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Big Brother In George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four

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In order for a society to fully function, diversity should stand as a notable factor rather than a community filled with single-minded citizens. Joseph Stalin stands to be a prime example of this concept with how he ruins the lives of many people who he assumes to be his enemies. Stalin coordinated several purges of his enemies and had no intention to stop until his death in 1953. No one was safe from Stalin’s reign of terror, which amounted in between eight and thirteen million victims tragically dying. Stalin’s purpose for these hideous acts were mainly for the increase in his personal power. Stalin was an inspiration for the character Big Brother in George Orwell’s fictional work known as Nineteen Eighty-Four which was published in 1949. …show more content…

To start, the use of complicated mechanisms, such as telescreens, to watch one’s mannerisms or behavior does raise a sense of anxiety in the citizens. To exemplify, Winston observes himself as there can be no escape from telescreens. Winston infers “The instrument (the telescreen, it was called) could be dimmed, but there was no way of shutting it off completely” (Orwell 2). A feeling of uneasiness beings to come over one’s self with knowing one simple action has a result of serious punishment. Irving Howe indicates “ … a model of the totalitarian state in its ‘pure’ or ‘essential’ form and vision of what this state can do to human: (63). To justify, living in a dystopian type society contributes to how difficult it continues to be to function. Similarly, the Party employ mechanisms to be able to overhear and eavesdrop on its people’s conversations. While Winston searches for Julia, he reveals, “ … there was always the danger of concealed microphones by which your voice might be picked up and recognized… was not easy to make a journey by yourself without attracting attention” (Orwell 117). Winston and Julia had no choice but to go a secluded area where they can be alone, for that stands as the only solution for them to feel the have no eyes on them. Microphones placed around the assembly displays the lack of freedom in the community. The Party also employs microphones to learn sources of information and many of its citizens’ personal thoughts. Furthermore, the main source of the Party, Big Brother, exhibits the absolute supremacy the Party has over its people. More specifically, the ultimate ruler that goes as “Big Brother” stands as the embodiment of totalitarianism. The phrase “BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU” gives the sense of fright to the citizens. Thus, the Party truly does not care for the well-being of the citizens as much as they enjoy the suffering that the people

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