Major Theme Analysis

Major Theme Analysis:

In George Orwell's book, 1984, he focuses on many different themes including the threats and danger of totalitarianism and manipulation, especially of a psychological nature. The first theme is created by Big Brother and the Party, which represent a tyrannical type of government that focuses on totalitarianism. Totalitarianism is a form of government or political system that exercises a high or complete control over both public and private lives. In this system, there is no individual or group opposition to the state and its claims, which in this case would be the Party and all of its beliefs that are enforced. Orwell wrote this book originally during the beginning of the Cold War to focus on the possible risks and threats that could occur if Communist nations decided to spread and take over more countries such as the United States. Orwell wanted to warn and expose how extreme totalitarian countries can be to keep and execute their authority and remind readers who live in a democracy to be grateful for the freedom they have, especially without the fear of risking their life by stepping out of line. This idea of torture if you go against the Party or Big Brother in any way is a type of psychological manipulation, another theme shown in this book as we see that even your own thoughts are considered traitorous creating a fear in the citizens to have the most basic God given right.  

He decided to add the concern of technology as well and how governments would be able to gain even more control and power, which is especially a threat in today’s society as well. The Party largely relies on technology to help keep their authority, especially by controlling what information is given out, especially with the telescreen that can help censor what knowledge citizens are allowed to have. This can be seen in the line, “And if all others accepted the lie which the Party imposed - ‘Who controls the past,’ ran the Party slogan, ‘controls the future: who controls the present controls the past,’” (Orwell 30) The theme of technology throughout the book also represents how little privacy you are given while living in a totalitarianism government. With technology watching your every move and listening to your every word, you don’t have much time to both be and find who you truly are. This leads to another theme that Orwell expressed which was that of loyalty, but not only as a blind loyalty to your government, but also as a loyalty to yourself and your identity. Winston struggles throughout the book with this theme especially as he endures his internal battle between his loyalty to the Party and Big Brother and his loyalty to his own thoughts and beliefs. This theme can be seen in the quote, “More commonly, people who had incurred the displeasure of the Party simply disappeared and were never heard of again.” (Orwell 39) For the Party expects everyone to have a blind loyalty to them without any questions, yet thoughtcrimes occur and begin to chip away at that loyalty until they are reminded by fear. Winston experiences this theme head on especially shown with the quote, “He was already dead, he reflected. It seemed to him that it was only now, when he had begun to be able to formulate his thoughts, that he had taken the decisive step.” (Orwell 24) 

As the idea of taking away rights and identity is seen throughout the book, so is the theme of revolution. Orwell wanted to inspire his readers to fight for their basic rights and to rebel against those who abuse their authority. You can see this spark of rebellion in Winston when he writes, “Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make four. If that is granted, all else follows.” (Orwell 72) As the plot continues the reader is later introduced to a divide between two characters, one who wants to revolt but is still a bit faithful to the Party and the other who wants to burn the Party to the ground. Orwell wanted to portray how if the time ever came to rebel then the real difference would come from which generation would participate.This can be seen in the quote, ““Any kind of organized revolt against the Party, which was bound to be a failure, struck her as stupid. The clever thing was to break the rules and stay alive all the same.” (Orwell 116)