Alfano 1

Arianna Alfano

Ms. Lithgow

English 12 British Authors

26 September 2018

1984 And the Dangers of Totalitarianism

Throughout the course of history, the concept of totalitarianism has often been frowned

upon by the masses. Hence, many citizens go to great lengths to fight against and spread

awareness about this unjust form of government. In fact, over time, especially in the past few

decades, there have been a multitude of individuals who have made themselves hyper-aware of

the possibilities and probabilities of totalitarianism in societies in the future, and have, thus, been

able to warn and speak out against them. Evidently, among these politically-active individuals is

George Orwell. While this critically-acclaimed author was no fortune-teller, he was a concerned

citizen that feared for the future of the world. Having witnessed first-hand the horrors of

dictatorship, Orwell wanted nothing more than to warn the Western world of what could happen

if they were not careful. Therefore, forty years predating the book’s title, Orwell created a

political novel that would shock readers and cause his audience to actively work against

totalitarian influences on government. Whether considering the imagery of the dilapidated living

conditions in which his characters had to exist or the inhumane rules of society and the actions of

the characters which demonstrate their conformity to them as a means of survival, Orwell spares

no detail in vividly portraying the theme of the dangers of totalitarianism throughout the course

of 1984.

1984 remains the epitome of the danger that can be forecasted with the rise of

totalitarianism for a number of reasons. Principally, the basis for this revolves around the
 Alfano 2
evocative explanations of the dreadful living conditions that each character has to experience in

the novel. No person ever wants to imagine that their standard of living will decrease as a result

of a change in the form of government. Thus, Orwell’s opening scene, which focuses on

portraying the dingy conditions in which every individual is expected to live, is extremely

effective in causing people to feel worried about the dangers of totalitarianism. From the way in

which Orwell explains, “The hallway smelt of boiled cabbage and old rag mats,” (1) many are

already able to visualize that the society in which Winston Smith lives is not idealistic by any

means. Instead, it embraces disgusting features—which many would not want to be exposed to

on a regular basis. This is a tactical use of imagery by the author. It brings the audience into a

society filled with unappealing characteristics by only the second paragraph and, already,

convinces the reader that he/ she would feel unfulfilled if being forced to live in this

environment. This concept is seen repeatedly throughout the novel. Rather than highlighting the

concept of what Oceania is intended to be, a utopia, it establishes a paradox. This paradox, of

course, is centered around the concept that through the eyes of Winston Smith the superstate he

lives in, very obviously, has qualities which would be related to a dystopia. For instance, the way

in which the rations will continuously increase or remain the same on paper but truly decrease

was, most certainly, devastating for most. As stated in the novel, Winston discovered that,

through the Ministry of Truth, it was reported to the public that “there would be no reduction of

chocolate during 1984” (Orwell 39). However, “Actually, as Winston was aware, the chocolate

ration was to be reduced from thirty grams to twenty at the end of the present week” (Orwell 39).

This, combined with the imagery from Winston’s childhood of “weeks or months…since the

chocolate ration was issued” (Orwell 162) where “he remembered long afternoons spent…

scrounging round dustbins and rubbish heaps, picking out the ribs of cabbage leaves, potato
 Alfano 3
peelings…” (Orwell 161) illustrates, while indirectly, that individuals are living in turmoil.

Perhaps the effects of a decrease in the chocolate rations were not immediately examined in

1984, but as seen in the past, individuals suffered from horrendous conditions of starvation and

malnourishment due to the lies that were force-fed to them. The absolute knowledge, despite

doublethink, that the citizens’ food supply is decreasing allows for them to be aware that they

will, likely, revert to times even worse than the present—such as those of Winston’s childhood.

With this, readers fully comprehend the dangers of totalitarianism and make connections

throughout the novel. The never-ending lies which citizens are told are supposed to forecast what

might be likely if Western society were to be overthrown and develop this sort of government.

Knowing the extent that the Party would go to ensure that it did not seem to weaken over time,

readers come to understand that they would not want to have to survive in a dictatorial society.

