Summary:
In the novel 1984, the totalitarian governments present in the book, limits their own peoples freedoms as if to have complete control over them in every way. Orwell exaggerates this concept with civilization and characters that he builds up in the novel. 1984 is Orwell's plea for humanity's freedom.
As evolution has progressed the human species has refined its way of living to a state of being civilized. This civilisation is controlled by laws and hierarchies of power which slowly limit freedoms that citizens are born with, however can not express. The world is regulated and supervised one way or another, to the point in which these laws or government can deprive it's citizens of what is fundamental to survive. This is evident in the government depicted by George Orwell, in the novel 1984, the totalitarian government present in the book, limits their own peoples freedoms as if to have complete control over them in every way. The citizens are no longer free but enslaved; they are not even granted the right of expressing any instinct which is permanently a part of them. Orwell exaggerates this concept with civilization and characters that he builds up in the novel. 1984 is Orwell's plea for humanity's freedom.
To begin with, the fact that party members are forced to conform is proof that they have no freedom. Their lives are dictated and lived according to timetables and schedules which are created because they believe it is for their benefit. They are periodically convinced of control over themselves by different authorities saying there "are no laws; citizens are free." However, they know if they venture from the norm, or do not conform to the rules of conduct, or do anything that symbols being unique they are vaporized; erased from existence. The following quotation is being said in the effort to explain to Winston that freedom can not be experienced when one acts as an individual, only when one is with the party can one truly live. O'Brien is explaining this to Winston during one of the numerous torture sessions.
Alone-free-the human being is always defeated. it must be so,
because every human being is doomed to die, which is the greatest
of all failures . But if he can make complete, utter submission, if
he can escape from his identity, if he can merge himself in the
party so that he IS the party, then he is all-powerful and immortal.
This quotation gives one an interesting outlook on survival. It makes one think whether or not it is better to live alone, making ones own decisions, or as a group where one is safe however not unique or make ones own decisions. O'Brien is explaining to Winston that the in order to make the party eternal they must work together as a group as one mass. Alone they are divided, having only power over themselves, together the party is strong, all powerful, all knowing, all surviving. O'Brien does not believe in the human race or the power of individualism; he makes it clear that the defeat over the individual is inevitable. This is where O'Brien and Winston differentiate, Winston believes in acting for the future. When joining the brotherhood he is more then apt to act and influence the future for the better. O'Brien believes that when one dies, their legacy of life lessons can not be transferred. It is only through a mob mentality that a real legacy can be passed on. Winston believes in the power of the heart and mind of an individual not that of an unidentifiable mass of conformists. Orwell uses Winston as the beacon, he uses him as an example; the voice that stands against the oppression. The freedom of individualism is blurred by globalization and acceptance. All want to feel important and apart of something to the extent where there is no longer a voice of reason
There is no freedom without privacy. This concept is the iron shackles which keeps Oceania under slavery and gives insight to the importance or humanity's freedom. It is insightful because it demonstrates to the reader that privacy is privilege. The ability to express oneself without fear of being judged or punished is true freedom. IN 1984 the citizens live in a world of endless supervision by ways of telescreens, microphones limited transport, spies and anyone loyal to the party. This becomes clearer with the following quote. Winston is sleeping in his apartment dreaming of his mother when suddenly he comes to a realization.
Tragedy he perceived, belonged to an ancient time, a time when their
was still privacy, love,friendship and when the members of a family
Stood by you, without needing a reason...she had sacrificed herself to
a conception of loyalty that was private and unalterable....Today their
was fear, hatred and pain no dignity of emotion, no deep complex sorrow.
