The Omnipresent Enigma: Unveiling the Significance of Big Brother in Orwell’s 1984

In the novel Nineteen Eighty-Four by author George Orwell, the themes of the dangers of totalitarianism and the effects of surveillance and subliminal control on the human psyche are explored through the thoughts and experiences of the central protagonist, Winston Smith. Controlling the oppressive and constantly watchful government in which Winston lives is its enigmatic leader, known only as Big Brother. Throughout the novel, Big Brother's exact role in the government of Oceania, called 'The Party,' is left ambiguous, as well as the possibility of his mere existence at all. Nonetheless, Big Brother serves as a symbol of tyrannical government and the power of the upper echelons of society over its lower members.

Big Brother first appears during the “Two Minutes Hate,” a Party rally of sorts in which Party members are allowed a small degree of freedom to vent out any frustrations through shouting expletives and insults. However, these frustrations are solely directed at Oceania's purported enemies, the main enemy being Emmanuel Goldstein, a former Party founder turned traitor. During the rally, an image of Big Brother appears on the main 'telescreen,' and lulls the vindictive crowd into a peaceful trance. To the devoted members of The Party, Big Brother is a symbol of encouragement, safety, and security. Despite never appearing to the people in person, Big Brother is seen as a beacon of hope and companionship by those who have been conditioned to adore him.

Winston's reaction to Big Brother however, is different. Winston views Big Brother as a hollow and meaningless symbol of The Party's oppressive doctrine. He despises Big Brother despite barely knowing anything about him or his true intentions, or if he even exists at all. As a figurehead for The Party, Big Brother can be a target for Winston's rebellious attitude, and his hatred of Big Brother demonstrates how he is distinguished from the typical mindless citizen of Oceania. The intended effect of Big Brother is to represent a concentration of positive emotions (that are allowed by The Party) that the citizens can confide in. The Party uses Big Brother as a symbol because it is less taxing on the minds of the people to adore a single individual as opposed to a complex group of leaders. Winston sees through this though, and takes the effort to question Big Brother's origins, and the validity of the claim that he was righteously installed as head of state and that his leadership is just.

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Orwell uses Big Brother to represent how various totalitarian governments throughout history create cults of personality around their leaders, and the power of those leaders to exercise complete control over the population. Like the Stalin-era Soviet Union or present day North Korea, the government of Oceania disseminates propaganda revolving around the infallibility of the head of state to garner the affection, and eventual unbreakable loyalty, of the people. Big Brother's role in the novel is essentially the purpose of Orwell's writing. Nineteen Eighty-Four was written to display the dangers of allowing one man or one small group to gain total power in a society, and to this end, Orwell shows that Big Brother's control over the people is unchecked and near-limitless, and used merely to advance the standings of the country's enigmatic and oppressive leaders.

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