Besides, being that many are accustomed to the basic freedoms that come naturally to those in

democratic civilizations, no person should be willing to forfeit their liberties in order to allow for

a shift to this form of government. Instead, these lines and connections are intended to “sound

the alarm” to the audience of the book. Readers realize that they need to ensure that they are not

supporting nor enabling a totalitarian government’s rise to power. Through the depiction of

Winston’s childhood and the decrease in the chocolate ration, Orwell is suggesting that there is

great possibility that modern-day individuals could suffer the same fate as those characters that

had to rummage through the trash cans to survive if society allows for the rise of this sort of

government. There is no reason for individuals to choose to be lied to and then have to exist in

poverty and destitution due to the government’s intentional lack of dealing with the issue at

hand. Thus, the imagery throughout Orwell’s 1984 allows for readers to make connections to

aspects of totalitarianism and actively seek to work against that form of government.
 Alfano 4
Even beyond the imagery of dilapidated conditions, Orwell, also, employs, throughout

the novel, the inhumane rules of society and the actions of the characters which demonstrate their

conformity for survival as a means of portraying the theme of the dangers of totalitarianism. As

expected, the concept of conformity as a means of survival has no inkling of positive emotion to

be extended toward the government in place. Intentionally, Orwell satisfies his aim of

showcasing the need to prevent widespread totalitarianism through concepts such as the thought

police and thoughtcrime throughout his writing. From the very beginning of the novel, in only

Chapter 2, Orwell establishes the seriousness that is involved in thoughtcrime through having

Winston inscribe in his diary “Thoughtcrime does not entail death: thoughtcrime IS death” (28).

This explanation of how thoughtcrime is perceived convinces the reader that this society is

absurd and illogical. From this transcription, all can come to understand that totalitarian forms of

government do no solely restrict one’s actions, but also his/ her mind. Of course, without

completely engrossing an individual’s mind, body, and soul with the campaigns and intentions of

a ruling party, there would be no way of retaining the power the party needs to succeed. This

plays in as a warning to the readers in that it fully exposes them to the reality of totalitarian

governments. As a result of these ruling powers, people are robbed of their individuality and

thought. All they are to become are perfect members of society that follow orders and agree with

all that the ruling class states. Additionally, it further emphasizes that there cannot be any

outside, liberal thoughts being held by those in the society. This lack of identity and ability to

change obviously emphasizes Orwell’s key theme of the dangers of totalitarian government and

strives to prevent people from supporting these ruling powers. Consequently, as a result of the

unreasonable restrictions that are established in a land where “nothing was illegal since there

were no longer any laws” (Orwell 6), many individuals who cannot and will not allow
 Alfano 5
themselves to trust the Party wholeheartedly are forced to conform or pay the price of their life.

Thus, Winston and Julia were often found to conform to the smaller rules of society so as to

prevent suspicion when rebelling against the more substantial concepts the Party had put in place

for its subjects. For instance, Julia often “acted the part.” Ironically, she expressed her duality by

wearing the “scarlet sash of the Junior Anti-Sex League” (Orwell 121). In this, she attempted to

prevent herself from being discovered by the thought police through maintaining her compliance

with the Party through her outward appearance. Also, she would often volunteer to present

herself as an admirable citizen. As she explains in the novel, “I’ve got to put in two hours for the

Junior Anti-Sex League. Isn’t it bloody?” (Orwell 127). In order to meet her intimate desires,

Julia finds herself stuck in a loop of acting as a role-model subject of Oceania so as not to raise

suspicion among her friends and co-workers. Overall, these drastic measures taken to simply

fulfill Julia’s want of certain liberties bring forth the concept that any sort of individual freedom

taken by characters is a risk that needs to be accounted for by remarkably good behavior. By

having to change one’s identity and expression of it, it raises the question of worth. Much of the

audience would agree that it is not worth it to have to shift their entire lives around in order to

carry out with a natural, intimate activity that is shared between two people. Thus, with this in

mind, Orwell has successfully established amongst his readers that it is not worth it to allow for a

totalitarian government to come into power. Instead, he urges individuals, who are astonished at

the great lengths Julia has to encounter in order to make love, to be actively aware of the dangers

of totalitarian governments and to prevent them from growing in strength. Finally, the

manipulation and torture that is established as a standard at the Ministry of Love is truly a

shocking point that fully broadcasts the concept that totalitarianism is a dangerous form of

government that should be avoided. Following Winston’s being taken into custody for his
 Alfano 6
thought crimes, O’Brien explains that “there are three stages of [Winston’s] reintegration. There

is learning…understanding…and there is acceptance” (Orwell 260). While these individual steps

may not seem necessarily bad, the actions taken to allow for them to happen are torturous.

