The Role Of Power In 1984 - 1889 Words

Power is the catalyst which establishes government, leaders, societal hierarchies and civilisation. It is an inseparable part of human nature, which is reflected in pop culture and literature. In an excerpt from 1984 by George Orwell, the theme of power and the abuse of power is privileged, and the allocation of the power in that society is discussed. Lord of the Flies, contrarily, depicts a scenario in which the individual has complete power, and constraints of authority and civilisation are removed. In the trailer, the composer uses film language such as dark music and jump shots to chaotic scenes to demonstrate the effects of complete freedom and the danger of it. Winston Churchill’s 1947 commentary that â€Å"Democracy is the worst form of†¦show more content†¦Already our control over matter is absolute.† (Orwell). This quote exemplifies the extent to which the Party hijacks the mental processes of people to gain power, and how that is more crucial to unopposed power than physical control already established. Thus, Orwell presents a perspective on power through exploring the restriction of free thought and movement, and how that benefits a totalitarian government. A further perspective on power conveyed in the extract from 1984 is that of collective power and loss of individuality. O’brien explains the concept of ‘power in the masses’ to Winston to highlight the futility of his own rebellion: â€Å"The first thing you must realise is that power is collective. The individual only has power in so far as he ceases to be an individual.† (Orwell). While it is implied that assimilating with a collective creates power, the true effect of this is not that the individual has power, but instead that those in charge of the collective. A slogan of the party, â€Å"freedom is slavery† is one of three ironic statements echoed throughout the novel. On his spiel about power, O’brien delves into the meaning: You know the Party slogan: â€Å"Freedom is Slavery.† Has it ever occurred to you that it is reversible? Slavery is freedom. 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 fromShow MoreRelated1994 George Orwell Dramatic performance analysis1455 Words   |  6 PagesGeorge Orwell’s novel 1984 springs to life with this stage adaptation presented by the highly entertaining theatre company Shake and Stir. In the totalitarian society of 1984, lies, myths and false information dictate the population and this is portrayed beautifully in the theatrical presentation of the novel. 1984 tells the story of Winston, a man with no hope, the party controls his life, his not his mind. He believes that the party is spreading false truths to retain power over the people, andRead MoreParallels In Power And Othering In 1984 And Imbeciles.1416 Words   |  6 Pages Parallels in Power and Othering in 1984 and Imbeciles Like many I was aware of the eugenics movement in the United States in the 1920’s. However, after reading the story of Carrie Buck and learning more about the nature of the procedurals involved in these sterilizations I have a new found understanding of the roles Power and Othering played in the unlawful tests conducted on Carrie buck and many members of her family. The way in which those elite of the 1920’s mimics the party and the thoughtRead MoreAntigone‚Äà ´s Law: a Critique of Patriarchal Power Structures1121 Words   |  5 Pages         Antigone’s Law: A Critique of Patriarchal Power Structures    The heroine Antigone sacrifices her life to defy the patriarchal society in which she is imprisoned. By confronting and resisting Creon’s authoritarian rule, Antigone empowers the oppressed people of Thebes. On the surface, her motives seem clear; she defies civil law in favor of a higher moral law. Antigone declares she acts out of a sense of honor and obedience to the gods, however her words and actions reveal additionalRead MoreThe Novel, 1984, By George Orwell923 Words   |  4 Pagesdystopian novels, wrote his most famous book, 1984, in the 1940s. Almost 60 years later in 1999 the Wachowski brothers wrote and directed one of the greatest film trilogies of all time, The Matrix. 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However, akin to the Bolshevik and Chinese revolutions, Winston and Orwell believe that they are the key to democracy, freedom, and grow th. Oceania is a cruel society that views its citizens as pawns and a means to obtain power. This idea is misconstrued, though, as the proletariat are the source of their power. The power lying within the people means that they have the potential to seize itRead MoreThe Roles of Power and Truth Essay1204 Words   |  5 PagesPower and truth play different but equal roles in maintaining control in a nation. Modern societies create regimes of truth that are enforced by power structures such as government, discipline and laws. When it comes to power, the government, queen or dictator is in charge. They tell their citizens what the main expectations are and how to abide by them. Nevertheless, the government should uphold fairness and not abuse its power unless it is necessary. Power is something that is earned; it is not