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George Orwell's 1984

Article · July 2020

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Navleen Multani
Jagat Guru Nanak Dev Punjab State Open University Patiala
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 Technology in George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four

Science Fiction is an influential genre. It presents the ethical, philosophical and

political dilemmas of the times. The narratives in this genre raise social and political
consciousness. The plots in science fiction coincide with the realities of the world. While the
pre-War Science fictional works concentrate on technical wonders, the post World War II
narratives examine consequences of the scientific advancements and apprehension that man
might become a victim of his own creations. The plot in science fiction of 1950s centres on
the dystopian future.
George Orwell's harrowing experiences of war, active engagement in political
movements against totalitarianism, understanding of imperialism and aesthetic enthusiasm
orient him to produce work of art that exposes lies and injustice. His disillusionment with the
political processes and authoritarian nature of state make him envision a grim future. Orwell's
Nineteen Eighty-Four (1948) is about a totalitarian technological state, Oceania. Ingsoc, the
ruling party, believes in the 'sacred principles' of 'Newspeak,' 'doublethink' and the mutability
of the past. 'War is Peace', 'Freedom is Slavery' and 'Ignorance is Strength' are the three
slogans of the party. Oceania constitutes living corpses' (in the words of Hannah Arendt) and
'soulless automatons' (in the words of Eric Fromm). Ingsoc uses technology to enslave men.
It employs the scientific advancements — rockets, bombs, grenades, teleporters, speakwrites,
novel writing machines, Floating Fortress, versificators, hidden microphones, dictaphones,
helicopter patrols, instruments of interrogation, memory holes and artificial insemination for
surveillance and control. It uses sophisticated technology for all-pervasive espionage,
primarily to keep a check on 'thought crime'. Thought Police, Two Minute Hate Drills, Anti-
Sex league, Room 101, Newspeak and Big Brother (omnipresent ruler) beat people into
submission. The technological paraphernalia aggrandizes the power of the state and thwarts
liberty of an individual. The constantly watching 'Big Brother' and psychological
manipulations disorient the intellect of an individual in Oceania. Technological
totalitarianism destroys individuality and free thought.
Winston Smith, who works with the Ministry of Truth, is a prototype of man remade
and mechanized by technological and political forces in Oceania. He uses speakwrite to
produce writing that suits Big Brother (the despot). Smith also symbolizes the spirit of
rebellion. He seeks truth, sanity and repressed selfhood. He grapples to maintain his memory,
gain selfhood, privacy, love, knowledge of past and consciousness. His work at the Ministry
 of Truth to alter records intensifies this struggle. He portrays the resilience of an individual.
Smith reasserts and demands freedom from the organised technological suppression/torture.
He rebels against the technological control of Oceania but ends up as a mindless puppet who
alongwith the masses loves Big Brother and agrees that Two plus Two is Five. He recognizes
the worth of Proles and hopes that they can bring changes and a better future.
Nineteet Eighty-Four does not present "art-as-culture" but "art-as-function". Orwell
like Marcel Proust fears that the habit of conforming to the force benumbs sensations and
erases the perception of the world. Technological totalitarianism alienates senses, controls
human behaviour and leads to linguistic degradation. Newspeak, for Orwell, marks the death
of language. This death depersonalizes communication and engenders an environment of
repression. Since Orwell perceives the death of language as death of man, culture and society,
he forewarns the readers about terrorizing effects of "thinking technologically".
Technological advancement poses a threat to privacy. Hence, Nineteen Eighty-Four not only
raises Orwell's concern for freedom of thought but also voices his passion for freedom,
justice and truth.

Navleen Multani is Assistant Professor of English at Rajiv Gandhi National University

of Law, Punjab (India). She specializes in theories of resistance, Indian writings, Diasporic
writings and environmental studies. She teaches language, literature and linguistics. She has
teaching and research experience of seven and fourteen years respectively. She has presented
research papers in national and international conferences. She has edited Essays on Classics
and published several research papers in reputed journals.

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