Where Ther Is No Freedom

WHERE THERE IS NO FREEDOM, THERE IS NO HUMANITY.

“WAR IS PEACE.

FREEDOM IS SLAVERY.

IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH.”

(1984, Slogans of the party)

When freedom is forbidden, humanity becomes unobtainable. If a person or a government takes away a persons ability to determine their actions without restraint, it is not only unkind but I believe, inhumane. A person’s humanity is everything that makes them human. Their emotions, dreams, sexual opinions, aspirations, political and social beliefs are amongst the vital components of a person’s humanity. When a person’s freedom to express any of these things is taken away, the central understanding of their humanity is taken with it. This deprivation of freedom, and in turn humanity, are important thematic elements in both the novel 1984 and in the film The Lives of Others (also, notably, set in 1984).

In both the novel and film the main characters speak, act, believe and think in accordance with the ‘The Party’ & ‘East Germany Communist Government’ respectively. Like machines, Winston and Wiesler have been programmed to think and act without reference to their free will (“FREEDOM IS SLAVERY”). As a result their humanity is seriously compromised.

An example of this deprivation of free choice is clearly illustrated in 1984 with ‘The Party’s’ policy on marriage. Big Brother, the face of the Party, employs it as a protocol, a way to purify procreation. Marriages has to be approved by the regime and

"permission was always refused if the couple concerned gave the impression of being physically attracted to one another. The only recognized purpose of marriage was to beget children for the service of the Party." (1984 p.68-9).

This policy leaves no room for love or dreaming or choosing the possibility of ones own personal, social or physical happiness. When this human choice is stripped away it clearly leads to a loss of humanity.

Another pertinent example in 1984 of ‘The Party’ controlling the people’s...