UNIVERSITY OF BIHA

PEDAGOGICAL FACULTY
DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE








TOTALITARIAN SYSTEM IN ORWELLS
1984

(seminar paper)





MENTOR: ore Slavni, Ph.D.
STUDENTS: Edin Musi and Ivana Veli

Biha, May 2014

INTRODUCTION

George Orwells novel 1984 is a dark vision of the future, and it is a chilling depiction of how the
power of the state could come to dominate the lives of individuals through cultural conditioning.
Throughout the novel the readers are able to see how the totalitarian system functions, in particular
how an individual deals with having illegal thoughts and living on the edge all the time. Nineteen
Eighty-Four is an example of a negative utopia, along with two more Zamyatins We and Huxleys
Brave New World. In spite of some differences there is one basic question common to all three. The
question is a philosophical, anthropological, psychological, and maybe a religious one. Can human
nature be changed in such way that man will forget his desire for freedom, dignity, integrity and
love? Can man forget that he is human? These are the things that we are going to explore
throughout this seminar paper.











1984 - Is It A Fiction Or A Real Deal?
And I believe that totalitarianism, if not fought against, could triumph again.
Every line of serious work I have written since 1936 has been written, directly or indirectly,
against totalitarianism, and for democratic socialism, as I understand it.
-George Orwell


George Orwells novel 1984 is a dark vision of the future, and it is a chilling depiction of how the
power of the state could come to dominate the lives of individuals through cultural conditioning. No
one can deny this novels power that seems to grow, not lessen, with the passage of time. There is,
however, a simple explanation for it, 1984 is universal, and it is a warning for all people, races,
religions and countries in general, it means that unless the course of history changes, men all over
the world will lose their most human qualities, will become soulless, and above all, will not even be
aware of it. It is a satire that shows how Winston Smiths individual personality is wiped out and how
he is recreated in the Partys image until he does not just obey, but even loves Big Brother. That is
the reason why Orwell himself once told that he wrote the book with the explicit intention to alter
other peoples idea of the kind of society they should strive after.
We certainly cannot understand how George Orwell shaped his observations and experiences in the
novel 1984 (published in 1949) if we do not define the terms authoritarianism and totalitarianism.
Broadly speaking, an authoritarian system is one in which society is governed by a dictator
(authoritarian, tyrant) or oligarchy not constitutionally responsible to the people. Totalitarianism is
something of a sub-category of authoritarianism where the ruling group has complete and total
control over every aspect of life, whether personal or public, and the individual is expected to
conform.
1

One of the most important characteristics of any totalitarian system and their leaders is a significant
speed by which they can be forgotten and replaced.
2

As an example we can pinpoint Adolf Hitler or Joseph Stalin who were followed by millions of people,
who spread their fanaticism, but who were finally defeated, and play no role whatsoever in neo-nazi
parties today. It also has to be mentioned that totalitarian systems and their leaders depend on the
masses and rule thanks to their support
3
until the very end. Hitler was elected leader and the party
president legally, but if he had not had support by the masses he and Stalin could not have overcome
numerous internal and external crises or dangerous struggles within the party.
Totalitarian fanaticism, unlike any kind of idealism, breaks down the moment the system abandons
its fanatic followers in the lurch and kills in them every hope that they could survive the breakdown of
the movement.
4

Therefore, the main goal of any totalitarian system is to organize the masses, which leads us to the
conclusion that totalitarian system is a rare one that depends on nothing else but mere numbers. So,
it is less frequent that countries with small population will have a totalitarian leader there.
Rather than taking one side or another, Orwells novel is a harsh criticism of totalitarianism of all
types. According to definition of totalitarianism previously mentioned, 1984 appears to be set in a
society that practices right totalitarianism; but on the other hand, it clearly possesses qualities of left
totalitarianism as well. The similarities with Josef Stalins regime cannot go unnoticed.
Like Stalin, the Oceanic government embraces characteristics of both fascist and communist
authoritarianism: the former glorifies the wisdom of the leader, and the latter, the infallibility of the

1
M. Gross, The World of George Orwell, Simon and Schuster, New York, 1972, p.38
2
H. Arendt, The Origins of Totalitarianism, A Harvest/HBJ Book, New York, 1998, page 313
3
H. Arendt, op.cit., page 314
4
H. Arendt, op.cit., page 319
party. We can see both trends in 1984, where Big Brother and the Party are worshipped and play
major role in every aspect of individuals life. In addition, many of the particulars of the Oceanic
system (such as the Three-Year Plans and the forced-labor camps) appear to be indirect allusions to
Stalin and his rule. It can even be assumed that Big Brother, with his dark, heavy moustache, is
actually Stalin himself.
War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength.
5

