Orwell’S 1984 and the concept of Powerlessness

Abstract

This article examines the theme of social-psychological alienation in Orwell’s 1984 by focusing on Winston as a character. The theme of alienation has repeatedly studied in the works of Hegel, Marx, Weber, Fromm and Durkheim. However, this article mainly focuses on Seeman’s conceptualization of alienation as a theoretical framework. This paper is limited to clarify the term ‘powerlessness' because it is the dominant concept in the novel. Since this paper offers an understanding of powerlessness, it is a must to first, clearly present the reasons that led to Winston’s feeling of alienation. Understanding Seeman’s concept of alienation (especially on how he clarifies the process, circumstances and results of alienation) is significant as the subject of this study. Certainly, the term ‘alienation’ was not particularly used in the novel, but the concept is clearly shown by the characters, especially Winston. A thematic analysis, combined with Seeman’s concept, offers a better perception of the novel where a deep investigation revealed that Winston develops a sense of alienation due to four reasons, which are totalitarianism, fear, Party’s control of power and information. The findings of this paper could be of many benefits not only for scholars but also for readers who are aware of the circumstances and factors that could lead to the sense of powerlessness and consequently to social-psychological alienation.