Cultish Crisis in Dystopias: A Close Reading of 1984
by George Orwell
Avanika Verma
Sharda University
Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India
&
Dr. Prachi Priyanka
Sharda University
Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India
Abstract:
The 20th century witnessed a rise in the
dystopian genre. Dystopias incorporate a list of features like a decline
in society, an oppressive and controlling environment (usually created by a government or social group)
and a constant state of fear and distress among
the people. Another
social group that reflects the same qualities as that of a dystopian
society is a cult. “1984” by George
Orwell is set in a totalitarian society that impacted the readers in a way that
the work is relevant and unforgettable even 74 years
after it was published. This paper delves deeper into the
work in pursuit of identifying various instances from the plot that resonate
with a cult-like milieu. With a
special focus on the protagonist, Winston Smith, it analyzes how cults have
special effects on individuals under
their influence. This paper mainly explores the identity crisis that the protagonist undergoes while being in a socio-political crisis parallelising it to what a cult member encounters. Mentions
of environmental crisis have also been made in the paper. Similarities between Plato’s Republic
and the actions
of the government in terms of manipulation of the truth and information are drawn in this paper. It also
discusses the multifaceted nature of freedom
and surveillance as demonstrated in the narrative with the help of theories.
Moreover, this paper puts forth brief
notations of an existentialist point of view concerning the events endured
by Winston Smith.
Keywords: Dystopia, Cult, Crisis,
Totalitarianism, Identity, Existentialism
1. Introduction
Dystopia is a genre of fiction which consists
of a plotline of events that are not in line with the interests and favours
of the protagonist. It comes from the word “dys'' meaning bad,
ill or impaired. It is the root word
of dysfunctional hence referring to the same in meaning. The second part of the word refers to the other
form of a literary genre called utopia which means the plotline of the fictional work involves all
events to be in favor of the protagonist or the storyline. There are no conflicts as opposed to dystopias
which are ridden with plot, character and theme conflicts as well. Other
characteristics of a dystopian work include an authority figure or group of authority figures that exercise
absolute power over the other group(s) usually from which the protagonist belongs and tells the story.
Gregory Claeys states in his essay that the term dystopia occurred
long before the genre's rise in the 20th
century when it was used by John Stuart Mill in a parliamentary debate of 1867. Some believe that the genre saw
a brief rise in and around the Victorian
era with the works of Anne Radcliffe and HG Wells. Although the popularity of
the genre is credited to the
socio-political climate of post-war pessimism, imagining what the future held in store wasn't a big task after
seeing the worst possible outcomes depicted by humankind at the time. Anxieties and political
awareness among the youth regarding social distress and the future decline of society led to the
popularization of this gene at the time. In Tom Moylan’s terms, dystopias were, “largely the product of the terrors of
the twentieth century”. It also calls for
a critical examination of the enduring power relationships that exist in many
communities. In this sense, dystopian
literature serves as a useful prism through which we might view the social systems in our society (Moylan 2000). This
genre of work is categorically set in a totalitarian society where the regime overpowers everyone else in society.
Totalitarian governments are those
that have complete control over every element of the lives of their subjects.
People do not have any freedom under
this government. The people are oppressed by the totalitarian system, and even their basic rights are taken
away. It appears that the governmental system is autocratic and oppressive. This administration
employs religious traditions to keep people in check. It is therefore
regarded as a dystopian society.
Individuals lack independence, rights in the community, and even rights within their own lives. The government makes
decisions about people's lives. The regulations and statutes formulated by this political
structure are brutal. People have to
abide by the guidelines. Anyone who disagrees faces severe penalties or death. Examples of totalitarian regimes are the
Nazi regime of Adolf Hitler in Germany (1933–1945), the Soviet Union under Joseph Stalin (1924–1953), and the
contemporary totalitarian state that Kim
Jong-un rules over North Korea. This type of living condition also leads to
further forms of destruction caused
by technological advancements for excessive control. There is an ongoing political crisis due to the existing
oligarchy and totalitarian government. In addition to that, there is a social and interpersonal crisis as
well as an environmental one. Totalitarianism as a way of society sabotages the very life of every
individual who falls victim to it. Ridding them of their individuality and relationships as well as personal autonomy and
basic rights. This leaves each citizen
in a frozen state taking away their ability to engage in creativity and
innovation. The citizens are not left
with unique thinking or influence from the common ‘normal’ which in turn works in the ruler's favour by avoiding
any revolutionary or oppositional thought.
