Assignment Paper 107- The Control and power of The Party in the novel ‘1984’

 Name: Ghanshyam Katariya

Paper 107 : The Twentieth Century Literature From World War II to the End of the Century                                        

Subject Code: 22400 

Topic Name: The Control and power of The Party  in the novel ‘1984’

Batch: M.A. Sem-2 (2022-24)

Roll No: 7

Enrolment No: 4069206420220017

Email Address: gkatariya67@gmail.com

Submitted to: Smt. S. B. Gardi, Department of English, MKBU

The Control and power of The Party  in the novel ‘1984’

Introduction of the Author

George Orwell, full name Eric Arthur Blair was an English writer and journalist born on June 25, 1903, and died on January 21, 1950. He is best known for his works of political and social commentary, including the novels "Animal Farm" and "1984," which have become classics of modern literature.

Orwell was a strong advocate for democratic socialism, and his works often criticise totalitarianism and authoritarianism. His experiences working as a police officer in colonial Burma and his time spent fighting in the Spanish Civil War heavily influenced his writing.

In addition to "Animal Farm" and "1984," Orwell's other notable works include "Burmese Days," "Homage to Catalonia," and "Down and Out in Paris and London." His works continue to be widely read and studied today for their insights into political and social issues and their use of clear, concise language to convey complex ideas.

Introduction to the novel ‘1984’

The novel "1984" published in 1949 and written  by George Orwell is a dystopian fictional novel  that depicts a world controlled by a totalitarian government known as “the Party” and its leader "Big Brother”. The story is set in Oceania, a country that is constantly at war with either Eurasia or Eastasia. The citizens of Oceania are subjected to strict government control, with every aspect of their lives monitored and regulated by the Party.

One of the central themes of the novel is power and control. The Party seeks to maintain absolute power over the citizens of Oceania, using various methods to ensure their obedience and loyalty. These methods include propaganda, censorship, and surveillance, which are all characteristic of totalitarian regimes. The theme of power and control is relevant to totalitarianism because it highlights the dangers of a government that seeks to exert total control over its citizens.

Methods of Control by The Party  in Oceania

The Party leaders in Oceania use several methods to maintain control over their citizens. These methods include propaganda, surveillance, and censorship.

Propaganda is used by the Party to manipulate the citizens' beliefs and emotions. The Party controls all forms of communication and uses them to disseminate its message. For example, the Party's slogan "War is Peace, Freedom is Slavery, Ignorance is Strength" is displayed everywhere in Oceania, including on posters, banners, and telescreens. This slogan is designed to instill a sense of loyalty and obedience in the citizens and to prevent them from questioning the Party's policies.

“Big Brother is Watching You.”

Surveillance is another method used by the Party to maintain control. Every citizen in Oceania is constantly monitored by the telescreens, which are installed in every home and workplace. The Party uses this surveillance to detect any signs of dissent or disobedience. For example, in the novel, Winston Smith is caught by the Party's Thought Police for writing in his diary, which he believed was a private act.

Censorship is also used by the Party to control information and prevent citizens from accessing any information that might contradict the Party's version of reality. The Party controls all forms of media, including books, newspapers, and films. In the novel, the protagonist Winston Smith is also doing a job to rewrite history by manipulating news and to conform to the Party's version of events.

In addition to these methods, the Party also uses fear and punishment to maintain control. The Thought Police are tasked with identifying and punishing anyone who shows signs of dissent or rebellion. This fear of punishment keeps the citizens in line and prevents them from questioning the Party's authority.

“Power is in tearing human minds to pieces and putting them together again in new shapes of your own choosing.”

Implications of Totalitarianism in the novel 

“If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face—for ever.”

The methods of control used by the Party in Oceania reflect Orwell's view of totalitarianism as a system of government that seeks to exert total control over its citizens. These methods are designed to ensure that the citizens of Oceania have no freedom of thought or action and are completely dependent on the Party for their survival.

