Looking Back on the Spanish Civil War â George Orwell
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A totalitarian governmentâs use of propaganda to psychologically manipulate its citizens is an idea that concerned Orwell greatly. He predicted that psychological manipulation would create problems in society by taking away individual expression and enforcing thoughts amongst the people. It is clear to see his negative attitude towards this subject through the comparisons of governmental propaganda use between âLooking Back on the Spanish Civil Warâ and in the novel 1984. The fundamental ideas of political strategy during the Spanish Civil War are magnified through use of propaganda by Oceaniaâs government in 1984. In âLooking Back on the Spanish Civil Warâ, George Orwell explains the objective of the Nazi Theory, which is to create a controlled society. He reveals:
Nazi theory indeed specifically denies that such thing as âthe truthâ exists. There is, for instance, no such thing as âScienceâ. There is only âGerman Scienceâ, âJewish Scienceâ, etc. The implied objective of this line of thought is a nightmare world⊠If (the Leader) says that two and two are five â well, two and two are five. (Orwell, LB)
There is a distinct connection between the intentions of the leaders during the time of the Spanish Civil War and the leaders of Oceania in 1984. There is the idea of a totalitarian group having enough power to persuade individuals into believing what it states is true, despite personal opinion and/or previous thoughts. Orwellâs concern of external control over individual thought by totalitarian governments is evident through his vision of a ânightmare worldâ, a world of which he would not be content with, where all people would simply agree with their leader if he or she said âtwo and two are fiveâ. Exaggerating this concern, Orwell creates this ânightmare worldâ, Oceania, in 1984 by means of a totalitarian government. Just as he explains that governments during the Spanish Civil Ware were attempting to gain enough control so that they would have the ability to persuade societies into believing âtwo and two are fiveâ, 1984âs Winston Smith, an Oceania habitant, is worried that âIn the end, the Party would announce that two and two made five, and you would have to believe it.â (p. ___). The Partyâs excessive control reflects Orwellâs fear of the ânightmare worldâ, controlled by an authoritative government that he envisioned. In turn, the Party