The proposition where the individuals are stripped of their personal and
independent selves along with
isolating them from society by exposing them to a communal ideology is frequently repeated through another
social institution- a cult. Although there is no textbook definition of a cult it can be regarded as
a religion which is unorthodox or spurious. It is a small religious sect whose doctrine and methods
seem odd or hazardous to an outsider. The earliest usage of the term describes it as being a place of homage for a
saint or deity, for example, the ‘cult of Mary’ for Christ. up until the 19th century,
cults were not necessarily a religious group but simply devotion to a person,
idea, object or belief. Then paradoxes arose and it began being associated with any religious group other
than Christianity, forever changing the connotations of the word. Ernst
Troeltsch (1931) talked about a developing trend in German religiosity that avoided
established religious institutions and placed a focus on a form
of "radical religious individualism" of personal
experience. It is quite challenging to draw any conclusions applying to a newly formed cult. The majority of
recently formed religious movements have relatively small devoted memberships—often in just dozens rather than
thousands. These groups appeal to many demographics, have a wide range
of ideas and practices, and interact with society in different ways. Many are separating themselves from Christian
dogma, while others incorporate elements
of multiple world religions. Certain groups that could be classified as
"cults" may not identify as religious at all;
instead, they may have their roots in meditation, humanism and psychology. While some recruit
mostly through in-person
contacts, others largely
use the Internet. (Newcomb, 2014). These social institutions usually
have charismatic leaders
who persuade and sweet-talk
certain members of society into following their ideologies. The cycle of recruitment begins as each member starts adding their family and friends as well
as other relationships into the
community. They are then strategically separated from the outside world by creating great distinctions between
members and non-members. This makes the individual detach from society completely surrender
themself to the group and look at every non-member as an ideological threat.
Unfortunately,
the expanse of these groups is not limited to meditational practices and communal living. Many dangerous acts have
been previously performed by various cults which posed a threat to society thereafter. For example, the release
of toxic gas by Aum Shinrikyo on the
Tokyo underground in 1995 and the Manson Family murder sprees. The leaders of
such groups perform intense manipulative speeches regularly that tend to alter the usual thinking of the people. They start perceiving their
leader as a god-like figure and blindly listen and follow through on his demands. There is also the
aspect of the leader being their supporter or savior of the members who were rejected by society and found shelter under
the cult hence making them more
vulnerable to being victims of puppeteering. Not all cults have had histories
of violence but the ones that did,
have attributed to the negativity attached to the word itself. The
International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON/Hare Krishnas) and the Children
of God are peaceful and
religious “cults” of sorts with no previous histories of causing problems to
other members of society.
The one
noticeable commonality between dystopias and cults, which is central to this paper, is the loss of personal identity
that is experienced by the subjects under both systems. In dystopias when the government exercises
excessive control over its citizens it takes away from them their central point of being, their rights of thought and
speech on the cost of providing them food
shelter and safety from the false war pretence usually created to sustain the
reign of terror among them. They
usually have one central member at the root of the ruling body, one who is charismatic and manipulative enough
to talk the citizens into following through
with his/her ideologies. Whether
it is through restrictive language,
forceful supervision and security as well as a doctrine of rules every person has
to follow, the individual is blended into the society like a sheep in the herd. A similar principle is
followed by cults. A participant enters and they are introduced to the leader who everyone follows and it gives them
a sense of naturally following them
as well. And gradually they are subjected to various ways of living that they
are now expected to adapt, and they
do so under the influence of manipulation. A cult member is usually told how they stand separate from the
general world's viewpoint and encouraged to adopt this new lifestyle of betterment, promising them support and company, something they tend to lack.
This paper further dives into the peculiarities and instances where in the novel 1984,
the totalitarian regime measures are comparable to those
of a cult-like organization.