This quote is proof of what the government of big brother has successfully taken from the lives of those who lived in a better time. With constant invasion of privacy citizens are no longer able to do what feels right with heart and mind but must surpress these urges by ways of fear and pain. Winston realizes there is no longer emotion no longer any bonds which connects two people; be it mother and child; two lovers; two friends. Winstons mother suffered for the love of her child, out of instinct and unconsciousness; she lived and breathed to protect him. This act of loyalty and love runs deeper than science can discover. Therefore it undermines and is powerful against the regime of big brother. These connections and feelings must be severed because they are the unexplainable reason which can motivate one to bear exponential amounts of pain. These bonds maintain that love, keep ones mind focused, sane and strong. The elimination of this motivation leaves only one other method of obedience, if not out of loyalty, be it by the force of fear and hatred. Winston realizes the balance between love and hatred is broken, and a life of fear has become pervasive. Orwell wants the readers to comprehend that with every passing day civilization is finding a new way of intruding on what makes life really great; privacy. Life is lived based on what one does and shares in the privacy of their home. If humans become demoralized on the prospect of living without interruption, then life will not be worth living. They are empty not human, the world is a nightmare where technology rules over them and treats them accordingly. It is undeniable and is made very clear in the novel the amount of privacy that one possesses determines the amount of freedom enjoyed.
The most prominent factor, which contributes to humanity's freedom and is made obvious in the novel, is the freedom of speech. The horror of having ones vocabulary slowly decimated and no longer having the words to describe the fear, and suffering is unimaginable. The reign of Big Brother, wishes to restrict the ability of speech and thought and interaction by eliminating most of the English language. Once it is made law, police can punish those who use words that are not in existence, therefore control interaction. Speech is freedom because it initiates change; therefore the ability to share ones thoughts is a powerful gift. Syme is absolutely enthused about his career, he has the power to destroy that which makes the citizens unite; he destroys the English language. Syme is trying to share his enthusiasm with Winston who is not at all interested.
Don't you see the whole aim of newspeak is to narrow the range
of thought? In the end we shall make thought crime literally
impossible.....Chaucer, Shakespeare, Milton Bryon, they'll exist
only in newspeak versions not merely changed into something
contractibility of what they used to be. Even the party will change.
Even the slogans change. How could you have a slogan like "freedom
is slavery" when the concept of freedom has been abolished? The
whole climate of thought will be it now. Orthodoxy means no
thinking not needing to think. Orthodoxy is unconsciousness.
Syme sees freedom as it really is in this civilization of under complete control. He is different and bold because this realization does not deter him. It does not bother him that the knowledge and the capacity of thought which drives him will be utterly destroyed. Interestingly, Syme says this quotation in a jeering tone. He is delighted and contented in knowing that all independent thought and intelligence as they know will be changed and slowly erased from existence. This feeling which he exudes in this quotation is an odd happiness that an intellectual such as himself should not be expressing. The words spoken and the expression used is Orwell's talent as a literary writer screams out how important it is to exercise one's freedom of speech. The reader is seeing the conversation from Winston point of view and therefore absorbs Winston frustration and opinions on these comments. Ideally the reader shares these frustrations with Winston and becomes aware of what it would mean if the range and climate of thought was to change. The expression used is almost evil, a type of laughter which laughs at the fact that society allows its language and its capacity of intelligence to wash away. As time progresses, people have begun to limit their vocabulary, they do not feel the need to educate themselves to their full ability. The art of conversation in today's cultures has been reduced, restricted by colloquialism and slang. Orwell wishes the readers to realize this and act upon it, so that human kind can continue to express and communicate to each other what is important in life.
Throughout the novel the freedoms that define humanity are made clear and communicate a profound message upon which to act. George Orwell in his novel 1984 does not wish to see the freedoms which make humanity and life what it is, disappear. The ability to initiate change, to live in comfort and to act on ones terms, are taken for granted in today's society. These freedoms will diminish by the creation of laws and technicalities. Once these freedoms are breached the battle to regain what was will be difficult. The personal goal which everyone should strive for is to educate themselves, to immerse themselves in culture and to be an individual. Daily exercising privileges, such as freedom of speech, expression of feeling and defining individuality, will decrease the risk of having those privileges erased. . It is important to know who one is and what one is capable of and what freedoms one has access to. If one has that knowledge, they will never be completely and utterly controlled. Live life to the fullest without regret and ones legacy will be passed on and used as an example.
"The Plea for Humanity's Freedom"
Works cited
George, Orwell. 1984; London, England: Penguin Books, 1990.
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