One of the most significant impacts of totalitarianism on the citizens of Oceania is their lack of freedom and agency. The citizens are not allowed to think or act for themselves, and any deviation from the Party's ideology is met with severe punishment. This lack of freedom and agency is reflected in the character of Winston Smith, who desires to be free from the Party's control but is ultimately unable to escape it.

“Political language is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind. ”

The Party's control over information also has a significant impact on the citizens of Oceania. The citizens are only allowed to access information that has been approved by the Party, and any dissenting voices are silenced. This leads to a situation where the citizens have no way of verifying the truth and are forced to rely on the Party's version of reality. This lack of access to information is reflected in the character of Winston Smith, who struggles to uncover the truth about the Party's history.

“The most effective way to destroy people is to deny and obliterate their own understanding of their history.”

The Party's control over the citizens of Oceania also leads to a society that is characterized by fear and paranoia. The citizens are constantly monitored and punished for any signs of dissent, leading to a situation where trust and cooperation are impossible. This fear and paranoia are reflected in the character of Winston Smith, who is constantly afraid of being caught by the Party's Thought Police.

This passage from O'Brian speaking to Winston gives the understanding  of the government of The party and its motive,

“Now I will tell you the answer to my question. It is this. The Party seeks power entirely for its own sake. We are not interested in the good of others; we are interested solely in power, pure power. What pure power means you will understand presently. We are different from the oligarchies of the past in that we know what we are doing. All the others, even those who resembled ourselves, were cowards and hypocrites. The German Nazis and the Russian Communists came very close to us in their methods, but they never had the courage to recognize their own motives. They pretended, perhaps they even believed, that they had seized power unwillingly and for a limited time, and that just around the corner there lay a paradise where human beings would be free and equal. We are not like that. We know that no one ever seizes power with the intention of relinquishing it. Power is not a means; it is an end. One does not establish a dictatorship in order to safeguard a revolution; one makes the revolution in order to establish the dictatorship. The object of persecution is persecution. The object of torture is torture. The object of power is power. Now you begin to understand me.”

Resistance and Rebellion in the novel 

Despite the Party's control over every aspect of life in Oceania, Winston Smith and other characters in "1984" engage in acts of resistance and rebellion against the Party's control.

One of the most significant forms of resistance in the novel is Winston's decision to keep a diary and to engage in independent thought. Through his diary, Winston is able to express his true feelings and to question the Party's version of reality. Another form of resistance is Winston's relationship with Julia, which allows him to experience love and human connection in a society where such emotions are forbidden.

“I don’t imagine that we can alter anything in our own lifetime. But one can imagine little knots of resistance springing up here and there—small groups of people banding themselves together, and gradually growing, and even leaving a few records behind, so that the next generations can carry on where we leave off.”

Other characters in the novel also engage in acts of rebellion, such as Mr. Charrington, who secretly sells forbidden items to Winston, and Syme, who speaks out against the Party's language policies.

However, it is clear that these forms of resistance are ultimately unsuccessful in challenging the Party's control. Winston and Julia are caught by the Thought Police and are subjected to torture and brainwashing, ultimately leading to their complete submission to the Party's ideology. Similarly, Mr. Charrington is revealed to be a member of the Thought Police, and Syme disappears, presumably for speaking out against the Party.

The implications of resistance in a totalitarian society are bleak. While acts of rebellion may provide temporary relief or a sense of autonomy, they ultimately serve to reinforce the power of the state. The Party's control over information and communication makes it nearly impossible for any meaningful resistance to occur, and any attempts at rebellion are met with swift and severe punishment.

Conclusion

In "1984," George Orwell explores the theme of power and control through the lens of a totalitarian society. The Party leaders in Oceania maintain control over their citizens through methods such as propaganda, surveillance, and censorship. These methods reflect Orwell's view of totalitarianism as a system of government that seeks to exert total control over its citizens, leading to a lack of freedom and agency for the individual.

Resistance and rebellion against the Party's control are present in the novel, but ultimately prove unsuccessful in challenging the Party's power. The consequences of living in a totalitarian society are devastating, as the citizens are left without the ability to think or act for themselves, and trust and cooperation are impossible.

(words- 1635)