Use Of Power And Fear To Control Humanity In 1984 By George Orwell

“A society can use power and fear to control humanity and crush any sign of individualism.” – Grace Parsons.

Humans extensive exposure toward individual and collective human experiences evokes audiences to challenge assumptions, ignite new ideas and see the world differently. This allows audiences to use their insight on human qualities and emotion to make judgements on anomalies, paradoxes and inconsistencies in human behaviours and motivations. George Orwell’s dystopian deterrent example, 1984, predisposed by Fascism, totalitarianism and Nazi Germany, demonstrates how power and fear can not be escaped and is used to control humanity. This notion is comprehensively conveyed throughout Orwell’s portraiture of the multifaceted nature of being human and is explored through the characters of Winston Smith, Julia and O’Brien.

The characterisation of the protagonist, Winston highlight to the audience the complex nature of being human in a dystopian world. Winstons throughout the novel reflects how the power of The Party and the distressing emotion of fear can’t be escaped and is harnessed to control, destroy individualism. Winston Smith hatred throughout the novel is continually assessing the limitations of the party and its power. Winston act of rebellion starts with so simple, a diary but ends with a romance with Julia. Love is forbidden in Oceania with any intimate touching. “He flattered it out. On it was written, in a large un-formed handwriting, I LOVE YOU”. Winston experiences the emotion of love. Orwell paragraphing reflects the significance to Winston. Having 3 words on a line conveys its importance and makes a phrase which is so simple, phenomenal. The simile of “as though a fire were burning in his belly” further implies the importance of this moment and significance of the moment for the novel. “The smell of her hair, the taste of her mouth, the feeling of her skin seemed to have got inside him, or into the air all round him”. As their relationship progressed, their act of rebellion had turned into a holistic relationship. The sensory language used highlights a new found intimacy and the love and desire for her. However power and fear can not be escaped and controls Winston. In the beginning Winston notes “Freedom is the freedom to say that two. Plus two makes four” this highlights how much Winston rebels against the party however the motif journeys through the novel. After Winstons’s identity had been stripped from the torture Ministry of love he traces “2 + 2 = 5”. This highlights the fear caused by the rats can not be escaped and is used to control humanity. Math is considered the most factual subject and the party has the power to manipulate it, because of fear. “Do it to Julia!” Conveys Winston when faced with his biggest fear. He gives in. 1984 highlights the complex nature of being human as Winston fear overcame him and he had to accept something he didn’t believe was true so he could survive.

The characterisation of Julia highlight to the audience the complex nature of being human in a dystopian world. Julia throughout the novel reflects how the power of The Party and the distressing emotion of fear can’t be escaped and is harnessed to control, destroy individualism. Julia is repressed as a free-free-spirited rebellious women who falls involve with Winston. Julia choses small ways to act out her rebellious ways against the party.“I’m going to get hold of a real womens frock from somewhere and wear it instead” Julia has just made herself up for Winston, an act which is forbidden in Oceania, and is exhilarated by her ability to rebel and gain control on her body. This highlights the lens Julia is going to look beautiful for Winston. “if they could make me stop loving you-that would be the real betrayal” Julias emotions are so strong for Winston that despite there agreeance that they will eventually be arrested the party. However they think they can escape the powers party and that their feelings will never be affected and that the fear created by the party will not destroy their humanity. Julia believes the the party is not powerful enough not alter her feelings for Winston. Even tough Julia thinks that her love with Winston is strong and can with hold the power of the party and the fear created, she is wrong. After she is taken to the Ministry of love any sign of human nature is destroyed and the power and fear used by the party to control humanity, wins.“Sometimes,’ she said, ‘they threaten you with something you can’t stand up to, can’t even think about. And then you say, ‘Don’t do it to me, do it to somebody else, do it to So-and-so.”1984 highlights the complex nature of being human as Julia realises the power of fear is used to control her humanity and despite thinking she could overcome the party power she had to give in to survive.

O’Briens characterisation in 1984 embodies the party, both manipulators and are unnecessarily cruel.“They got me long ago.” Could allude that once O’Brien was in the rebellion and was eventually tortured and accepted into the party. However it can also highlight the manipulative nature of O’Brien pretending to be empathetic or allude that the brother his a lie made yup by the party. Either way O’Brien multifaceted human nature is complex and demonstrates how power and fear can not be escaped and is used to control humanity.

Stories highlight the complex nature of being human. George Orwell’s dystopian cautionary novel, 1984, depicts this idea of what the convoluted nature of being human is. Orwell’s audiences are able to draw on their own individual and collective human experiences to make judgements on anomalies, paradoxes and inconsistencies in human behaviours and motivations in 1984. Orwell’s novel causes audiences to question assumptions, spark new thoughts and view the world through a different perspective.1984 highlights how power and fear can not be escaped and how it is used to control humanity and this is conveyed through the characterisation of Winston Smith, Julia and O’Brien.