Class Distinctions in George Orwell’s 1984 Essay

1984, a novel by English writer George Orwell, was a cautionary tale about the perils of a totalitarian society. Class distinctions be one of the worst dangers that were discussed in the novel. It was portrayed as a intend for Big Brother to maintain his rule over Oceania. The different aff sufficient classes in Oceania viewed each other as competitors for scotch, political and social dominance. In the process, the possibility of a political rebellion in Oceania is quelled.Oceania is composed of ternion social classes the Inner Party (about 1% of the population), the outmost Party (about 18% of the population) and the Proles (about 81% of the population). The respective lifestyles of these sectors were characterized with inequality the Inner Party enjoyed more privileges than the outermost Party, although they both made up the Party of Oceania. Members of the Inner Party were accorded draw government positions, had larger incomes and lived in luxurious homes. In sharp contra st, members of the Outer Party lived in dilapidated flats.They also had to devote even their sheer time to Party activities such as community hikes and games or risk of exposure being suspected as a traitor (K-1. com, n. pag. ). The proles are the mainstay of Oceania they are employed in industry and on farms. However, the Party accepts them as members of society only because of their capacity to produce. As a result, the proles live in extreme penury. They reside in districts where there are fewer telescreens and policemen they beart have any contact with the state as coherent as they did non commit any wrongdoing.Consequently, proles can indulge in prohibited things such as prostitution, old books, old furniture and alcohol. The Party, on the other hand, does not pay much attention to what they do the power regards proles as too uneducated and disorganized to pose as a serious threat to their rule (K-1. com, n. pag. ). Given that the ideology of the Party is Ingsoc (Engl ish collectivist Movement), it is ironic that inequality is very rampant among the citizens of Oceania.The novel provided an explanation to this phenomenon done the fictional book The Theory and Practice of Oligarchical Collectivism. The latter believed to be written by a certain Emmanuel Goldstein, the leader of the dissident sort the Brotherhood. But it turned out that the Thought Police created the book in order to trap Winston Smith (SparkNotes, n. pag. ). The books first chapter, Ignorance is Strength, argued that gentleman societies are traditionally divided into three classes the lavishly, the Middle and the Low.The objective of the High is to uphold its dominance over society. The mark of the Middle, on the other hand, is to crap the status of the High. As for the Low, it is too busy trying to set about a way out of poverty to be concerned with matters that do not directly affect it. As a result, struggles throughout history dower the same pattern. The Middle overth rows the High with the help of the Low in the call down of justice and liberty. Once the Middle becomes the High, it thrusts the Low back to its original marginalized position.A new Middle group will then emerge to reverberate the cycle. The second chapter, Freedom is Slavery, was explained to Winston by OBrien. According to OBrien, the goal of attaining freedom is useless due to the inevitability of death. Thus, when Freedom is Slavery is converse to Slavery is Freedom, it is implied that complete submission to the Party will grant an soulfulness freedom in the form of experiencing the Partys immortality and omnipotence.The third chapter, entitle War is Peace, first identified the three superstates of the world Oceania (the United States and the British Empire), Eurasia (Russia and Europe) and Eastasia (China, Japan and Korea). The chapter went on to argue that these superstates waged war with one another for economic reasons they wanted to gain unlimited access to the natural resources of foreign lands and to find new markets in which they could dump their surplus goods. Furthermore, war in itself is already a possible solution to an economic slump.An outgrowth in the account of jobs in the defence sector due to war will increase economic activity by increasing the income of consumers (NewspeakDictionary. com, n. pag. ). Big Brother remained in power in Oceania through class distinctions. Class distinctions kept the commonwealth divided and fighting among themselves. As a result, Big Brother was able to manipulate them into serving his interests. The longer the people remained divided, the longer they remained enslaved.