How Does the Novel, 1984, Reflect the Current State of Political Affairs? By Claire Wong
- clairewong28398
- Oct 29, 2021
- 6 min read
Updated: Nov 15, 2021
“It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen. Winston Smith, his chin nuzzled into his breast in an effort to escape the vile wind, slipped quickly through the glass doors of Victory Mansions, though not quickly enough to prevent a swirl of gritty dust from entering along with him.”
Introduction
This simple yet iconic paragraph extracted from George Orwell’s 1984 completely transcends the sophistication of modern-day literature. First penned in 1948, Orwell began writing this dystopian novel following the trouble and toil of World War II. But you may be wondering, how on Earth is this 73-year-old novel relevant to my life? What value does it add to this world? To you it may seem that 1984 is just another overrated book in the dusty corner of your local library. However, I can tell you with utmost certainty that Orwell’s 1984 is more than meets the eye…
Book Plot
Set in a fictitious realm characterized by political corruption and unjust exploitation, Orwell transports us to a time eerily similar to ours. In the novel, the formidable ruling party, INGSOC, is portrayed as the antagonist. INGSOC manipulates all citizens to abide by their oppressive rules, with a large network of surveillance systems readily enforcing these policies. Telescreens, a revolutionary yet terrifying piece of technology, are used by INGSOC to capture those who fail to comply with the rules through visual and audible mediums. And if you thought that wasn’t enough, allow me to introduce the Thought Police. Because visual footage and audio tapes can only get you very far, INGSOC has ensured that no one can even think about rebelling against them by establishing their own, supposed “justice” system: the Thought Police. You may ask, what penalties would incur if one was to go against INGSOC? I don’t mean to scare you, but those who fail to abide by INGSOC’s rules or rebel against them are condemned to death, often through torturous means. These penalties ensure that INGSOC will forever be in power and enable them to preserve a race that is supportive of INGSOC and their authoritarian ideologies. So, the problem is clearly conveyed: a totalitarian party who abuses their power by mercilessly murdering their opposition and encouraging their supporters. But who is audacious enough to go against such a system built on the foundations of dictatorship? Who is brave enough to speak up, despite facing death? Who has the courage to extricate from the shackles of oppression they have so unfairly been bound to? You guessed it… The man who had his chin nuzzled into his breast, Winston Smith! And what does he do? Well quite early on in the novel, Winston begins to formulate ideas that will drive INGSOC to its demise. Why? Because he cannot live in a world where freedom is absent and conformity is priority. Sounds a bit like our world, doesn’t it?
How this relates to our world
Of course, 1984 did overemphasize the element of totalitarianism. Perhaps Orwell went a little overboard with his neat surveillance system idea. However, the ingredient of truth that is evident throughout the tumultuous course of the novel is certainly one thing that Orwell got indisputably correct about this world. The truth directly relates to the ubiquity of totalitarianism in this world and how corrupt politics really is.
Now you’ve heard a great deal about totalitarianism in this article, haven’t you? Perhaps half-way you went on Google to search up its meaning. Well, no fear, I’ve done the work for you. In dictionary terms, totalitarianism is defined as a tyrannical government wherein “the ideal subject is… people for whom the distinction between fact and fiction, true and false, no longer exists” (Arendt 1951). In my terms, totalitarianism is an ideology that people force upon themselves when the last unfettered mind disappears. Unfettered, you may have heard of that term before… It means free, liberated, unbound to anything. Hence, an unfettered mind pertains to the liberated thoughts of the intellectual minority who stand resolute in the midst of manipulation. They’re the ones who delve past superficial appearances. They’re the ones who question lies instead of blindly following them. They’re the ones who are native to the truth and the truth only. They’re the ones who are free because they aren’t bound to the shackles of oppression like others are. It is precisely these people that governments try to expel by silencing them. Strange, isn’t it? Our governments strongly replicate INGSOC to such an extent where they’ve even tried to borrow and implement the exact same measures used by INGSOC. I’d like to think that though governments value our privacy, they certainly do have their own Thought Police and telescreens that infiltrate our minds. What forms may these surveillance systems take? You guessed it… The media.
The media is used for mass communication across the world. The news, magazines and even textbooks are all forms of media. They can be a valuable compendium of information, but they are usually used with unsound intent. Oftentimes, you’ll see major news corporations broadcast the news in a subtly opinionated manner. It might be down to just one specific word they use. But of course, that one word has the astonishing power to sway the minds of millions. It just so happens that governments yearn for this power. What proceeds next is a rather complicated matter in itself. Firstly, you have the hunger for power. Secondly, you have what I call an “almost clandestine partnership” between governments and the media. Finally, you’ll have an extremely twisted variation of news. Perhaps you’ve seen this bias in the media. Perhaps it was in the news last night. When you turn on the telly, you see the news broadcaster. They’ll sit up straight, eyes staring listlessly at the camera, mouth moving mechanically. They might occasionally flutter their fingers through a neat arrangement of reading cards positioned so perfectly in front of them. That is the typical, formal appearance that we tend to see in the media. An old but gold bluff to make you think that what they’re saying is valid. But it’s certainly not the appearance that’ll get you - it’s the words. I’m sure that over the course of your youthful lives, you would’ve seen media corporations advertise certain governments in such a tasteful way so that you, as their respective audience, will feel compelled to play the political game. Many have fallen for this. Let’s hope you don’t.
So, we’ve talked about governments, we’ve talked about the media, we’ve talked about the intellectual minority. But there’s still something I’ve yet to discuss. It’s closely related to governments but it’s a tad more specific. I’m not talking about leadership. I’m talking about artificial leadership. Notice how I highlighted the word artificial in bold? Truth be told, most leaders are artificial. These so-called presidents of clubs or countries either win their way to the top through popularity or by making unkept promises. It’s a corrupt game, and the odds are in their favour. These artificial leaders are cunning, fraudulent people who hunt for leadership roles simply to satisfy their own selfish desires. Of course, there will always be a few good eggs in the dozen who sincerely want to make reforms for the betterment of others. But seriously, the vast majority are artificial leaders. They don’t lead from the heart, the soul, the mind. They lead from their insatiable hunger for power, prestige and privilege. That is a dangerous thing. In 1984, you’ll see that INGSOC leads for total control over the masses. They’ve got it all: the power, the prestige, the privilege. Democracy is abolished and totalitarianism is prized. Isn’t that hilarious? Though 1984 is simply a book, I can’t help but think that their reality has influenced some elements of our reality. Artificial leaders are real. They’re not people I’ve made up from the figment of my wildest imagination. They’re real…
I know you’re probably curious to see what you can do to make sure that your future isn’t manipulated by several men in black suits and smart ties. You’re probably interested in joining that intellectual minority group. You may sigh in despair, wondering if that day will ever come. Well, don’t fret. That day is today. You’ve read, you’ve questioned, and now you’ll act. Though others may live in a world similar to 1984, you can live in a world that is uniquely your own. So, how do you establish that independence? Through writing. Writers are perhaps one of the most feared individuals when it comes to politics. Why? Because words have power. Through the divine pen and its perpetual companion, the paper, you can change the world. Politicians age, but words are timeless. A lie fades, but the truth is indelible. That is precisely why 1984 remains pertinent to this day and onwards.
To bid farewell to you, my respective reader, I would like to leave you with a true Orwellian quote.
“In a world of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.”
Bibliography
4. https://www.ksfr.org/post/peace-and-justice-advocates-highlight-alternative-media-and-censorship-corporate-media
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