Socialism: a political and economic theory of social organization which advocates that the community as a whole should own and control the means of production, distribution and exchange; (in Marxist theory) a transitional social state between the overthrow of capitalism and the realization of communism (The Canadian Oxford Dictionary); the abolition of hierarchy (Wikipedia).
Orwell’s political views and his opinions of the Independent Labour Party (ILP) are apparent in many ways throughout the novel. Firstly, he believed that politicians by nature lie, which he demonstrates by writing “But actually, he thought as he readjusted the Ministry of Plenty’s figures, it was not even forgery. It was merely the substitution of one piece of nonsense for another," (43). This reference to the Ministry of Truth’s actions of editing the past and lying about the present is symbolic of the lying that Orwell feels the ILP does on a regular basis. In INGSOC, the disparity between the three classes – Inner Party, Outer Party, and Proles – does not actually fit with the principles of socialism. In socialism, the population would be approximately equal. This is yet another reference to how far the ILP strayed from the fundamental values of socialism. Implied in the concept of socialism are the ideas of self-governance and the abolishment of hierarchical government. This obviously is not the case in 1984, where the population has no voice in their government and they are ruled by a tyrannical leader, Big Brother, who purposefully keeps 85% of the population living in extreme poverty. Lastly, all of the political manoeuvrings of the Party are for the sole purpose of staying in power. One of Orwell's chief complaints with the ILP was that they abandonned their fundamental values in order to stay in power. Orwell's dissatisfaction with the Independent Labour Party is apparent in 1984.
Big Brother is the embodiment of the Party government. He is seen by Party members to be a protective, father-like figure who wages war on their behalf in order to protect them. His wisdom is seen to be so great that he can accurately predict anything and everything. He portrays himself as a compassionate individual who cares only for the well-being of his fellow Party members, while in reality he is quite simply a tyrant. In order to make it appear as if he is always right, he has history rewritten again and again. Surveillence measures put in place by him invade the privacy of Party members. Party members are so excessively monitored that the slightest eye twitch, facial expression or whispered utterance is recorded. If a Party member does not conform completely and utterly to the doctrines of Big Brother, that person is "vapourized" - tortured, sent to a forced labour camp, or killed, their very existence wiped clean from history. In order to ensure the survival of his hierarchical system of government, he keeps 85% of the population in poverty and wages a state of continuous war against his neighbouring countries, killing innocent people in the process. Despite all this information about Big Brother's actions, as a reader, one never gets to know him on a personal level. As Goldstein says in his book, The Theory and Practise of Oligarchical Collectivism, "Big Brother is the guise in which the Party chooses to exhibit itself in the world." Combining this statement with Goldstein's earlier statement that Big Brother has never actually been seen, Big Brother's very existence comes into doubt. It would make strategic sense for the Party to create a single, fictional figure to head the Party. People as a general rule would be more likely to trust a single figure than they would an organization. All in all, Big Brother is the tyrannical embodiment of the Party government, but his very existence as a flesh-and-blood person is doubtful.
Orwell’s political views and his opinions of the Independent Labour Party (ILP) are apparent in many ways throughout the novel. Firstly, he believed that politicians by nature lie, which he demonstrates by writing “But actually, he thought as he readjusted the Ministry of Plenty’s figures, it was not even forgery. It was merely the substitution of one piece of nonsense for another," (43). This reference to the Ministry of Truth’s actions of editing the past and lying about the present is symbolic of the lying that Orwell feels the ILP does on a regular basis. In INGSOC, the disparity between the three classes – Inner Party, Outer Party, and Proles – does not actually fit with the principles of socialism. In socialism, the population would be approximately equal. This is yet another reference to how far the ILP strayed from the fundamental values of socialism. Implied in the concept of socialism are the ideas of self-governance and the abolishment of hierarchical government. This obviously is not the case in 1984, where the population has no voice in their government and they are ruled by a tyrannical leader, Big Brother, who purposefully keeps 85% of the population living in extreme poverty. Lastly, all of the political manoeuvrings of the Party are for the sole purpose of staying in power. One of Orwell's chief complaints with the ILP was that they abandonned their fundamental values in order to stay in power. Orwell's dissatisfaction with the Independent Labour Party is apparent in 1984.
Big Brother is the embodiment of the Party government. He is seen by Party members to be a protective, father-like figure who wages war on their behalf in order to protect them. His wisdom is seen to be so great that he can accurately predict anything and everything. He portrays himself as a compassionate individual who cares only for the well-being of his fellow Party members, while in reality he is quite simply a tyrant. In order to make it appear as if he is always right, he has history rewritten again and again. Surveillence measures put in place by him invade the privacy of Party members. Party members are so excessively monitored that the slightest eye twitch, facial expression or whispered utterance is recorded. If a Party member does not conform completely and utterly to the doctrines of Big Brother, that person is "vapourized" - tortured, sent to a forced labour camp, or killed, their very existence wiped clean from history. In order to ensure the survival of his hierarchical system of government, he keeps 85% of the population in poverty and wages a state of continuous war against his neighbouring countries, killing innocent people in the process. Despite all this information about Big Brother's actions, as a reader, one never gets to know him on a personal level. As Goldstein says in his book, The Theory and Practise of Oligarchical Collectivism, "Big Brother is the guise in which the Party chooses to exhibit itself in the world." Combining this statement with Goldstein's earlier statement that Big Brother has never actually been seen, Big Brother's very existence comes into doubt. It would make strategic sense for the Party to create a single, fictional figure to head the Party. People as a general rule would be more likely to trust a single figure than they would an organization. All in all, Big Brother is the tyrannical embodiment of the Party government, but his very existence as a flesh-and-blood person is doubtful.
