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Mariela Perez
Vana DerOhanessian
English 114b
22 March 2014
Oppression of Citizens Through Space
In George Orwells dystopian novel, 1984, the citizens of Oceania live in a space were
everything revolves around Big Brother, Oceanias dictator. Buildings of great structure show
the power Big Brother has over the citizens, however, non-physical spaces also shows the power
Big Brother has by inflicting fear of his unlimited power. This non-physical space could be the
mentality Oceania citizens have about rebelling against their government in fear of being killed.
Today, actual societies resemble Oceania. Such societies include the communist country of Cuba
ruled by the dictator Fidel Castro as well as their present dictator, Raul Castro. The resemblance
between Castro and Big Bother is the way they use their power to oppress their people. Taking in
consideration the power these leaders have over their citizens, compares to Michel Foucaults
Discipline and Punish: Birth of a Prison: Panopticism (1975), a novel were Foucault talks about
the strict surveillance the government had over its citizens during a plague. By analyzing the
space in Orwells 1984, Foucaults Panopticism, and the current situation in communist Cuba,
it is evident how their government is able to silence them through physical and non-physical
boundaries that limit their freedom of speech, privacy, and physical freedom.
Oceania is described as a land were the citizens have to be fully devoted to their country
even if it means giving up all their freedom. Telescreen, a screen used to monitor citizens, are
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placed in every building, including homes. This is a method the government uses in order to be
able to check on its citizens on a daily. Being scared of being overheard by a hidden microphone
takes away peoples freedom of speech since they are too afraid of being killed for speaking their
mind. Life-size posters of Big Bother with the words Big Brother is Watching You plastered
in every wall across Oceania are constant reminders that the people have no privacy. These
constant reminders causes a boundary set in the minds of these citizens since its a constant
reminder that their freedom has been taken away. He thought of the telescreen with its never-
sleeping ear. They can spy on you night and day (Orwell, 2008) This implies that citizens
feel as if someone is breathing over there shoulder since they are watched and heard every
minute of their life. Living in a space where your privacy is stripped away and youre under
constant vigilance creates a sense that youre living a life with boundaries. In other words, you
feel trapped within that certain space due to the fear of Big Brother killing you. Citizens begin to
feel dehumanized and begin to feel more like robots. They can only say, do, and act as they are
told to. Strict limitations, like the lack of freedom of speech, create a puppet like society that is to
afraid to rebel against their government due to the boundaries that have been set in their minds.
Just like Big Brother, Cubas dictator, Raul Castro has inflicted fear into Cubas citizens.
The article, In Cuba There is a Rapper Named Angel, the author tells the story of a Cuban
rapper who criticizes Cuban government, hence his nickname the critique. However, due to the
lack of freedom of speech in this country, Angel Yunier Remon was put in prison. The National
Review states The Cuban dictatorship does not take kindly to critics. That's why Remon is in
prison, (In Cuba There is a Rap Artist 2013) which shows the lack of freedom citizens have
since they cannot express their opinions about the dictatorship. Remon decided to go on a hunger
strike in order to recuperate his freedom but after 27 days and near death, Remon decided to end
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his hunger strike. Castros vicious regime has led many prisoners to hunger strikes since they see
no other way out of imprisonment. This article relates to how space can have a negative impact.
That is because the citizens of this country have set limits they cannot cross. Castro used a Cuban
citizen to inflict fear to whom ever else decides to criticize his authority. Castros way of
punishing serves as a threat to the rest of the Cuban society, setting limitations that prevent them
from expressing their opinion. They cannot speak their mind or give their opinion because the
dictatorship has all control. This space creates a sense of dehumanization since humans are
brainwashed into thinking that they cannot have an opinion or else they can end up in prison like
Remon.
Foucault analyzed a space contaminated with a plague were people were dyeing from
disease. In hopes of reducing this plague, citizens were kept closely monitored. That meant being
under quarantine, spying on them, and keeping close records of their well being on a daily basis.
Foucault also mentions the Panopticon, a tower placed in the center of an institution meant to see
everyone in inside. This institution can be such place like a prison or school. The main purpose
of this tower is to make sure everyone can be seen, however, the students or the inmates cannot
see when theyre being watched or whos watching. (Foucault, 3) This space, of isolation within
a cell, creates physical and non-physical boundaries for those in the cell. Physical boundaries
because they are confined to a small space and have limitations as to were they can move. They
are limited by non-physical boundaries because not knowing when theyre being watched but
knowing they are, limits them mentally. That is because not knowing when you are being watch
creates insecurity and a sense of inferiority to those who see everything. Foucaults novel relates
to the way the citizens of Oceania and Cuba live since these citizens are viewed as the citizens
contaminated with the plague and the government aims to purify their country through strict
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control. However in the mists of having complete control over their citizens, will create lack of
trust and hatred towards that government. Citizens will want to fight or rebel for their freedom.
Some may argue that they are willing to give up such limitation like freedom of speech,
privacy, or physical freedom in order for the protection of their leader or government. For
example, in order to feel safe from violent threats like terrorist attacks, most U.S. citizens were
willing to give up their privacy rights by having the U.S. government wiretap phone calls
without a warrant or warning. This relates to space because it shows the close monitoring of
what citizens do on a daily basis. This creates a boundary the limit as to how much U.S. citizens
are willing to say openly without the fear of the privacy being invaded.
Limitations and boundaries are not always noticed when they have been set by the
government. Some limitations and boundaries that go unnoticed are freedom of speech, privacy,
and physical freedom which are done through space. Even though some spaces have more
physical and non-physical boundaries, all space still revolves around power regardless if that
space is closely monitored like in Cuba or if citizens are given a little more freedom, like in the
U.S. In Orwells 1984 power revolved around Big Brother by making sure the citizens of
Oceania wouldnt rebel against him by spying on them through telescreens. In Foucaults
mentioning of the Panopticon in his book Birth of a Prison: Discipline and Punishment we see
how prisons using the Panopticon method to create a physical and non-physical boundary by
confining inmates to physical and mental isolation. Overall, we can see how different leaders and
governments uses space to have more power as well as the affect these spaces have on the way
we live.


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Works Cited
Foucault, Michel. Discipline. Discipline and Punish: The Birth of the Prison. New York:
Pantheon, 1977. N. pag. 3. Print.
"In Cuba, there is a rap artist named Angel Yunier Remon Arzuaga, a.k.a. 'El Critico'--'The
Critic'." National Review 16 Dec. 2013: 11. General OneFile. Web. 2 Apr. 2014.
Orwell, George. Ninteen Eighty-four. London: Penguin, 2008. Print.