Objectives
This paper aims to discuss the
characteristics of a dystopia and a cult separately along with drawing simultaneous comparisons. It views
the events of the novel from the lens of a cult-like organisation and its functioning. Exploring
the concept of crisis through
the socio-political conditions
of the setting in the novel 1984 the paper analyses the protagonist’s struggles
in a crisis setting. The scholar also
evaluates the causes behind the identity crisis that is encountered by the protagonist and its similarities
with the same crisis experienced by a member of a cult.
Literature
review
The pivotal work “1984” by George Orwell has been read in-depth from an unabridged
version keeping the innate details in
mind. Background studies on the origins and development of each term through the means of concept-based
informative books on topics like dystopia and cult have been read. The scholar has engaged with previous research
papers that attempt to study similar objectives
as this paper. Assorted books, book chapters, articles and journals (online and
print) have been referred to under this study with cautiously paraphrased content as per the understanding of the scholar. Pre-existing
literature on the topics of cults, language, dystopias, totalitarian societies and systematic oppression have been read
through to come up with the ideas of research for this paper.
Research Methodology
The forthcoming body of text performs an
in-depth evaluation of the various events in George Orwell's exemplary work 1984. It talks about each event
concerning its totalitarian features and then
further relates it to those of a cult. Making comparisons will display to the
reader how close a cult could be to an authoritarian ruler. This paper follows the analytical and descriptive methods
of research. The study is qualitative. The process required
reading the novel as
well as exploration of the comments made by other critics on
similar and/or neighbouring concerns through
the medium of articles, journals and research papers. However, not all the
material used is taken from a previous mention,
often observations made by scholars
based on media concerning
similar ideas.
2. Discussion
Political conditions
The state of Oceania was living under the protection of the party. They preached
the principle and propaganda of Ingsoc which is the
abbreviation for English Socialism. Ironically, no actions performed by the party were in favour of
the term. There is segregation within the government itself- the Inner party and the Outer party. The Inner party
members are the ones who decide and frame
the party's propaganda. This consists of the party’s leader and face known as
Big Brother. As Winston describes
him, Big Brother is a rigid-looking man with an extremely stern face. His face is the central image and the largest
figure on the party’s posters that haunt the citizens on every corner of the street. They read the slogan of the party
"War is Peace. Freedom is Slavery. Ignorance
is Strength." This is done to create a feeling of terror in the people.
Its presence serves as a dark cloud
watching over everyone and their actions. According to Gottlieb, the
dictatorship depicted in
"1984" is characterized by the strategic use of terror—an intricate
and systematic application of
violence orchestrated by the Inner Party against its citizens, all in the
purported name of socialist ideals
(Gottlieb 79). There is also regular exposure to the propaganda that the people
have to undergo
as a way of reminding themselves about everything the party stands
for.
The
power of propaganda is evident at the beginning of the novel when the Inner
Party claims that Oceania is at war
with Eurasia. By keeping its citizens under the pretence of war, the Inner Party managed to convince them that
they were safe as long as they did not question the authorities. When Winston
reads Goldstein’s book, he learns that the age-old
war is just a pretence. One can
assume that the party did this to make its agenda sound more justifiable. The poor supply of food and basic amenities
sounds more sensible if the citizens consider that their nation is in the adversities of war. Hence, the citizens did not
complain and endured whatever crisis
was thrown at them. Weiss talks about how in a crisis, however, it is common
for people to surrender their
freedom willingly to a government or other authority offering them security and freedom from uncertainty, danger, fear,
hunger, etc.˝ Under this thought it can be noted that this act of surrender
allowed the government to have further
control over people through manipulation. Gottlieb elucidates the
mechanism through which totalitarian regimes uphold their authority by cultivating fear within their
populace. Following the post-war period in the 1950s, the world witnessed
a division among three totalitarian dictatorships, each equipped
with a formidable atom bomb, a
capability only affordable to superpowers. The establishment of an enduring and unalterable balance among
these three powers ostensibly laid the foundation for global peace. However,
despite this equilibrium, each dictator has maintained
a façade of perpetual war. This ongoing state of conflict serves as a
pretext for the continuous subjugation of their respective populations—keeping them
in a state of deprivation, overwork, and perpetual fear of the supposed diabolical adversary and traitor.
Consequently, the population remains in a state of readiness to venerate the dictator as their saviour.
