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George Orwell 1984 Individualism Analysis

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Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” These words of Emerson perfectly portray individualism. Imagine a world where love is illegal. Imagine a home without privacy. Imagine a mind without freedom to think. Would war signify peace? Would freedom define slavery? Would ignorance illustrate strength? In 1984, George Orwell illustrates the effects of no individualism through totalitarianism, love/sexuality, loyalty, and identity shown among individuals and society.
Firstly, 1984 portrays a society that is run by totalitarian authority. Totalitarianism in a manner permits no individual freedom and seeks to lower all aspects of individual life to authority. One …show more content…

While a main goal for the Party was to eliminate all love and acts of affection, it ties back to the fact that, “The Party did not want individuals to be so obsessed with seeking erotic pleasure that they would fail to perform their duties to society loyally.”, as Reese proclaims (Reese, 3). Loyalty is taken seriously by the Party. The Party doesn't tolerate even the smallest act of unfaithfulness, even if the act is within one’s thoughts. Orwell incorporates many examples of loyalty from Winston. He is faced with obstacles that challenge his own loyalty to the Party. The obstacles he is faced with also challenge his perspective on identity and …show more content…

He uses the language within 1984 that has been limited by the Party as a barrier of identity. Spectator Jem Berkes states, “Such narrowed public thought is what the Inner Party prefers,... it is less of a threat than one that can readily criticise the government and defend itself from harm.”, which signifies that the limited language that is set upon the people creates a dependent community of similar identities (Berkes, 4). The people of Oceania are not capable of thinking for themselves, therefore, they have no true independent identity. The lack of identity relates back to main theme of no individualism. As the people of Oceania “live” their lives under a system of lies, they are blind to their lack of indepence. Orwell establishes this idea by incorporating it into the novel, “He is too intelligent. He sees too clearly and speaks too plainly. The Party does not like such people. One day he will disappear” (Orwell, 53). While the goal of the Party was to eliminate those who rebelled, Orwell implements the rebellion of Winston and Julia to prove that even though they knew rebellion would mean death, it is in human nature to crave freedom. Freedom for the mind to think for itself is an important aspect of life in which Orwell characterizes its

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