Absolute Power In George Orwell's 1984

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Pages: 6

The essence of human compassion and spirit is destroyed by the dystopian society as well as the far too powerful government in 1984 by George Orwell. Orwell depicts a world in which the government has the utmost power over the commons of the nation of Oceania. Orwell is attempting to warn us to avoid a government in which the leader and those who are within his inner most circle have absolute power over the people of the country, for if this were to happen, people would have no form of freedom of speech, nor would people have the right to privacy, and history could be altered at any time but the ruling party whether it was the past, the present, or the future. Orwell’s depiction of a government with absolute power may have been considered extreme …show more content…
Winston is the prime example of the restriction of free thought and expression in that he is constantly waging a battle within himself refraining from speaking about the fraudulent actions of the inner party. Winston constantly contemplates the risk of freely exposing the government, even the thought of it is considered an act of treason, otherwise known as “Thoughtcrime, they called it. Thoughtcrime was not a thing that could be concealed forever. You might dodge successfully for a while even for years, but sooner or later they were bound to get you” (Orwell 19). As shown in this quote, the act of thoughtcrime (Free thought/speech) is extremely dangerous in that the government will track you down and find the best means of punishment for you if you have previously committed the crime. Once Winston initially commits the offense he suddenly realized what the repercussions of his actions will be if the Party finds out, “theyll shoot me i dont care theyll shoot me in the back of the neck i dont care down with big brother they always shoot you in the back of the neck i dont care down with big brother--” (Orwell 19). At this point Winston has already sinned in the eyes of the government and he realises that. If he or anyone who commits thoughtcrime is caught more often than not they will be …show more content…
Within 1984 the telescreen was a key component to restricting the people, “The telescreen received and transmitted simultaneously. Any sound that Winston made, above level of a very low whisper, would be picked up by it” (Orwell 3). The telescreen was able to monitor all the actions of the citizens in Oceania; This puts forth a major violation of privacy in that no one is allowed time in which they are in complete seclusion. Winston explains further in depth that the party can monitor you whenever they wish, “There was of course no way of knowing whether you were being watched at any given moment” (Orwell 3). Winston expresses his concern over the fact that no matter the time of day nor place you could be watched by the party and have no idea about it; Moreover, the people of Oceania have no freedoms due to this everlasting surveillance by the government. Finally this it is made known to the citizens of Oceania that they are being watched constantly as seen by the posters, “BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU, the caption said, while the dark eyes looked deep into Winston’s own. Down at streetlevel, another poster” (Orwell 2). From early on the citizens of Oceania the idea that they are being surveyed is imprinted in their mind; This constant mindset that they are being watched is due to the posters that are posted everywhere, always