In a
cult, there is a huge divide between the members based on when they were
involved and what kind of roles they
played in it. Sometimes it is also based on the duration that they have been a member.
Simultaneously there is also a face of the cult, the leader who gives the propaganda speeches and is the savior or
a messiah of sorts to the members. They preach and are extremely devoted to him/her. Many cults do not necessarily
have slogans but they all have a central
idea that they follow which is repeated by particular members/the leader in
order to imprint it on the very being
of the member. Just like in the society of Oceania a cult also has a slogan, a leader and a propaganda or
doctrine it preaches. The leaders soon gain such influence on the members that the word of their mouth becomes absolute
to followers. This can be used to a disadvantage easily. Often the members are
fed with ideas of the cruelty of the outside world which in comparison makes their life of distress sound nothing
like the fact itself. In turn, it allows
the few in authority to control and influence the others easily. The leaders
become the savers of the victims of society by shielding them
from it and even urging them to take revenge.
Everyone
in the state of Oceania is employed in the maintenance of it, either as the managerial staff, the security or the
bureaucrats. The working population is divided into four ministries, each serving a specific function in maintaining the
Party's control and enforcing its ideology.
They are the Ministry of Truth (Minitrue), Ministry of Peace (Minipax),
Ministry of Love (Miniluv) and
Ministry of Plenty (Miniplenty). The protagonist Winston Smith works at Minitrue’s records department. Herein his
job is to deal with the existing media in the form of news articles and erase the ones that deal with opposing the
party's ideology. This also involves various
clippings, notes and diaries from people who have dared to think about
questionable matters. The government
attempts to control citizens so that they cannot exist in any mindset other than the one that the party
preaches. The motives behind the party's actions of information manipulation are to preserve data of their
ideology even in newspapers of the past. Speeches given in public by any of the leaders are later edited in the
newspapers so there is always the picture-perfect
presentation of truth that aligns with the propaganda.
Isaiah
Berlin in his essay Two Concepts of Liberty (1958) made distinctions between positive
and negative liberty
and started many conversations
about the nature and worth of political freedom.
Negative freedom, as Berlin describes it, is freedom from
interference or coercion by others.
In this sense, an individual is considered free to the extent that there are no external obstacles or constraints on their
actions. It emphasizes the importance of limiting the power of the state to preserve individual autonomy. This absence
of external constraints, according to Berlin,
allows individuals to pursue their own goals and interests
without interference. Positive
freedom, on the other hand, is concerned with self-mastery and the idea that an individual is truly free
when they act in accordance with their "higher," more rational self. Berlin notes that positive freedom
involves self-realization and the pursuit of a person's true interests, even if it requires overcoming
personal desires or impulses. This concept implies an internal constraint, where individuals are governed by reason or
a higher moral purpose. Critics argue that positive freedom
when taken to the extreme,
can lead to paternalism or authoritarianism as individuals may be coerced
in the name of promoting
their "true" interests. He argues against the idea that positive freedom necessarily
leads to a more just or desirable society,
emphasizing the risks of concentrating power in the hands of those who claim to
know what is in the best interest of
individuals. These two dimensions of freedom are interconnected and often need to be balanced in practice.
For instance, in a democratic society, individuals may have the "freedom to" express their political
opinions, but they also require the "freedom from" government censorship or persecution for
holding those opinions. Similarly, economic freedom (the "freedom to" pursue economic opportunities) is
often linked to the absence of economic coercion
or exploitation (the "freedom from" economic oppression). (Fromm,
1941).
Fromm
argues that living under authoritarian rule can lead to a sense of
powerlessness, as individuals may feel their agency diminished and their decisions
dictated by external
authorities. This loss of autonomy, coupled with the fear of
consequences for deviating from prescribed norms, contributes to the psychological toll of living in an authoritarian society whether
dystopian or cults. This notion of the "fear of freedom"
can be seen in Winston's attempts to
navigate the complexities of living in a society that suppresses individuality.
