by Paul Rance

Created on: November 20, 2011   Last Updated: November 24, 2011

Control in '1984' was what made the State function. There were no real Party policies, only methods of control. 

Big Brother 

The thought of Big Brother watching is used as a relentless tool in subduing the population. Wherever a person is, or whatever they are doing, there is the constant fear that Big Brother will indeed be watching them. Thus, only the foolhardy or the brave will do anything to risk causing displeasure to the State.

Fear is a way that dictatorships have always used to control people. Dictatorships are unpopular, so the only way they can contain any uprising is by making people too fearful to resist.

Primitive Fears 

In '1984', the State preyed on primitive fears of good and evil. Big Brother was good, so a hate figure had to be introduced to balance things. Consequently, Emmanuel Goldstein was the bogeyman the population were encouraged to hate. This hatred also diverted people from thinking about their own circumstances. If Goldstein was in power, then however bad things seemed they would get even worse. Big Brother, of course, is portrayed as a protective figure. Yes, it would be unwise to upset him, but he will protect you if you support him.

Lack of Trust 

Characters like O'Brien were another method of controlling the people. Under Big Brother it was hard for people to know who to trust, as everyone seemed to believe in the Party. For those who didn't, there were two choices. A choice of keeping their opinions to themselves, or of taking their lives in their own hands - by revealing their views to someone they thought held similar opinions. The State wasn't stupid, though, and knew that not everyone believed in Big Brother. In this instance, the State would use a figure like O'Brien to test people's resistance.

The Fear of Revolution 

There is also nearly always a basic human fear that however bad something seems to be, what happens if what replaces it is even worse? Revolutions have taught us that at the beginning the aspirations may be noble, but that vengeance is also a human trait that is hard to quell. Revolutions in France and Russia were followed by years of deadly reprisals and infighting. 

Without control then Big Brother is nothing. It is all he has. There is no real policy as the slogans suggest: War is peace, freedom is slavery, and ignorance is strength. The State really thrives, in '1984', on people blindly following anything they say. When it is allowed to rule unchallenged, then it can really get away with saying anything - however ridiculous. 

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