Big Brother in 1984

The novel introduces the concept of Big Brother as an omnipotent presence in the Orwellian society. Indeed,

the term Orwellian is synonym of societies or organizations which reproduce totalitarian behaviour presented

in the story. Accordingly, the author focuses on the analytical description of totalitarian governments,

especially during the times of Stalin. Big brother is an allegory to the dictator and its regime which involves

psychological manipulation and control over every aspect of peoples lives.

As head of society, Big Brother stands for multiple political figures: Hes the commander in chief, guardian of

society; he is the ultimate judge and is almost a God. As he portrays all the ideals of the Party, Big Brother

directs all monitoring and surveillance activities and keeps an eye on the people at all times leaving no space

for privacy and opinions. Very much like Stalin, he forbids any sort of individuality and seeks to control his

subjects with and sets his omnipresence as source of his power.

One of these days, thought Winston with sudden deep conviction, Syme will be vaporized. He is too intelligent.

He sees too clearly and speaks too plainly. The Party does not like such people. One day he will disappear. It is

written in his face Chapter 5, 1984.

The two aims of the Party are to conquer the whole surface of the earth and to extinguish once and for all the

possibility of independent thought Chapter 9, 1984

What is more, Emmanuel Goldsteins character reveals the real identity of Big Brother. In the novel, Goldstein

is a character rumoured to be a former member of the Party and an early associate of Big Brother. However,

he founded The Brotherhood opposing the Party, as did Leon Trotsky by writing The Revolution Betrayed,

after Stalin called him a traitor and had him expelled from the Soviet Union.

Goldstein was the renegade and backslider who once, long ago (how long ago, nobody quite remembered),

had been one of the leading figures of the Party, almost on a level with Big Brother himself, and then had

engaged in counter-revolutionary activities, had been condemned to death, and had mysteriously escaped and

disappeared. Chapter 1, 1984.

Nonetheless, some researches state that the authors true intention for writing the novel fixated on the future

for there are many similarities between society nowadays and 1984. For instance, whereas in the novel there

were cameras in every corner to record citizens, technology has provided mankind with Internet and social

media. Hence, everyone who feels comfortable about posting and sharing about their lives forget that as soon

as they upload content it is there for everyone and anyone to see.

Furthermore, the true power of Big Brother rests on the fact that in spite of being omnipresent he never

physically materializes in the story. Nevertheless, his subjects seem to follow him blindly. Since he has wielded

his power around history, religion and all aspects of human life there is no place left for reconsideration. Stalin

is the perfect example of a totalitarian leader who not only tried to rule a territory but also made an attempt

to corrupt peoples minds by building up an image of himself as their God; always present, always in power.

Source:

http://www.rjgeib.com/thoughts/1984/1984.html

http://www.heraldnews.com/x1809318865/FOCUS-Orwells-1984-takes-on-added-significance-in-2012