The Party believes that doing so would make it impossible for people to have corrupt thoughts. The objective of Newspeak, accordingly, is to "cut language to the bone." In an earlier essay, Orwell had pointed out that "if thought corrupts language, language can also corrupt thought." In 1984, this theme is explored in greater detail.

  14. 1984: A+ Student Essay: Is Technology or Psychology More ...

    Of the many iconic phrases and ideas to emerge from Orwell's 1984, perhaps the most famous is the frightening political slogan "Big Brother is watching." Many readers think of 1984 as a dystopia about a populace constantly monitored by technologically advanced rulers.

  15. 1984 Essays

    1984 essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of 1984 by George Orwell. Best summary PDF, themes, and quotes. ... Orwell uses several literary techniques to develop the theme that totalitarianism is destructive. He does so by using extensive imagery, focusing on the ...

  16. What are the Key Themes in 1984? (+ Essay Examples)

    For a complete essay guide on this te... This video will take you through some of the key themes explored in George Orwell's novel 'Nineteen Eighty-Four novel'.

  17. "1984" Theme Essay

    About Us. "1984" Theme Essay. This essay sample was donated by a student to help the academic community. Papers provided by EduBirdie writers usually outdo students' samples. 1984 is a legendary work of dystopian fiction World Gone Wrong with the Government Watch is everything citizens say and do control information memory and identity itself ...

  18. 1984: Study Guide

    Overview 1984 by George Orwell was published in 1949 and remains a dystopian classic. Set in the imagined totalitarian state of Oceania, the novel follows a man named Winston Smith, as he rebels against the oppressive Party led by Big Brother.

  19. Themes of '1984': Critical Essay

    Some of the key themes in Orwell's book were psychological manipulation and the dangers of totalitarianism. The whole story and especially the ending show what it is like for a person to be under total psychological manipulation, all of Oceania's society are not allowed to have independent thought including thoughts that are against Big Brother.

  20. 1984 Critical Essays

    Thus, as far as a young adult audience is concerned, Orwell's theme of establishing one's individuality in the face of an all-powerful and inimical society might be the most important, and it is...

  21. 1984 Theme Essay

    1984 Theme Essay 1559 Words7 Pages In the novel 1984, by George Orwell, he uses truth and reality as a theme throughout the novel to demonstrate the acts of betrayal and loyalty through the characters of Winston and Julia. Orwell expresses these themes through the Party, who controls and brainwashes the citizens of Oceania.

  22. 1984 Theme Essay

    1984 Theme Essay Decent Essays 1062 Words 5 Pages Open Document Absolute control over society is the central theme in the novel, 1984, by George Orwell. One method this power over society is exercised is use of language to manipulate and control people. The story features a society called Oceania, which is located in the European region.

  23. 1984: Full Book Analysis

    Full Book Analysis. 1984 follows a three-part linear narrative structure that enables the reader to experience Winston's dehumanization along with him, creating tension and sympathy for the main characters. Time in 1984 generally proceeds in a linear fashion, except for a few flashbacks to Winston's career at the Ministry of Truth, his ...