Orwell’s ‘1984’- Abrief reflection excerpts from a transcript of a talk delivered by Zulfiqar Awan
Orwell wrote ‘1984’ in the mid twentieth century. The timing of the publication of the book is very important as it marks the point at which our current society (a market democracy) experienced a drastic change. With the emphasis on manufacturing goods en mass and significant technological advancements, traditional ideas of citizenship was replaced by excess consumerism. In other words, loyalty to the city was replaced by loyalty to things, material things.
Citizen becomes consumer.
Consumer finds meaning and pleasure in ‘things’.
Material ‘things’ give meaning to ‘thing’ (man).
‘Thing’ enters a state of numb-calm hyper-normalisation.
The absolute hidden tyranny of the techno state continues.
We will look at six themes in this class:
• Absolute power
• The facade or illusion
• Surveillance
• The psyche
• Role-play
• Language
We will use Orwell’s text as a reflection of the Roman past and projection of his (Orwell’s) future — our present.
As human nature remains constant throughout time, history rhymes. History does not repeat itself.
A basic knowledge of Roman history (both Republic & Empire) is crucial for us to understand our current situation. Our political systems, political discourse, political modes and orders, institutions, laws derive from the Roman model. Even, the revolutions of the present have their basic patterns played out in Roman history. Roman history will be our mirror. What we will see is how similar the pattern of tyranny found in ‘1984’ resembles that of Roman imperial history. We look back, to move forward!
Our guide to explore Roman Imperial history (From Emperor Augustus to Nero) will be Tacitus. He was a senator, aristocrat, and governor who wrote on Roman history. His ‘Annals & Histories’ are essential reading, especially for leaders. This period in Roman history mirrors our own — and ‘1984’s.
Absolute Power
Quotes:
Imperial Rome
“He (Emperor Augustus) drew to himself the responsibilities of senate, magistrates, and laws — without a single adversary.” (Tacitus)
1984
“The Party seeks power entirely for its own sake. We are not interested in the good of others; we are interested solely in power — pure power.” (1984)
2020
“The central point that emerges from our research is that economic elites and organized groups representing business interests have substantial independent impacts on US government policy, while mass-based interest groups and average citizens have little or no independent influence.” (Testing Theories of American Politics: Elites, Interest Groups, and Average Citizens, Princeton University, 2014)
Absolute power is consolidated in the hands of a few in Imperial Rome, 1984 and today. Absolute power held by the few is hidden behind the illusion of liberal democracy. In Roman terms, the Republic.
The Facade or Illusion
To hide the absolute military dictatorship of Imperial Rome, the Emperors created a fiction or illusion of a Republic. This fiction was sustained through the re-writing of history, myth, creating new symbols and images and the on-going use of the Republican discourse of freedom.
Imperial Rome
“The Emperors allowed the Senate ‘pretences of freedom’ and ‘a shadow of its ancient power”. (Tacitus)
1984
“Freedom is slavery” (Orwell)
2020
“If you believe the official reality of today, then you are insane.” (Ian Dallas)
Surveillance
Imperial Rome
“…robbed as we are by informers even the right to exchange ideas in conversation” (Tacitus)
1984
“Always eyes watching you and the voice enveloping you. Asleep or awake, indoors or out of doors, in the bath or bed- no escape. Nothing was your own except the few cubic centimeters in your skull.”
2020
“Study after study has show that human behavior changes when we know we’re being watched. Under observation, we act less free, which means we effectively *are* less free.” (Edward Snowden)
The Psyche
Imperial Rome
“A shocking crime was committed on the unscrupulous initiative of few individuals, with the blessing of more, and amid the passive acquiescence of all.” (Tacitus)
1984
“Until they become conscious they will never rebel, and until after they have rebelled they cannot become conscious.” (Orwell)
2020
“The Last Man has no great aspiration. He merely seeks to earn a living, to be comfortable, and to be content. “We see nothing today which wants to be greater. We suspect that things are constantly still going down, down into something more comfortable, more mediocre, more apathetic. One no longer becomes poor or rich; both are too burdensome. Who still wants to rule? Who still wants to obey? Both are too burdensome. No shepherd and one herd! Every one wants the same; everyone is equal.” (Nietzsche on the Last Man)
Role Play
Imperial Rome
“Have I played the part well? Then applaud as I exit“. (Emperor Augustus on his death bed, Suetonius)
1984
“And even when they become discontented, as they sometimes did, their discontent led nowhere, because, being without general ideas, they could only focus it on petty specific grievances. The larger evils invariably escaped their notice.” (Orwell)
2020
“Pirandello dramatised the madman as the one who knew the scenario was false yet acted within the pretence that it was true.” (Pirandello, Plays)
Language
Imperial Rome
“To plunder, to slaughter, to steal, these things they misname empire; and where they make a wilderness, they call it peace” (Tacitus)
1984
“‘Don’t you see that the whole aim of Newspeak is to narrow the range of thought? In the end we shall make thoughtcrime literally impossible, because there will be no words in which to express it.’” (Orwell)
2020
“Political chaos is connected with the decay of language” (Death of Truth, Kakutani)
Zulfiqar Awan
