Orteza 1

Kianna Orteza
Professor Vana
English 113B
25 March 2015

1984:
Power and Totalitarianism

1984 by George Orwell is an english dystopian novel, were main main character Winston
Smith tells of the story of his totalitarian life in Oceania. This dystopian novel it touches on the
many techniques of how physical space and boundaries are fashioned to maintain in order to
meet a certain goal. One of many goals in this novel is power, how totalitarianism is not just
present but lived through in the life of Winston Smith. Power can be displayed in how citizens of
Oceania have no privacy and how technology such as a telesceen in placed in individuals home.
Power is displayed in government system, they have four different parties; Ministry of Truth,
Ministry of Love,Ministry of Peace and Ministry of Plenty. As we continue to read and learn of
Winstons life we begin to realize how power from Oceania has caused the people to live,act and
perceive life in everyday situations. As said War is Peace,Freedom is Slavery, and Ignorance is
Strength(p. 8, Orwell).
Privacy and technology in 1984 are one of the many forms of how the party controls
and overpowers their citizens. This method of privacy is present in many other forms such as
comparable reading by Michel Foucault. Foucault talks about Jeremy Bentham's Panopticon, a
building with a tower at the center from which it is easy to see every cell in which a detainee is
detained. Every individual is seen however can't correspond with the corrections officers or
different detainees. The panopticon impels a feeling of perpetual possibility that guarantees the
working of power. Bentham proclaimed that power ought to be unmistakable yet unverifiable.

Orteza 2

The detainee can simply see the tower however never knows from where he is being watched. In
1984, identical to the story of Foucault, privacy of citizens in Oceania are also limited to none.
Just as the detainee does not know from where they are being watched, the use of telescreens
and hidden microphones across the city, The Party is able to monitor its members almost all of
the time.
The government system in 1984, imposes controls and depicts power and totalitarianism.
In a recent place I observed, called the Santa Maria City Hall. The city hall is a small portion and
a symbolic representation of government. In Santa Maria city hall we have five very important
members; we have the mayor, three council members and mayors pro tem. Each member
providing some kind of government and powered service. Such as a mayor serves as the highest
position, generally the member to get the last word and the "look" of Santa Maria. The three
other members are part of council,their obligations are to discuss certain issues that need to be
addressed. They also are representatives of the townspeople. The last member is the mayor pre
tem, this person steps in when the superior position is out. Having a system such as a city hall we
see how there is five different aspects that contribute. They also display power over the people
by making decisions and also representing citizens in the proper manner. Relate to 1984, were
Oceania is also run by five different sectors. Ministry of Love; that provides laws and
punishment for opposing citizens. Ministry of Plenty; provides ration to food and valuables.
Ministry of Truth; provides citizens with with so called government truth. Ministry of Peace;
provides information regarding Oceanias warfare. Each one of these ministers provided a
certain service to the people. The power of totalitarianism is shown by how the power and
control given to each ministry is used. Most ministries have taken their services to make The
Party look a certain way and manipulate its citizens.

Orteza 3

As we continue to read 1984, we realized that Winston's life has been controlled by the
power around him and by the restraining space that has created. An example of this would be
when Winston opens a diary. This was not illegal(nothing was illegal,since there were no longer
any laws). but if detected it was reasonably certain that it would be punished by death or at least
by twenty-five years in a forced - labor camp. An object such as a diary has caused people to be
afraid to write their own thoughts and express their feelings in fear of opposing government and
getting caught. A theory that could explain this process further is Marxist Criticism. Marxist
Criticism theory is based on Karl Marx. This theory is concerning itself with different
class,ideology and social order affecting economic and capitalism system. This theory is
relatable to 1984 because capitalism system is not present Winston says a general state of
scarcity increases the importance of small privileges and thus magnifies the distinction between
one group and another. Ministry of Plenty is to never let that situation happen however its soul
purpose is to also put The Party above all which is like Marxist Criticism. One group over
another do to power and class.
Although power and privacy are two controversial topics, to much or too little of each
will bring disorder to a society. Most would argue that without power how would we contain
control. Power from government or a higher class has given us, the people a certain standard and
structure. Privacy is also said to be not really privacy, as we read in recent news we are in
constant watch and are never private. Even our lives though we post them on our social network
are not private. As we can see there is much debate with the amount of power and privacy but as
stated to little or too much can bring corruption and dystopia.
Totalitarianism is defined as total control given to government. As we read Foucault,
1984, theories of Marxism and even visit areas around us we see privacy and power displayed in

Orteza 4

many forms. Power and Privacy are essential however to little and too much can bring a dystopic
life and living.

Work Cited
"Welcome to the Purdue OWL." Purdue OWL: Literary Theory and Schools of Criticism. Web.

19 Mar. 2015. <https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/722/05/>.

Fromm, Erich. George Orwell 1984. New York, 1966. Book.
Sheridan, Alan. Michel Foucault. Discipline & Punish, Panopticism. New York, 1977.

Print.

Orteza 5