Civil Disobedience. George Orwells 1984 - Essay Example

The capacity to think is what differentiates us from all other creatures that roam this earth. Our knowledge of the human beings is also what tells us that there are things beyond our grasp that make up for who we are and how we act in relation to our surroundings. Yes, I believe in the human spirit. I believe that there is a force much more than our tangible being that presupposes our need for the attainment of a life without constrictions or what most appropriately is, upright. This is a need that is the most fundamental aspect of our evolution simply because it is human nature.

George Orwell’s 1984 is a terrifyingly realistic portrayal of a country manipulated by one party in such a way that they have reined supremacy over the people in a manner so cunning and much more egocentric than that of a monarchy.Winston Smith, the low-ranking official in the dominating party, is a representation of the human spirit. Overcome by the power and influence of Big Brother and the domination of ‘The Party’ he is the tamed voice of the internal screams of the people upon the knowledge of what is actually going on in Oceania.

His outlook is one of optimism in the bleakest time. It is a yearning for an inkling of redemption even though it is almost something unthinkable given the circumstances of the time and the rampant greed and selfishness. The final conversation between O’Brien and Winston is a sad epiphany of a wishful thinking yet an admiring commentary on the perseverance of the human spirit despite overwhelming difficulties. O’Brien sarcastically comments on his unlikely optimism as being the last man of its kind.

“Your kind is extinct;we are the inheritors. Do you understand that you are alone? You are outside history, you are non-existent…And you consider yourself morally superior to us, with our lies and our cruelty?” and to which Winston confidently replies, “Yes, I consider myself superior” (Orwell, p. 156). This conversation also discusses the principal notion of self over belief in any God. This is also what Emerson reiterates in his essay of self-reliance. “To believe your own thought, to believe that what is true for you in your private heart is true for all men, — that is genius” (p. 13). What compels us to do everything that we do is first based on how we feel and how we react to the outside stimulus.

With or without religion there must be that something that guides us in what we do and that our relationship with other people persuasive unto what we are capable of doing and what we refrain from. As Marx famously said, religion is the opium of the people. If a person follows everything religion prescribes without having to think for himself then he is nothing less than the people of Oceania who dismiss all the capricious and whimsical acts of their own government who were supposed to be their representative and protect them from all possible harms.

“Men are infinitely malleable. Or perhaps you have returned to your old idea that the proletarians or the slaves will arise and overthrow us. Put it out of your mind. They are helpless, like the animals. Humanity is the Party. The others are outside — irrelevant” (Orwell, p. 156). This ideology is the basic premise that allowed ‘The Party’ to maintain their control over the people. This is the very idea that Winston stands against. It is a social commentary on how there are powerful people that makes manipulation possible.

It is a government grounded on fear, cruelty and hatred. There is absolute lack of equality among the people. The very essence of Communism premise that the proletariats have to overcome and defeat in opposition to the bourgeoisie. “