This task assigned by Dr. Dilip Barad sir to explore that how In 1984, Orwell critiques religion by showing how the Party assumes a god-like role, demanding absolute obedience and rewriting reality. The phrase "God is power" reflects the Party’s control, where faith is replaced by loyalty to Big Brother, making the state the ultimate deity.(Click Here)
Video 1 : Critique of religion
George Orwell's 1984 is conventionally interpreted as a political satire, but it can also be read as a critique of religion, particularly Catholicism. Several elements in the novel parallel religious structures and practices. The division of the world into three superstates—Oceania, Eurasia, and Eastasia—resembles the three major Abrahamic religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Similarly, the party’s system of forced confessions mirrors Catholic confession, with Winston Smith's journey reflecting a sacramental process involving penance, mortification, and restoration.
Big Brother functions as a god-like figure, constantly "watching over" his subjects, a concept that can be interpreted both as surveillance and divine care. The party members, particularly O’Brien, assume the role of priests, reinforcing power as a form of divinity. The novel’s hierarchical structure, with its pyramidal division of power, resembles religious orders and echoes the Christian Holy Trinity. Furthermore, the party's strict control over marriage and celibacy aligns with Catholic doctrines governing sexuality and devotion.
Room 101 and the Ministry of Love evoke Dante’s Inferno, with O’Brien resembling Lucifer’s servant, purging individuals of their rebellious thoughts in a manner akin to religious purification. Orwell’s broader disdain for religion, particularly Catholicism, is evident in his personal writings. In Such, Such Were the Joys, he reflects on his childhood belief in God, stating that while he accepted Christian teachings as true, he deeply resented them. His opposition intensified during the Spanish Civil War when he witnessed the Catholic Church’s alignment with fascist regimes, which he viewed as authoritarian and anti-democratic.
John Rodden, in Orwell on Religion: The Catholic and Jewish Questions, highlights Orwell’s skepticism toward religious institutions, while Patricia Hill, in Religion and Myth in Orwell’s 1984, discusses his belief that religious worship could lead to power worship. The theme also appears in Animal Farm, where Moses the raven and the Sugarcandy Mountain symbolize religious deception, akin to the false promises of an afterlife used to pacify the oppressed.
Through these parallels, Orwell’s 1984 can be seen not just as a critique of political totalitarianism but also as a warning against religious dogma and its potential for authoritarian control.
Video 2 : God as power
The video explores the phrase "God is power" in George Orwell’s 1984, examining its significance within the totalitarian regime of Oceania. The discussion is structured around several key themes:
1. The Role of "God" in an Atheistic Dystopia
Despite Oceania being a secular, atheistic society, the word "God" appears eight times in the novel, primarily in Part Three, where Winston is tortured and re-educated.
The phrase "God is power" is spoken by O’Brien, the Party official overseeing Winston’s reprogramming, and later repeated by Winston after his complete submission to the Party.
2. Power as the Ultimate Authority
O’Brien explains that in Oceania, power replaces God. The Party is the new divine authority, and its leaders are akin to priests.
The Party doesn’t seek obedience alone—it demands love and devotion, just as traditional religions do for their gods.
By controlling the past, present, and future, the Party establishes itself as the only truth, shaping reality to its will.
3. Psychological Control & The Party’s Indoctrination
The Party’s power extends beyond physical control—it aims to dominate the mind and memory.
Winston’s eventual acceptance of “2 + 2 = 5” and “God is power” illustrates his total submission.
Thoughtcrime and the Thought Police ensure that dissent is eliminated before it even manifests into action.
4. Critique of Totalitarianism & Religious Parallels
Orwell warns against the dangers of absolute power, showing how it leads to oppression, exploitation, and societal destruction.
The Party’s ideology mirrors religious structures—just as people worship gods without questioning, citizens of Oceania worship Big Brother.
Historical parallels are drawn, such as political figures being deified, akin to religious devotion.
5. The Novel as a Critique of Religion & Power
Orwell critiques both totalitarianism and organized religion, arguing that power and faith function similarly when used for control.
The novel questions whether devotion to any supreme authority, be it God or the Party, is inherently oppressive.
Conclusion
The phrase "God is power" encapsulates the Party’s philosophy—power itself becomes divine. Orwell’s 1984 serves as a warning against blind submission to authority, whether political or religious, showing how control over truth and belief is the ultimate form of oppression.
Reference
DoE-MKBU. (2023a, February 21). Critique of Religion | 1984 | George Orwell [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zh41QghkCUA
DoE-MKBU. (2023, February 21). God is Power | 1984 | George Orwell [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cj29I_MU3cA
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