What does 1984 suggest about totalitarian control?

In the allegorical fiction, 1984, from author George Orwell based in the foreseen dystopian London, is
drawn upon the oppressive nature of society, and is meant to reflect the fascist images of Russia. The fabled
novel consists of the tyrannical force over humanity which controls all aspects of every life – how they eat,
how they speak, how they read – it is all under total control and is surveilled thoroughly throughout. As the
text suggests, the concept of technology becoming an omnipresent and governing force in society and shows
the modern audience the shocking influence that upper powers have over.

The dystopian society that Orwell envisages is one governed by technology, as its’ powerful and dominant
influence is a force that enforces a totalitarian module around London. The ever-present “telescreen”,
watching every move and ‘thought’ – ‘a single flicker of the eyes could give you away’. This element of
single act punishment; highlighted by the phrase ‘single flicker of the eyes’ is meant to instill the metaphoric
fire that resentment held, and that by representing this defiance one could be punished. Orwell entrusts his
audience with the image of a ‘thoughtless’ society that is governed by technology and represents the
desperate nature of avoiding being discovered; a sign of the absolute control that the ‘Party’ has over the
dystopian London. Further to this, the use of wariness for and around technology is even found when one
steps beyond the cage of dystopian London, and when in the country, “there was always the danger of
concealed microphones by which your voice might be picked up and recognised”. This statement affirms
the dangerous grasp that technology holds over society; “always a danger” making it a pervasive truth that
total control is drawn from technology, and that the society that is surveilled by this technology is under
constant persecution. Thus, Orwell exemplifies the flaws of totalitarian control and creates the bleakest
future of technological advancement.

Through the allegorical side of Orwell’s text is a realization of the bleak world that the author himself lives
in and is meant to direct his audience to the imminent futility of trust. Deceptive concepts of power are
explored throughout, such as “child hero[s]” – who “denounce[s] its parents to the Thought Police” – which
is meant to represent the untrusting natures of relatives as well as strangers. The concept of child brain-
washing is meant to reflect the Russian attitude to thought – that children who “denounce” their parents for
alleged crimes are considered “heroes”. This is a concept explored by Orwell throughout his text as an
instance of treachery that is enforced by the ‘Party’, who giver out “toys” – “ear trumpets for listening
through keyholes” – to help assist in “denouncing” their parents. Thus, Orwell represents the futile nature
of the totalitarian status of society and wishes to represent the growing attitude towards manipulating
children – creating generations of “spies” to help govern society. This concept of “spies” is further emulated
in the group of “thought police”, who are all a part of the deception in the text – a bleating example being
that of Mr Charrington, who after deceiving Winston and Julia in his shop was “still recognizable, but he
was not the same person any longer”. This element of deception in the text is meant to represent the inability
to trust anything that seeks to help you, for in the dystopian world, the “thought police” could be anywhere
or anyone at any time. The use of the term “recognizable” is key to Orwell’s deceptive thematic gist, that
the “thought police” are in control of your destiny and your belief. This true imagery of illusory action from
both child and adult parties are meant to represent the absolutely treacherous nature of total control, as it
can result in false accusations and misleading friendships – trust is futile.

Orwell takes the political side of totalitarianism to the fore when he uses techniques throughout that
represent the “iron” palm that governs all life; this being Big Brother. The most obvious situation of political
imagery is that of the striking poster that reads, “BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU”, paired with the
constant reference to the “enormous face that gazed from the wall”. The word “gazed” is often connotated
as glancing, or unthinkingly looking; but Orwell uses it in a more urgent manner, as though anyone who
sees the poster is being watched by Big Brother himself. This concept is the political propaganda that
influences the public’s actions; that they are being watched even when there is no telescreen. Orwell’s
intense use of the Big Brother poster creates an emblematic omnipresence over the narrative, and evokes
images with the illustrious “eyes [that] follow you about when you move”. The use of “follow you” gives
a very gothic element to Orwell’s text, and makes his thoughts on totalitarian control even more obvious,
as it is an chronic worry to the public. The concept of surveilling his audience is clear in the way he uses
the poster, and the ever-presence of it.

Throughout the text, Orwell clearly expresses a distaste for totalitarian governments, and directs his
audience to the futility of trust in one’s surroundings as the constant surveillance that governs through
means of technological and manipulative sources. The view created from the text is that of technology’s
ability to harness humanity and destroy the utopia we have and govern with the “iron voice” of watchful
political power.