The fear of punishment, torture, and erasure (being declared an "unperson") compels
individuals to conform outwardly, even if their inner
thoughts may rebel against the Party's ideology and the fear of being kicked out of the group that supports them scares
cult members. Cult members may experience
a profound psychological impact as they surrender their autonomy to the
leader's authority. The fear of consequences for disobedience
and the desire for belonging can lead individuals
to conform to the cult's ideology, mirroring Fromm's concept of the fear of
freedom. In cults, followers may
sacrifice their freedoms in exchange for a perceived sense of security, belonging, or spiritual enlightenment
promised by the leader. Conformity is often a key aspect, and deviation from the prescribed beliefs can result in social ostracism or other forms of punishment.
Linguistic aspects
In A
Dystopian Society in Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale, Jelena Živić
says “The use of language as a means
of oppression is common in most dystopian novels. The authors of such novels understand the importance of words,
whether they are written or spoken. A dystopian discourse is often limited and oppressive. It denies its speakers the ability to express their emotions and desires adequately. Without
this essential freedom of speech, the citizens of such societies are reshaped and redefined to fit the regime’s
ideology.” The government uses language to create
submissive citizens. In Newspeak, the language crafted
by the regime, certain words have
been omitted. And it is a forever-changing language where new rules and
words keep getting added every month
or so. Words like “Badthink” (unapproved or rebellious thoughts), “Doublethink” (the power of holding two
contradictory beliefs in one's mind simultaneously and accepting both of them), “Thought
crime” (thinking or speaking anything that goes against the Party's ideology) and “Unperson” (A person
who the Party has vaporized, erased from existence) are some examples of limited vocabulary tactics. By speaking in
a certain manner, the citizens become uniform.
They lose their individuality, but more importantly, they lose the ability to form rebellious thoughts which could provoke
them to fight against the regime.
The Inner Party created
a new language which is meant to reinforce the regime‟s dominance. Newspeak is based on a simple
principle: limiting and simplifying the vocabulary and grammar, and banishing all the words which could lead to
heretical thinking. Newspeak vocabulary was so constructed as to give exact and often very subtle expression to every meaning that a Party member could
properly wish to express, while excluding all other meanings and also the possibility of arriving at them by indirect methods
(Orwell 377). Although
Newspeak itself is based on the English language, contemporary speakers would hardly be able to
understand it. It is divided into three distinct classes: the A vocabulary, the
B vocabulary, and the C vocabulary.
Each category refers to a different aspect: the individual's personal life,
various compounds with subtilized
meanings, or vocabulary consisting of scientific and technical words. The Inner Party manages to control its
citizens by reducing their basic freedom – the freedom of speech. The regime presumes that if the
individual's vocabulary is limited, their thoughts would be limited as well. “Cults use language to condition and coerce
people, using techniques such as special
buzzwords, misleading euphemisms, and thought-terminating cliches to manipulate
and expand their influence.”(Montell, 2021). They utilize
strategic vocabulary to differentiate between
‘us’ (members) and ‘those’
non-members. This creates
a disparity in people's co-existence in society as well as
separates them from the communal harmonious mind space making them singular and unsupported, easy to mold. Cults may
instil irrational fears in their members,
often through language, to create a phobia of leaving the group or questioning
its beliefs. This fear can be used to
maintain control and discourage critical thinking.
Personal sufferings
In 1984, Orwell described that citizens of
Oceania are not allowed to keep private possessions, such as photographs, documents or diaries. The main protagonist,
Winston Smith, rebels against the
totalitarian party by writing a personal diary. This small act of defiance helps him to regain control
over his thoughts
and see through the government’s imposed lies. Additionally,
the citizens of Oceania are allowed
to read only government-issued pamphlets, or news which have been censored to fit the official politics
of the Party. Most characters did not remember anything about their lives before living in Oceania and its war state.
This also makes Winston suspicious. Citizens
aren't encouraged to get together socially in hopes that they might conspire
against the government and put two and two thoughts together.
The Party interferes in personal
relationships, promoting loyalty
to the Party over familial
or romantic bonds. Children
are encouraged to report their
parents for thought crime, and love and loyalty are redirected toward Big Brother and the Party. Through intense
indoctrination and re-education programs, individuals
are pressured to abandon their personal beliefs and adopt the Party's ideology.
This process involves breaking down
the individual's sense of self and reconstructing it in alignment with Party principles. Members of a cult
are also often re-educated with principles and doctrines of the cult and repeatedly emphasized like affirmations to make
sure they are imprinted in the minds
of each. Children born in cults are completely devoid of worldly education and
this can cause severe harm to their
psychosocial well-being.