Throughout his time at the Ministry of Love, Winston is beaten, starved, and electrocuted—all

for being individualistic and doing what is instinctual of human nature. In the Party’s eyes, and

specifically O’Brien’s, this is not a particularly drastic measure. Rather, it is made out to be

caring, where O’Brien reassures Winston through his exclamation: “Don’t worry, Winston…I

shall save you, I shall make you perfect” (Orwell 244). Indeed, O’Brien does, eventually, allow

for this to take place in that the closing of the novel claims Winston “had won the victory over

himself. He loved Big Brother” (Orwell 298). The primary issue that many find with this specific

series of events is the escalation of punishment due to individual thoughts and actions. No person

should be criminalized for believing a specific form of government is corrupt. Even more so,

individuals should not have to be put into detention for being romantically-interested in others.

Therefore, the totalitarian perspective of making Winston “perfect” is frightening to many. It

indicates that there is a certain “wrongness” that comes with humanity, which needs to be

corrected. Overall, the final excerpts demonstrate the corruption that lies within totalitarianism.

With unlimited power, the government can brainwash even the most rebellious activists into

submission. Thus, as intended by Orwell, the concluding lines bring awareness to the dangers of

this government and prove to readers that it is a necessity to prevent further expansion of

totalitarian governments in the world.

Overall, Orwell’s creation of 1984 clearly illustrates the theme of the dangers of

totalitarianism and brings many individuals to realize the great need to halt the continuance of

this form of government. At the time of the creation of this novel, Orwell was aware of the plight
 Alfano 7
the world was facing: if individuals were unable to identify the true flaws that come with a

totalitarian government, there would be a significant likelihood that the world would morph into

chaos and dilapidation. Thus, he intentionally wrote this literary work not only to entertain but

also to shock his audience. Being that he was so often exposed to elements of totalitarianism, he

worked to create a novel that not only explained what it was like to live in this type of society but

also demonstrated how fully inhumane this government could become. This, he was able to

portray, in part, by employing a great deal of negative imagery. From vivid descriptions of

decrepit cities to starvation due to the Party’s inability to provide, Orwell clearly painted a

picture of distress throughout his novel which has been the critical factor that has brought a

multitude of people to his side of understanding the risks of totalitarianism and actively working

against them. Additionally, through his portrayal of the inhumane rules of society and the

punishments for not following them, even in thought, Orwell was able to bring his audience to

the realization that there is a lack of individuality that comes with this type of society and, thus, a

great need to dislodge support for these totalitarian forms of government. In the end, this work of

literature, through its messages seen in the literary elements and keys employed by Orwell, had

brought remarkable change to the views of those in the world when it was first published and

continues to play a crucial role in preventing the spread of totalitarian support in the Western

world today.
 Alfano 8
Works Cited

Orwell, George. 1984. New York: New American Library, 1949. Print.

Shakury, Sabah A. “George Orwell’s 1984: The Dangers of Totalitarianism.” Diacronia.ro.

Editura Presa Universitară Clujeană, 2013. Web. 25 September 2018 <http://

www.diacronia.ro/ro/indexing/details/A15800/pdf>.

Shmoop Editorial Team. “Julia’s Scarlet Anti-Sex Waist Sash in 1984.” Shmoop. Shmoop

University, Inc., 11 November 2008. Web. 24 September 2018 <https://

www.shmoop.com/1984/julia-scarlet-anti-sex-waist-sash-symbol.html>.

SparkNotes Editors. “SparkNote on 1984: Themes.” SparkNotes.com. SparkNotes LLC, 2007.

Web. 22 September 2018 <https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/1984/themes/>.