Big Brother

Definition

Big Brother is a character and symbol from George Orwell's dystopian novel '1984', representing the oppressive government surveillance and totalitarian control over citizens. The term has come to embody the concept of an invasive authority that monitors and manipulates individuals' thoughts and actions, illustrating the dangers of state power and the loss of personal freedom in a society devoid of privacy.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Big Brother's image is omnipresent in '1984', with posters displaying his face accompanied by the slogan 'Big Brother is Watching You', reinforcing constant surveillance.
2. The concept of Big Brother serves as a critique of totalitarian regimes, illustrating how such governments can manipulate truth and reality to maintain control.
3. In the novel, citizens live in fear of Big Brother, which exemplifies how propaganda can influence people's perceptions and behaviors.
4. The notion of Big Brother extends beyond '1984', influencing modern discussions about privacy, government surveillance, and individual rights in contemporary society.
5. The character of Big Brother embodies the idea that absolute power corrupts absolutely, showcasing how unchecked authority can lead to societal oppression.

Review Questions

• How does Big Brother function as a symbol of government control in Orwell's narrative?
  • Big Brother serves as a pervasive symbol of government control throughout Orwell's narrative, representing the Party's totalitarian regime that monitors and dictates the lives of citizens. His image, seen on posters and telescreens, instills fear among the populace, enforcing conformity and obedience. The slogan 'Big Brother is Watching You' emphasizes the invasive nature of surveillance, illustrating how the state infiltrates private lives to maintain power.
• Analyze how the concept of Big Brother relates to modern issues surrounding privacy and surveillance.
  • The concept of Big Brother has profound implications for modern discussions surrounding privacy and surveillance. As technology advances, concerns about government monitoring and data collection grow, echoing Orwell's warnings about losing personal freedoms. The parallels between Big Brother's omnipresence in '1984' and contemporary surveillance practices raise important questions about individual rights, civil liberties, and the balance between security and privacy in society today.
• Evaluate the impact of Big Brother on individual psychology and societal behavior within '1984'. How does it shape characters' actions?
  • Big Brother profoundly impacts individual psychology and societal behavior within '1984', creating an atmosphere of fear and conformity. Characters like Winston Smith exhibit internal conflict due to constant surveillance, leading to self-censorship and paranoia. This oppressive environment shapes their actions as they navigate a world where expressing dissent is dangerous, demonstrating how authoritarian control can manipulate thoughts and behaviors to suppress any challenge to its authority.

Related terms

Newspeak: The artificial language created by the Party in '1984' to limit free thought and restrict the range of expression.

Thought Police: The secret police in '1984' responsible for monitoring and punishing thoughtcrime, or any dissent against the Party's ideology.

Totalitarianism:

A political system where the state recognizes no limits to its authority and seeks to regulate every aspect of public and private life.