Similar
repression of sexual desire is present in the nightmarish society in which sex
is perceived as a means of
procreation. The Inner Party encourages its young members to join the Junior Anti-Sex League, which propagates
chastity. The regime's teachings about sex are meant to create a frustrated society whose only outlet is hatred. The
main protagonist, Winston Smith, admits
that he hated his colleague because she was young and pretty and sexless. After
all, he wanted to go to bed with her and would never do so (Orwell 20). His
frustration is then channelled into
hatred towards the regime’s current enemy. Eventually, Smith becomes involved in a forbidden sexual relationship with
his young colleague Julia. She understands the regime’s sexual puritanism – it is the Party's way of controlling its
citizens. When you make love you’re using
up energy, and afterwards, you feel happy and don't give a damn for anything.
They can't bear you to feel like that. They
want you to be bursting with energy all the time. All this marching up and down and cheering and
waving flags is simply sex gone sour. If you're happy inside yourself, why should you get excited about Big Brother
and the Three-Year Plans and the Two
Minutes Hate and all the rest of their bloody rot? (Orwell 167) Winston recalls
his married life with his wife
Katherine. She was completely under the influence of the regime's propaganda and viewed sex as her duty to the Party.
Winston thought about sex with her as the frigid little ceremony˝ (Orwell 166). Katherine's only intention was to conceive. She has been entirely brainwashed into believing that the only
purpose of sex is reproduction. They both see their relationship as a rebellion against the regime. However, in the
end, the Inner Party manages to erase
Smith's love and lust for Julia. The Inner Party's victory over Smith's basic
physical needs and desires proves the
regime's strength. Sex is used as a device in many cults and it is used to preach the beliefs of the group as well.
Just like in Oceania, many other cults rely on sexual processes as a form of procreation only. They may also look at
it from a perspective of being a way
of adding more members to the ‘family’ which in turn results in robbing the
people of pleasure within themselves
and the right to exercise their primal need for sex. On the other hand, in some cults, sex is viewed as an over
joyous act and it is performed in a celebratory manner in accordance with enjoying the ‘simple
pleasures of life’s principle. Either way, sex plays an equally important role in a dystopian society or a cult as food
and shelter do and refraining from all these causes grave effects on
individuals.
Surveillance and Monitoring
The government does not only have control
over the physical being of the individuals but also their mental processes are completely governed by the party.
This is done through the mandatory usage
of newspeak, a language that is tailor-made by the party to avoid the emergence
of any independent thoughts
in the minds of the citizens and hence lead them into rebellion. The pervasive
surveillance, facilitated by ubiquitous telescreens in every residence, subjects individuals
to constant scrutiny. Consequently, the inhabitants of Oceania exist in a
perpetual state of apprehension, fearing
the consequences of being discovered engaging in activities disapproved of by the Party. Moreover, these telescreens serve
as a tool for disseminating the official
beliefs of the Inner Party. Citizens are unable to turn off or escape the
influence of telescreens, as they are
present in homes, public spaces, and workplaces. The constant exposure to Party messages
and the potential for surveillance create an atmosphere
of psychological control. The Thought
Police are a law enforcement agency in "1984" that monitors and
punishes citizens for any form of
thoughtcrime, which is, unapproved thoughts against the Party. The fear of being caught by the Thought Police
leads to self-censorship and conformity. The Thought Police represent the enforcement arm of the Party's control over
thoughts and beliefs. Their mission
is to identify and eliminate any form of dissent or unorthodox thinking.
Citizens live in fear of being reported
by friends or family members
for expressing rebellious thoughts. The threat
of Thought Police intervention creates
a pervasive atmosphere of self-censorship, as individuals are afraid to even think critically about the Party or its doctrines. The use of microphones
and cameras in private spaces, such as bedrooms and bathrooms, underscores the extreme
invasion of privacy
in the society depicted in
"1984." The constant surveillance in
intimate spaces not only strips individuals of personal privacy
but also emphasizes the impossibility of any form of rebellion
or dissent without
detection. In combination, these elements create
a dystopian reality
where citizens are under constant
scrutiny, both physically and mentally. The Party's control
mechanisms extend beyond the traditional bounds of governance, permeating every aspect of
individuals' lives. The result is a society characterized by fear, conformity, and a pervasive sense
of helplessness among its citizens. Completely violating their sense of privacy the government expects the citizens to
oblige to their irrational rules and regulations
leading them into a state of duress that leaves them vulnerable and prone to
being under the absolute control of
the government.
