Psychological Reality in George Orwell Novel
Outline
Definition of reality
Definition of insanity
Party’s plan for behavioral control
References
Definition of reality
Reality is often defined as the state in which things exist in nature rather than how they are thought to exist or how they appear in our lives. In reality, government is supposed to protect its subjects from any sort of harm be it psychological or physical. In the case of the Oceania government, the party which is a government organ seeks to manipulate the emotional component of the citizens such that they are made to think that everything is okay while in reality nothing is okay (Greenberg, Koole, and Pyszczynski, 2004).
The reality in the novel which depicts the current status of the Oceania people is seen in the way through which the government is presenting a positive picture of its activities rather than portray the tribulations present. Reality is a foreign term in Oceania and its people hence they fail to identify with the prevailing situation in other countries which are normal hence real. Afterwards war is experienced in the country especially after the opponents are forced to shift to the party hence the freedom to choose a desirable political party is denied. This does not happen in reality as naturally people have the free will to join a party of their own interest (Shapiro, 1991).
The reality concerning the standards of living dictate that everyone has a right to better living conditions, as well as, easy access to food and other basic needs. However, the Oceanic society is depicted as one which has a wide class and needs gap between those who the basics of life and those who lack everyday needs. According to the definition of reality, most countries have this form of gap between the rich and the poor which is not the reality of resource distribution (Greenberg, 2004).
The definition of insanity
Insanity is a wide spectrum of behavior that depicts abnormal behavior leading to the individual indulging into violent behavior that may endanger his life or that of those in the vicinity. According to this definition Winston does not qualify to be called insane as although his behavioral patterns are abnormal, they are brought about by encounters with external stimuli. Therefore, if he had not been exposed to the stimuli by the prevailing circumstances, most probably the abnormal behavior may not have been portrayed.
On the other hand his behavior can be categorized as insane as he was engaging in activities that were detrimental to his health such as the effects of the electric shock (Shapiro, 1991). However, the factors that contributed to the exposure to torture by the Thought Police are not sane as he had enough sane reasons to hate the party and its policies. Among the items that had led to intense hatred of the Party was abolishment of the family institution by suppressing the emotional and physical needs of human beings. This was an inhuman move especially when the party forced it on its members rather than making it voluntary. Hence even if Winston was insane, the policies of the party were the key causes of the insanity.
The party’s plans for behavioral control
The psychological basis of behaviors defines an individual’s personality as being traits that are influenced by the external environment and factors that are part of our lives. People are born with their unique differences in behavior but upon encountering the appropriate stimuli the behavior changes to adapt to the new environment. In the novel 1984 by George Orwell, the partisan government has embarked on a series of events that are aimed at manipulating the psychological component of the citizens in order to gain popularity. The Oceania government has infringed emotional pain on the subjects by reducing their dignity as human beings, as well as, restricting their freedom and they cannot move about their country (West, 1992).
Citizens who refused to support the party’s goals and mission were subjected to torturous episodes like the one that Winston was exposed to when he was captured. Later on after the opposing citizens have been brainwashed and made to forcefully adhere to the guidelines of the party they are released. The party had realized that men were essentially weak and vulnerable to advances by women such that by placing Julia on Winston’s way, hence the Thought Police are optimistic that Winston will fall into the trap and spying on him will be easier. The vulnerability that was exhibited by Winston at the time when he was having the affair with Julia is quite different from the time when he used to loathe her (Orwell, 1949).
The other aspect of psychological control of behavior is exhibited by the government’s announcement that the standards of living for the people of Oceania have been raised. This announcement is aimed at increasing the citizen’s faith in the party and government while in reality the freedom to access adequate food and other services has been interfered with. Politicians are knowledgeable that people are more comfortable supporting a government that satisfies their needs hence this move has equal effects on the Oceania people as they forget their tribulations and support the party (Howe, 1983).
Consequently, the party works towards repressing the sexual desires of party members as a way of increasing loyalty to the party. This is formulated on the basis that increased sexual attachment of the members will make tem spend their energy in behaviors that are not beneficial to the party’s goals. Therefore, there was need to harness the energy for the common good of society but the full intent of the behavioral control was not communicated to the party members. According to Orwell’s view, the psychology foreplay was meant to reduce incidences where party members could be easily won over by opponents due to sexual attachments (Orwell, 1949).
The other psychological game played by the party members is use of an orator who transfers nationalism from one power enemy to the other. This is done in a choreographed way which is exhibited by shifting blames from one social evil to a lesser of the evils although all of them bear the same magnitude. Initially the natives of Oceania posses a deep hatred for Communism in their country but after the orator speaks of the evils that encompass the color feeling and class feeling, the hatred shifts from one facet to the other much to the chagrin of party members. Hence the citizens are made to believe that differences in class and color of the skin are serious crimes as compared to communism (West, 1992).
References
Greenberg, J., Koole, S. L., and Pyszczynski, T. Handbook of experimental existential psychology. New York: Guilford. pg. 355. (2004)
Howe, Irving. 1984 Revisited: Totalitarianism In Our Century. New York: Harper Row (1983)
Orwell, George. Nineteen Eighty-Four. A novel. New York: Harcourt, Brace & Co (1949)
Shapiro, David L. Forensic Psychological Assessment: An Integrative Approach. Needham Heights, MA: Simon & Schuster. pp. 70–72 (1991)
West, W. J. The Larger Evils – Nineteen Eighty-Four, the truth behind the satire. Edinburgh: Canongate Press. 1992.
Is this your assignment or some part of it?
We can do it for you! Click to Order!
