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EspañolBIG BROTHER (NINETEEN EIGHTY-FOUR)
(Redirected from Big Brother (1984))
'"Big Brother"' is a fictional character in George Orwell's novel ''Nineteen Eighty-Four'', the enigmatic dictator of Oceania, a totalitarian state taken to its utmost logical consequence.
In the society that Orwell describes, everyone is under complete surveillance by the authorities, mainly by telescreens. The people are constantly reminded of this by the phrase "Big Brother is watching you", which is the core "truth" of the propaganda system in this state. The physical description of "Big Brother" is reminiscent of Joseph Stalin or Lord Kitchener.
In the novel, it is not clear if he actually exists as a person, or is an image crafted by the state. However, since Inner Party torturer O'Brien at one point tells Winston Smith that Big Brother can never die, the apparent implication is that Big Brother is the personification of the totalitarian Party ruling Oceania. Another possibility is that Big Brother really exists or existed as a man. In the event of his death, the Inner Party would simply maintain the illusion of his leadership (and this may already be happening).
In a book supposedly written by the rebel Emmanuel Goldstein (but later revealed to have a more complex origin) it is stated that "nobody has ever seen Big Brother. His function is to act as a focusing point for love, fear, and reverence, emotions which are more easily felt towards an individual than towards an organization." ''(See Goldstein's book)''
In Party propaganda, however, Big Brother is presented as a real person, who was one of the founders of the Party along with Emmanuel Goldstein. At one point in the year 1984, the protagonist of Orwell's novel tries "to remember in what year he had first heard mention of Big Brother. He thought it must have been at some time in the sixties, but it was impossible to be certain. In the Party histories, of course, Big Brother figured as the leader and guardian of the Revolution since its very earliest days. His exploits had been gradually pushed backwards in time until already they extended into the fabulous world of the forties and the thirties, when the capitalists in their strange cylindrical hats still rode through the streets of London in great gleaming motor-cars or horse carriages with glass sides. There was no knowing how much of this legend was true and how much invented."
In the year 1984, Big Brother (as seen on posters and on the telescreen) appears as a ruggedly handsome man of about 45. If so, he could hardly have had an active role in politics already in the 1940s or even earlier, suggesting that his evolving biography is pure invention: This would be an easy lie for The Party to keep up, because of the Ministry of Truth. If his image was first introduced in the 1960s, 45 would ''then'' have been a reasonable age if he had been politically active since the 1940s. But like a cartoon character, he apparently stayed the same age indefinitely. Goldstein's book comments: "We may be reasonably sure that he will never die, and there is already considerable uncertainty as to when he was born."
A spontaneous ritual of devotion to Big Brother ("BB") is illustrated at the end of the "Two Minutes Hate":
Though Oceania's three other ministries each have names with meanings inverse to their purpose, the Ministry of Love is perhaps the most straightforward, in that rehabilitated thought criminals leave the Ministry as loyal subjects who love Big Brother.
In the essay section of his novel 1985, Anthony Burgess states that Orwell got the idea for 'Big Brother' from advertising hoardings current during World War II for educational correspondence courses run by a company called ''Bennett's''.
The original posters are claimed to have shown Bennett himself - a kindly looking old man offering guidance and support to would-be students, with the slogan: '"Let me be your father."'
When Bennett died, his company was inherited by his son, whose rather aggressive-looking face appeared on the posters instead, accompanied by the unappealing slogan: '"Let me be your big brother."'
Big Brother is also said to have originated from a combination of Stalin and Hitler. Many of Stalin's and Hitler's traits are portrayed in Big Brother. Their ideas on government are shown in Big Brother. Their ideas of weaker people are shown in Big Brother. They even share some physical traits.
The ideological basis for Big Brother likely comes from Leo Tolstoy's novel ''War and Peace'', particularly the discussion of the science of history in part two of that book's epilogue. Napoleon Bonaparte and various other military and political figures traditionally revered as geniuses, are presented in the theory of history Tolstoy opposes as the cause of the movement of humanity and nations. Orwell appears to call upon this previous work by his invention of just such a patriarchal figure.
The historical background during which Orwell wrote his work included several national leaders who had held considerable power, including British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, US President Franklin D. Roosevelt, German chancellor Adolf Hitler, and Soviet premier Joseph Stalin. Stalin, among other leaders, is often cited to have developed a cult of personality around himself.
Additionally, Big Brother's omnipotent, omniscient, eternal, and non-verifiable nature (as well as his demand for absolute obedience) have led some to suggest that Big Brother may have been a parody of God. [1]
Since the publication of ''Nineteen Eighty-Four'', the phrase "Big Brother" has entered general usage, to describe any overly-inquisitive or overly-controlling authority figure or attempts by government to increase surveillance. The reality TV program ''Big Brother'' takes its name from ''Nineteen Eighty-Four''.
The magazine ''Book'' ranked Big Brother #59 on its 100 Best Characters in Fiction Since 1900 list.
In October 2006, the book ''The 101 Most Influential People Who Never Lived'' listed Big Brother as #2. [2] ''Wizard Magazine'' rated him the 95th greatest villain of all time.[3]
1. http://www.libertyhaven.com/noneoftheabove/fictionmusicorentertainment/orwellsstand.html
2. http://www.101influential.com/
3. ''Wizard'' #177
★ Cult of personality
★ Mass surveillance
'"Big Brother"' is a fictional character in George Orwell's novel ''Nineteen Eighty-Four'', the enigmatic dictator of Oceania, a totalitarian state taken to its utmost logical consequence.
