When you Google images of Totalitarianism, the first picture that pops up is this one. No surprise there, This book is so totalitarian, it's as though the word was created FOR THIS BOOK.
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On page 33, Winston wakes up with the word "Shakespeare" on his lips. WHY???Propaganda... trying to convince people that peace can only be found at times of war, that you are a slave of your freedom, so the only way of being happy is to be controlled, and ignorance, rather than knowledge, makes the strength of the people. Knowledge is bad, and can only weaken people and lead to horrible things...
All that is done so the Party and The Thought Police and Big Brother can keep their secrets without anyone trying to find out what is really happening and starting a revolution. The countries have been at war for so long, it is barely possible for the characters to remember a time of peace. It is practically impossible to know the year they're in, much less their age... Damn.
Right from the beginning of 1984, we learn about something called "The two minutes of hate". This could not have been a clearer message of Totalitarianism and how it uses propaganda to control people. Let me explain: It is a daily event that is optional to attend, yet it is impossible to avoid. During these two minutes the goverment or whoever is in charge uses the media to persuade a message of hate in the people's mind.
These are just some examples of Totalitarianism: where the government controls all aspects of public and private life. In this book, we clearly see that the authorities (Big Brother and the Thought Police) are constantly spying on the citizens, ready to arrests anybody who commits the slightest abnormal act. This leaves the population in fear, where everyone has to make sure he/she follows the rules (though everyone seem to be breaking them so they are NO rules). In other words, they have to appear as "normal" to the Thought Police. One false step or word could get them arrested. By watching the citizens 24/7, the government controls the public and private lives of the people. They control them with fear. Fear of what would happen to them if they disobey.
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