Bitmap Image
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
|   Home      
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
HOW POWER IS USED IN:
Nineteen Eighty-Four

Nineteen Eighty-Four is a good example of all the different types of power. The Big Brother dictatorship has Political power as it is a form of government that controls the whole of Oceania. However, the party also holds organizational and institutional power over the population because the people who are being controlled do not realize that there is anyother way of life and cannot escape from their situation. The fact that the population cannot think for themselves is a right that has been taken away from the people of Oceania through the abuse of Big Brothers power.

Winston Smith from Nineteen Eighty-Four has personal and emotional power. He can think for himself and is educated enough to know that two plus two equals four. He also has feelings for a woman who is not his wife, which is very rare and dangerous for the people under the close eye of Big Brother, and he puts his full trust in Julia that she will not inform the thought police of their affair. Winston, however, does not abuse his power as he keeps respect in Julia and does not dominate or destroy the relationship.