This
condition can be linked to Michel Foucault's panopticon theory in his
influential work "Discipline and Punish: The Birth of the Prison." The Panopticon is a concept
and architectural design
conceived by the English philosopher and social theorist Jeremy Bentham in the late 18th century. The idea of the
Panopticon was later explored in depth by Foucault. The Panopticon is a type of institutional building designed to allow
a single watchman to observe all inmates
without the inmates being able to tell whether they are being watched. The
architectural layout typically
consists of a central observation tower surrounded by a circular building of prison cells. The cells have windows
facing the central tower, but inmates cannot see into each other's
cells. This design creates a perpetual state of uncertainty and visibility, fostering
self-discipline among the prisoners. According
to Foucault, the Panopticon represents
a shift in societal mechanisms of power from sovereign power (exercised
through force and punishment) to
disciplinary power (exercised through surveillance, normalization, and
self-regulation). The Panopticon has
been widely discussed in the context of surveillance and control in
contemporary society. The idea that
individuals may modify their behaviour when they believe they are being watched
has implications for various fields,
including government surveillance, workplace dynamics, and the
impact of technology on privacy. This theory applies to the condition of citizens
in Oceania. The terror was so
deep set in their brains that they existed in the fear of being caught, imprisoned, tortured and
then possibly either executed or brainwashed into being a rat in the chase again. This positioned
them in a circumstance of keeping each other in check constantly. The Panopticon operates on the principle of constant visibility. Inmates are aware that they could be under observation at any
given time, creating a sense of uncertainty and promoting self-discipline. It relies on the internalization of discipline. Inmates regulate
their behaviour out of the fear of being observed and the
uncertainty of when observation might occur. Similar behaviours are exhibited by members of a dystopia and members of
a cult. When under such authority
people experience a loss of personal autonomy and privacy causing deep rooted
impact on their psyche. Big Brother
symbolizes the ultimate authority, much like the central observer in the Panopticon Tower.
The omnipresent eyes of Big Brother create
an environment where individuals
feel watched at all times, similar to the Panopticon's design.
3. Conclusion
To conclude this research a brief of all
points covered will be presented. The absolute nature of the political party that governed Oceania vested terror among
its citizens to make sure that they obliged
to the ideologies of the government. Various forms of restrictions and security
checks were employed on them to make
sure once under the Party’s ideology, the people remained the same. The worship
of Big Brother, where he is
not just a political leader; he is an almost
mythical figure. Citizens
are required to express their love and loyalty to him through slogans like "Big Brother
is Watching You." This kind of unquestioning devotion
is a hallmark of cults of personality where the leader's image
becomes synonymous with the state or organization. This practice is heavily followed in cult organizations where one
leader becomes the face of the cult and the preacher
or the saviour who operates it and takes all the big decisions. Their mere mention enthralls terror among their
subjects, displaying the power that they hold. The Party controls the media and the historical record, altering facts and
erasing events that don't conform to its ideology. This manipulation of truth is similar to how cult leaders often control the information that members have access to, creating a distorted
reality that serves their interests. This
concept mirrors the cognitive dissonance that can occur in cults when members
are required to accept conflicting
beliefs or rationalize the leader's actions. Citizens are not only punished for actions but even for having rebellious
thoughts. This extreme level of control over an individual's inner life is akin to the thought
control tactics used by cults to stifle independent thinking. The Party's
manipulation of historical records and erasure of inconvenient truths is reminiscent of how cults may revise
their history or suppress information that might challenge the legitimacy of
the leader or the group's ideology. The Two Minutes Hate and other emotional
displays are tools the Party uses to
manipulate the emotions of citizens, fostering hatred and fear of the Party's enemies. Cults often use emotional
manipulation to create a strong bond among members and to elicit extreme emotional reactions in
rituals or ceremonies. The Two
Minutes Hate and other rituals in the
novel serve to reinforce citizens' loyalty to the Party through collective
displays of devotion. Similarly,
cults often have rituals, ceremonies, or group activities that reinforce the group's ideology and commitment to the
leader. Newspeak is designed to limit the range of thought and eliminate words that could be used to express
dissent. Cults may introduce their specialised language
or terminology to control the way members
think and communicate, making it difficult
for them to express dissenting views. Both the Party and cults demand unquestioning obedience to authority figures. In cults, leaders
are often seen as infallible, and questioning
their decisions or actions is discouraged or punished.
