Research Essay-1984
Marshall Brown
“If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face-for
ever” (George Orwell). George Orwell writes in his novel 1984 what he believes will
happen to a world ruled by a communist oligarchy. George Orwell’s ominous vision of
an extreme communist regime does not come true in 1984 as we know it. Rather, his
vision is seen in Kim Jong II’s present day North Korea. George Orwell’s 1984 proves to
come true in present day North Korea through absolute obedience, government
propaganda, and inclusive isolation.
In the novel 1984, absolute obedience of the citizens is a requirement for a
functional communist government. Complete control of the citizens’ minds allows no
corrupt thought. In 1984 Syme says to Winston, “Don’t you see the whole aim of
Newspeak is to narrow the range of thought, in the end we shall make thoughtcrime
literally impossible” (Orwell 46) and clarifies that this is necessary to the perseverance of
Big Brother’s Regime. In North Korea, Kim Jong Il makes sure no one questions his
governmental ways, and to follow through with that Bradley K. Martin notes that he
executes internal threats to his office, imprisons innocent people who he is suspicious of,
and also appeals to the people as their friend, not so much as their ruler. (54) There is
much to see in relation to these two governments, Big Brother also appears as an entity
that one would like very much, like your own brother, while Kim Jong II tries to become
visible as a friend of the people. These tactics are very effective on a mass of people who
know nothing more than what is good for the government. What Big Brother and Kim
Jong II have done is stripped the human being of his or her consciousness. These people
will never think thoughts that ordinary people would think because they have been
brainwashed and taught that obedience to the party, or Kim Jong Il, is top priority.
1
Research Essay-1984
Marshall Brown
Also in 1984, absolute obedience is exemplified when O’Brien forces Winston to
admit “Two plus two equals five” (Orwell 219) and Winston eventually obeys him and
learns that two plus two equals five. In North Korea, Kim Jong Il’s citizens believe every
word from the government and live strictly by government standards. Bradley Martin
describes North Korea as one big corporation, where everyone is working and rarely do
you ever see a smile. (16) This illustrates the idea of a totalitarian government well
because these two administrations both require absolute obedience at its maximum.
Many governments feed their citizens mindless propaganda, but no country and
leader do it as well as Big Brother and Kim Jong Il. In 1984, the inner-party creates a
person to be known as Comrade Ogilvy. Nobody knows if he is a real person, but the
citizens are forced to believe he is. The party, to influence patriotism, creates this warhero and shows the people an example of an extraordinary citizen. “He refused all toys in
childhood except for a machine gun, a drum, and a toy helicopter.”(Orwell 42) Comrade
Ogilvy is portrayed as a perfect citizen and war-hero, all to influence the minds of the
party members. In North Korea, Kim Jong Il could be known by the title “King of
Propaganda”. Mike Chinoy from CNN news writes that when he crossed the border to
North Korea he immediately saw three large posters reading: “OUR GENERAL IS
NUMBER ONE”, “SUNSHINE OF THE 21st CENTURY”, and “OPPOSE AMERICA”.
(1) These three statements are very suggestive and strong. The first statement is saying
that Kim Jong Il is the best general, the second is saying Kim Jong Il is the sunshine of
the century, and the third is an all out opposition to the American “free market” ways.
Therefore 1984 and North Korea bear a striking resemblance when it comes to
government propaganda.
2
Research Essay-1984
Marshall Brown
For communistic government procedures to thrive, inclusive isolation must be
intact. In 1984, throughout the whole novel they are constantly shifting their enemy from
one part of Asia to another. During Winston’s interrogation, O’Brien says, “Oceania is at
war with Eastasia”, when Winston clearly remembers when not long before they were at
war with Eurasia. Seeing as no citizen in Oceania has contact with any outside country,
and that they are not allowed to keep records of the past, there is no way of proving the
party wrong. Kim Jong Il is so paranoid of losing the throne of his so-called democratic
republic that he lets no outside information through the country’s borders. Bradley Martin
states that when he was in North Korea, he reported no television shows, radio programs,
or magazines that were not regulated by the government. He says that there is no source
of entertainment or information that is not government approved. In North Korea people
are so oppressed that they can not have a religion because Kim Jong Il is their god.
Bradley Martin also tells about the 1960s when all the children whose parents were lost
in the Korean War were raised by the government, and Kim Jong Il’s predecessor, Kim Il
Sung, was taught to be their father. Inclusive isolation remains a prominent factor in
Orwell’s Oceania, and in present day North Korea.
North Korea proves to be one of the closest comparisons to Big Brother’s regime.
The theme of oppression cannot be exemplified greater than by Kim Jong Il and Big
Brother. George Orwell’s 1984 proves to come true in present day North Korea through
absolute obedience, government propaganda, and inclusive isolation. Big Brother’s reign
of terror will forever live on in the minds of readers, but thankfully, Kim Jong Il’s reign
will eventually come to an end.
3
Research Essay-1984
Marshall Brown
4