In the society that Orwell describes, everyone is under complete surveillance by the authorities, mainly by telescreens. The people are constantly reminded of this by the phrase "Big Brother is watching you", which is the core "truth" of the propaganda system in this state. The physical description of "Big Brother" is reminiscent of Joseph Stalin or Lord Kitchener.
| Contents |
| In the novel |
| Existence |
| Love of Big Brother |
| Purported origins of Big Brother |
| Response to Big Brother today |
| References |
| See also |
In the novel
Existence
In the novel, it is not clear if he actually exists as a person, or is an image crafted by the state. However, since Inner Party torturer O'Brien at one point tells Winston Smith that Big Brother can never die, the apparent implication is that Big Brother is the personification of the totalitarian Party ruling Oceania. Another possibility is that Big Brother really exists or existed as a man. In the event of his death, the Inner Party would simply maintain the illusion of his leadership (and this may already be happening).
In a book supposedly written by the rebel Emmanuel Goldstein (but later revealed to have a more complex origin) it is stated that "nobody has ever seen Big Brother. His function is to act as a focusing point for love, fear, and reverence, emotions which are more easily felt towards an individual than towards an organization." ''(See Goldstein's book)''
In Party propaganda, however, Big Brother is presented as a real person, who was one of the founders of the Party along with Emmanuel Goldstein. At one point in the year 1984, the protagonist of Orwell's novel tries "to remember in what year he had first heard mention of Big Brother. He thought it must have been at some time in the sixties, but it was impossible to be certain. In the Party histories, of course, Big Brother figured as the leader and guardian of the Revolution since its very earliest days. His exploits had been gradually pushed backwards in time until already they extended into the fabulous world of the forties and the thirties, when the capitalists in their strange cylindrical hats still rode through the streets of London in great gleaming motor-cars or horse carriages with glass sides. There was no knowing how much of this legend was true and how much invented."
Big Brother's face looms on giant telescreens in Victory Square (the actual movie location is Alexandra Palace in Muswell Hill, north London) in Michael Radford's 1984 film adaptation of George Orwell's ''Nineteen-Eighty Four''.
In the year 1984, Big Brother (as seen on posters and on the telescreen) appears as a ruggedly handsome man of about 45. If so, he could hardly have had an active role in politics already in the 1940s or even earlier, suggesting that his evolving biography is pure invention: This would be an easy lie for The Party to keep up, because of the Ministry of Truth. If his image was first introduced in the 1960s, 45 would ''then'' have been a reasonable age if he had been politically active since the 1940s. But like a cartoon character, he apparently stayed the same age indefinitely. Goldstein's book comments: "We may be reasonably sure that he will never die, and there is already considerable uncertainty as to when he was born."
Love of Big Brother
A spontaneous ritual of devotion to Big Brother ("BB") is illustrated at the end of the "Two Minutes Hate":
Though Oceania's three other ministries each have names with meanings inverse to their purpose, the Ministry of Love is perhaps the most straightforward, in that rehabilitated thought criminals leave the Ministry as loyal subjects who love Big Brother.
Purported origins of Big Brother
In the essay section of his novel 1985, Anthony Burgess states that Orwell got the idea for 'Big Brother' from advertising hoardings current during World War II for educational correspondence courses run by a company called ''Bennett's''.
The original posters are claimed to have shown Bennett himself - a kindly looking old man offering guidance and support to would-be students, with the slogan: '"Let me be your father."'
When Bennett died, his company was inherited by his son, whose rather aggressive-looking face appeared on the posters instead, accompanied by the unappealing slogan: '"Let me be your big brother."'
Big Brother is also said to have originated from a combination of Stalin and Hitler. Many of Stalin's and Hitler's traits are portrayed in Big Brother. Their ideas on government are shown in Big Brother. Their ideas of weaker people are shown in Big Brother. They even share some physical traits.
The ideological basis for Big Brother likely comes from Leo Tolstoy's novel ''War and Peace'', particularly the discussion of the science of history in part two of that book's epilogue. Napoleon Bonaparte and various other military and political figures traditionally revered as geniuses, are presented in the theory of history Tolstoy opposes as the cause of the movement of humanity and nations. Orwell appears to call upon this previous work by his invention of just such a patriarchal figure.
The historical background during which Orwell wrote his work included several national leaders who had held considerable power, including British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, US President Franklin D. Roosevelt, German chancellor Adolf Hitler, and Soviet premier Joseph Stalin. Stalin, among other leaders, is often cited to have developed a cult of personality around himself.
Additionally, Big Brother's omnipotent, omniscient, eternal, and non-verifiable nature (as well as his demand for absolute obedience) have led some to suggest that Big Brother may have been a parody of God. [1]
Response to Big Brother today
Since the publication of ''Nineteen Eighty-Four'', the phrase "Big Brother" has entered general usage, to describe any overly-inquisitive or overly-controlling authority figure or attempts by government to increase surveillance. The reality TV program ''Big Brother'' takes its name from ''Nineteen Eighty-Four''.
The magazine ''Book'' ranked Big Brother #59 on its 100 Best Characters in Fiction Since 1900 list.
In October 2006, the book ''The 101 Most Influential People Who Never Lived'' listed Big Brother as #2. [2] ''Wizard Magazine'' rated him the 95th greatest villain of all time.[3]
References
1. http://www.libertyhaven.com/noneoftheabove/fictionmusicorentertainment/orwellsstand.html
2. http://www.101influential.com/
3. ''Wizard'' #177
See also
★ Cult of personality
★ Mass surveillance
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