The Theme of Technology in George Orwell’s 1984

The Theme of Technology in George Orwell’s 1984 Written in 1949, George Orwell’s 1984 is a story that highlights the dangers of a totalitarian government, its manipulation of the media, and the use of advanced technology to control its people. It is a warning to the people of Oceania, a society controlled by a mysterious and powerful government called the Big Brother. The author reveals that this government uses listening devices and cameras to keep an eye on its citizens. The government also enlists the services of secret police, tasked with reporting the general behavior and rebellious thoughts to the appropriate authorities. This story highlights the dangers of technology, especially if abused by institutions of power to control its people.

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Plot Based on the story, Winston is a low-ranking employee at the Department of Truth. His job is dreary and involves changing records to promote a distorted version of history advocated for by the government. However, Winston knows that the government is feeding its people lies but despite his willingness to rebel, he is afraid that the Thought Police might discover his plans. He eventually meets other rebels, O’Brien and Julia. However, the former is later revealed to be an undercover Thought Police. Although Winston resists all forms of torture, he eventually betrays Julia because of his fear of rats. The government succeeds in destroying the spirit of Winston, who is released and rejoins the society. With the feelings of Julia gone, he once again pledges his loyalty to the government.

Analysis Orwell’s critique of technological advancements is seen in the manipulation of the citizens by the totalitarian government. Instead of giving the citizens a platform for development, the government uses technological innovations to control its people. To show the level at which the government misuses its power, Orwell gives the examples of the party slogan of the Big Brother, which states “war is peace, freedom is slavery and ignorance is strength” (Orwell 4). These sentiments spread inaccurate information through technology to brainwash citizens, preventing most people from gaining a clear understanding of what freedom entails or rather, preventing them from understanding the actual meaning of slavery and freedom. The novel shows a critique against unjustifiable technological advancements that supply some people greater power than others by supporting manipulation.

The author goes further to show how technology can be used to control people physically and to manipulate them psychologically. The government controls its citizens with psychological stimuli designed to overpower the mind’s capability for autonomous thought. The giant telescreens installed in the citizens’ rooms blast a torrent of propaganda designed to make the challenges and failures of the government to appear like triumphant successes. The screens also monitor the behavior of the citizens at all times and they repeatedly remind the citizen of the ubiquitous government. The party also uses technology to channel intense emotion and frustration, through ferocious displays of hatred towards the government’s political enemies. The story also shows that the purported enemies are nothing more than an invention of the government meant to instill fear in the people to ensure they do not rebel against its wayward values. Strangely, the same concepts are seen in modern society. Technological innovations such as televisions and computers can be used to spread propaganda and influence the minds of the people (Younes and Al - Zoubi 83). Considering the number of people using these innovations today, it is for propaganda to spread and influence a large percentage of modern society.

In addition to influencing their psychology, the government also uses technology to control the physical aspect of the citizens. The government watches for signs of treachery to a point that even a small facial twitch could be misinterpreted as treachery and lead to imprisonment (Orwell 78). To some extent, the people’s nervous system is their greatest enemy.

The government also forces its citizens to attend morning exercise, work for long hours in cruel government agencies, and keep the employees are exhausted and too demoralized to fight for their rights. According to Orwell, the party holds so much power that “in the end, the party would announce that two and two made five, and you would have to believe it. It was inevitable that they should make that claim sooner or later: the logic of their position demanded it. Not

merely the validity of experience, but the very existence of external reality was tacitly denied by their philosophy” (Orwell 80). Orwell’s arguments show the level at which the government uses technology to weaken the will of its subjects and dominate their very existence.

Conclusion While technology can positively influence the modern society, it can also be used by powerful institutions to change and control the perceptions of the people. In this story, the author shows how a powerful government uses technology to influence the minds of the people and dictate the values, norms, and traditions that should be observed. Orwell shows the power of technology and how it can be used to dominate the lives of the weak, denying them the freedom and justice they deserve. Modern day scholars also argue that modern day technology can be used to spread malice and control the thoughts and lives of the people.

Works Cited ORWELL, GEORGE. Nineteen Eighty-Four. Secker & Warburg, 1949.

Younes, Mohammed, and Samer Al - Zoubi. "The Impact of Technologies on Society: A Review." Journal Of Humanities And Social Science, vol. 20, no. 2, 2013, p. 83.