Analyzing these parallels between
the totalitarian regime in "1984" and cults of personality
underscores how both entities seek to control the thoughts, emotions, and
behaviours of individuals to maintain
power and loyalty.
It serves as a warning
about the dangers of unchecked authority, manipulation of information, and the
erosion of individual autonomy and freedom.
While the term "identity crisis" is not explicitly used, the novel
delves into how the Party systematically strips individuals of their identities, replacing them with a collective, conformist identity centred
around loyalty to Big Brother.
The citizens of Oceania are effectively
stripped of their individuality and personal identities. They are reduced to
mere cogs in the Party's machinery, where
their names and individual lives are inconsequential. Winston Smith, the protagonist, represents the
struggle against this loss of identity as he seeks to maintain his sense of self amid the Party's
oppression. This pattern is avidly followed inside a cult as well where the individual might be a subject to
alienation and loss of self just like one in a dystopian totalitarian society. The Party not only controls the present
but also manipulates the past, erasing individuals'
personal histories. Winston's job at the Ministry of Truth involves altering
historical records to fit the Party's
narrative, further disconnecting citizens from their personal histories and experiences. This erasure of personal
history contributes to an identity crisis as people lose their connection to their pasts. Cutting the
member's ties with society on the condition that either their family enters the cult or they cut them
off is a common rule one needs to abide by when entering a cult sometimes. This makes them a standalone in society
further alienating them from it and causing
them to be prey to the animal of ideology against the others who lay outside
the cult premises. The Party promotes
a collective identity centred around loyalty to Big Brother. The concept of the "Party self"
takes precedence over individual selves. Citizens are expected to internalize this collective identity
and suppress their desires, beliefs,
and emotions. Any deviation from this collective identity is considered thoughtcrime and is
severely punished. Simultaneously, uniformity
of behaviour and collective consciousness are the key ingredients of a fully functioning cult. Blending oneself into the whole of a group makes
them lose their personality and
autonomy as well as their personal beliefs and practices. This may be called a psychological or existential crisis
as a whole when an individual is not aware
of their own in
society when put outside the bounds of a manipulative sub-group. An individual
under such an organization does not have an agency
of their own and disappears into a metaphorical room filled with people of the same name. The
Party's manipulation of language through Newspeak and the concept
of doublethink play a significant role in eroding
individual identity. Doublethink requires citizens to simultaneously hold contradictory beliefs,
which creates inner conflict and confusion.
This inner turmoil contributes to an identity crisis, as individuals are forced
to accept and internalize beliefs
that they know to be false. Citizens in Oceania are taught to suppress their emotions, particularly negative ones like
dissent, fear, or doubt. Emotional suppression leads to a suppression of one's true self. It
contributes to an identity crisis as individuals are forced to conform to the emotionally controlled
facade demanded by the Party. The Party discourages genuine human connections and relationships. Winston's
relationship with Julia serves as a rebellion
against this, but even it is ultimately corrupted and used against them. The
lack of authentic relationships
further contributes to a sense of isolation and identity crisis.
As Winston
begins to question
the Party's ideology
and seeks to find his truth, he experiences
an existential crisis. This crisis revolves around fundamental questions of
identity, purpose, and the nature of
truth. His journey represents a struggle to reclaim his identity in a world that seeks to erase it. This
suppression of individuality, coupled with the manipulation of language, history, and emotions, creates a
profound identity crisis for the citizens of Oceania. Winston's journey to resist this loss of self and seek his truth
serves as a central theme in the novel,
highlighting the importance of individual identity and autonomy in the face of
oppressive regimes.
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