1984 - George Orwell - Summer Assignment

 1984 – George Orwell Summary 

What is the role of language in Orwell's 1984? How is language used as a means of control over the general public in '1984'? 

The book 1984, is a very gripping novel, written by George Orwell. This book was published in 1949. The basic idea of the book is that a character called Winston Smith, a low ranking member of ‘the Party’, who is frustrated by the party, and its ominous ruler Big Brother. ‘Big Brother’ controls every aspect of the people’s lives. He invented the language “Newspeak” because he wanted to eliminate all the political fights. 

Newspeak is the fictional language of Oceania, which is set to meet the ideological requirements of English Socialism in Oceania. He also created “ThoughtCrimes” to stop the people of thinking about these political problems. In this way the “party” can control anything people do. If they disobey, they will be sent to the dreaded Room 101 as a punishment. This is the way that “Big Brother” has a control over the general public, by creating his own language, thought form and process. 

Orwell, using his story scenarios can effectively and clearly explain how dictator can manipulate and control thoughts, and lives of the people of the public. Now Winston Smith had enough of this and was silently plotting away in his diary of secret thoughts. Now what he was doing was considered as a thoughtcrime as he was plotting political rebellion. He had help from his lover Julia. However in the end he after he was tortured, he came to the conclusion that he loved “Big Brother” therefore the Room 101 has the capability of changing any rebellious mind to the state of the controlled public. 

The interesting part is that when I did some digging I found that this happening in real life is actually possible. If the world fell under the control of one or even multiple dictators, the future could easily become a twisted, cruel world where every movement of a person is scrutinized by a higher power that no one can stop, or even oppose without the fear of severe punishment. Orwell’s novella is a warning for the human race. It highlights the importance of resisting mass control and oppression.