This is one of the most repeated slogans in the novel and the one of the Ministry of Truth, a branch
of the totalitarian government in post-war London: The figurehead of this government is Big Brother,
who employs a vast army of informers called The Thought Police who watch and listen to every
citizen at all times through a device called a telescreen (two-way television screens that are in all
buildings and homes, which broadcast propaganda and transmit back the activities of anyone passing
in front of the screen
6
) for the last signs of criminal deviation or unorthodox thoughts.
This novel, like Orwells earlier work Animal Farm (published in 1945) and Aldous Huxleys A Brave
New World (published in 1932) is an example of anti-utopian fiction, that kind of fiction that shows
man at the mercy of some force over which he has no control. Anti-utopian novels are usually
intended as a criticism of the time in which the author lives.
7

And that is the reason why 1984 is a satire of totalitarian barbarism told through the eyes of Winston
Smith. One thing that is very interesting is how Orwell deliberately keeps the plot in 1984 simple,
without any narrative twists or shocking surprises until the very end, although he deals with some
serious and complex issues. He is very careful to present the idea that it is our society and
government, not people, who are mixed up. The plot is not necessarily a boy meets girl story, but
helps to pull the characters through the story. Orwells settings are always well done and of crucial
importance, because they help formulate the readers opinions about what he/she is reading. 1984

5
G.Orwell, 1984, A Signet Classic, New York, 1981, page 7
6
Encarta Encyclopedia Deluxe, odrednica 1984, Bloomsbury Publishing
7
R. Williams, Orwell, Fontana/Collins, London, 1971, page 24
begins in spring, the traditional time of rebirth and romance. But the reader soon learns this is not an
accurate description of the times. The air is cold and the city is a ruin. At the very beginning, on the
second page it clearly says:
Outside, even through the shut windowpane, the world looked cold. Down in the street little eddies
of wind were whirling dust and torn paper into spirals, and though the sun was shining and the sky a
harsh blue, there seemed to be no color in anything except the posters that were plastered
everywhere.
8

In 1984, Orwell manipulates his setting so well that once we have finished the book, we carry ideas
and feelings about totalitarianism into life. In a complex work such as 1984, there are numerous
structural relationships upon which the author bases his central themes and ideas. The writer
comments extremes in a totalitarian system in everything around him politics, economics, war love,
and truth among other things. Simply the way Orwell describes and develops the term of love is
stunning.
The love, which develops between Winston and Julia, two central characters in the novel, is an
example of the struggle of those who have to exist in a society, which scorns love and sexual desire.
Love and marriages between two people were strictly forbidden by Big Brother and the Party. They
were, however, permitted only to get children who would serve to the Party.
There were even organizations such as the Junior Anti-Sex League which advocated complete
celibacy for both sexes. A very natural thing such as a sexual intercourse was called our duty to the
Party by Winstons ex-wife Katharine. Winston Smith and Julia, also, had to hide themselves
constantly as much as possible. At first they wrote messages to each other, they went to the
countryside to be together, but they were always aware of the danger they were exposed to. If two
of them had been caught, it would have inevitably meant horrible prison conditions, tortures and

8
G. Orwell, op.cit., page 6
permanent separation from each other. Actually, in the whole novel there is no description of a
friendly and humane relationship between two persons.
But you could not have pure love or pure lust nowadays. No emotion was pure, because everything
was mixed up with fear and hatred. Their embrace had been a battle, the climax of victory. It was a
blow struck against the Party. It was a political act.
9

The term love can be consequently associated with one of the most significant institutions in the
imaginary country of Oceania, The Ministry of Love. Sadly enough, we find nothing but irony in that
name. On the one hand, The Ministry of Love maintained, not love, but law and order. On the other
hand, the institution itself was very frightening and had no windows at all. It was a place impossible
to enter, and in the rare moments when someone was fortunate enough, there was a barbed wire
and steel doors. By only this one example, we become aware of the fact that the term love in general
could be easily described as The Ministry of Love. It was completely forbidden, impossible to reach,
and, therefore, there were harsh punishments for pursuing it.








CONCLUSION

9
G. Orwell, op.cit., page 105
Although Orwell wrote the novel 1984 in the year of 1949, he wanted to indicate to its
readers in 1949 that the story represented a real possibility for the near future: if
totalitarianism was not opposed, the title suggested, some variation of the world described
in the novel could become a reality in only thirty-five years. The best way of understanding
and appreciating this piece of work is to look around yourself and examine the reality even
nowadays, because Big Brother is more present than ever. Orwell would be surprised how
much his prophecy has been fulfilled.













BIBLIOGRAPHY
1. Arendt, Hannah. The Origins of Totalitarianism. New York: A Harvest/HBJ Book,
1998.
2. Crick, Bernard. George Orwell: A Life. Boston: Little, Brown, 1980.
3. Huxley, Aldous. A Brave New World. New York: A Signet Classic, 1987.
4. Encarta Encyclopedia Deluxe, Bloomsbury Publishing, 2004.
5. Williams, Raymond. Orwell. London: Fontana/Collins, 1971.