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Fabian Romero
Professor DerOhanessian
English 114B
3 April 2014
Paranoid Isolation
In the dystopian novel 1984 by George Orwell, Winston works in the Records
Department for the totalitarian government in a state called Oceania. Winstons job isnt in fact
to file records, but to change the files facts into lies by what the government wants it to be. The
totalitarian governments, also known as The Party, goal is to leave their citizens ignorant of
what goes on in the world and within their own state. The Party drives the state through fear and
has been in power long enough to have people forget what had happened in history that led to the
dictating government. With every generation of Proles, who are considered less than human,
the history is forgotten and has led more faith in believing in Big Brother, who is the leader of
the Party. No one is allowed to be against the party in any way. They are not allowed to have
original thoughts, because it is the possibility of wanting to over throw the party. There is also
the use of Telescreens by the government, to keep a watchful eye within the party. 1984 used
space amongst everyone in the state to show the power that is being portrayed by Oceania. The
party members are watched over more than anyone and arent entirely allowed to have
conversations with themselves as long as it is about supporting the Party. Everyone is isolated
and is kept to that space in order to stay safe without giving the idea to the government that they
are planning against the party. The Party will do anything to remain in sovereignty by controlling
everything, including the mind and thoughts of their people. In 1984, the Party uses space as the
authority figure between the citizens of Oceania implementing power and control.
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The Proles are to go through their lives in their terrible living conditions and the party
members are to continue working for the Party in whatever ministry they wish for them to work
in. The Party allows the minimal amount of free will within the state. The space in the
government relates well in Discipline & Punish (1975), Panopticism by Michel Foucault.
Although the Proles are not considered humans, the party members who are considered humans
were being controlled in everything they do. They are being controlled when to exercise, to
attend hangings, to become motivated during hate week, and should not be wondering off from
the Partys flock. The party is the shepherd and everyone within the herd is the sheep. The party
is to do everything in its power to keep everyone protected. Theyll protect the minds of those
that are fooled to remain ignorant. In Foucaults Panopticsim, he mentions how they would have
discipline procedures that would focus on religion, economic, or political subjects. In this case, I
believe it correlates better with the religion aspect in keeping everyone disciplined in 1984. Big
Brother, the party leader, is symbolized as a God that will protect their citizens from all that will
harm them. They are to have zealous pride in their nation. The citizens are to have complete faith
in the party without question. In Panopticisim, it mentions how the people are careful to bring
up their children in the fear of God. Everyone is to participate and to become part of the society
with faith. Everyone in the government are to believe that everything is out of their hands and
should feel helpless without the aid of Big Brother.
In the article North Korea: From Dictator to Dynasty by Tang Sung An, Kim-Il sung was
a ruler for North Korea that changed the country much like Oceania in 1984. Kim-Il sung gave
himself the deity symbol to his people as an omniscient being. This is the same method used by
Big Brother to give the space of how everyone should treat Big Brother and how the society in
Oceania should be treated. The portrait of both Big Brother and Kim-Il sung are to be hung in the
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privacy of peoples homes as a part of their life. They are to be introduced by the people like
God himself that is supreme and no one to be better. The citizens dont believe that this is a
choice, because they believe it is how the world actually is. The space is of a forced respect and
control over people of Oceania. Kim-Il sung used made sure that the North Korean media
constantly stress that loyalty to Kim and his ideology must continue from generation to
generation: and people are supposed to renew a daily oath, in schools, at their jobs, or wherever
else they may be that they will follow Kims instructions forever. The use of this practice
creates confusion and a mystery of what is the truth and having no way of figuring it out. Some
may find it difficult that there is no possible way that there is any other option to live and find
that the way they live is absolute truth. The only problem is that the truth vanishes as time
passes.
A space that is used by the Party to prevent an overthrow of the nation is the emotional
barrier between the sexes. It is frowned upon and against the rules of having any intimate
feelings for party members with one another. Although they are allowed to be together, they may
only be allowed to engage reproductive purposes for the Party. They are only allowed to create
an offspring that will support the Party when it is completely developed. Coitus is strictly for the
gain of Big Brother. Winston and his wife tried several occasions to reproduce, but Winston
found it dreadful and degrading as a person. His wife didnt care for pleasure, she only cared for
what is best for Big Brother. The Party took away basic animal instincts and turned a natural
ritual into a factory that produces armies for Big Brother.
1984, along with the rest of the works, relate to different societies being held captive in
the hands of authorities when they may or may not even be aware of it. The use of control and
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power can be manipulated with the certain spaces the authorities wish to implement on their
people.





















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Works Citied

Orwell, George. Nineteen Eighty-Four. Penguin Group, 1949. print.

An, Tai Sung. "North Korea: From Dictatorship to Dynasty." Asian Affairs, 4.3 (1977):
172-183.

Foucault, Michel. Discipline. Discipline and Punish: The Birth of the Prison. New York:
Pantheon, 1977. 195-228. Print