Revealing_the_Mind_of_the_Evil_Dictator__Connecting_Cult_Figures_to_1984

Revealing the Mind of the Evil Dictator: Connecting Cult Figures to 1984 In George Orwell's 1984, Big Brother is the fictional figure head of the entire society. He controls every aspect of the people he rules. Surprisingly, Orwell's description of this fictional cult figure in his novel was hauntingly similar to two historical figures who established actual cults in recent history. Both Jim Jones and Adolf Hitler resemble the figure of Big Brother. The teachings of Big Brother, Adolf Hitler and Jim Jones are almost identical to each other. In 1984, the cult figure of Big Brother is very similar to both Jim Jones and Adolf Hitler, whose totalitarian ways parallel those of Big Brother in regards to the control of minds and physical actions of society's members. The term cult...can be applied to any manipulative group which exploits its members, causing psychological, financial and physical harm (Johnston 1). The "cults" of 1984, Jim Jones and Adolf Hitler all have resemblances to this description. Dr. Norman Costigan stated that, "They [cults] are all about power and control" (Johnston 1). In 1984, Big Brother and the Inner Party only want control for themselves and do so by manipulating the people in this society with mind tricks, such as doublethink. Towards the end of the novel, when Winston Smith has been arrested and is in the Ministry of Love, O'Brien asks him why he thinks that the Inner Party controls every aspect of people's lives. Winston believes that the answer is that the Inner Party knows what is best for the people better than they themselves do, when in fact O'Brien informs him that all they want is complete and utter control of all people. In Jonestown, Jim Jones manipulates his members into believing that the United States government is attempting to harm or kill the members of People's Temple (Jim Jones' organization) so that they are under the delusion that Jones is saving them. When Adolf Hitler took control in Nazi Germany, he tricked and manipulated his followers into thinking that Jews were a threat to others. Hitler used this mind control to attempt and gain enough power to rule the world. The description of a cult figure is a popular person worshipped by some and having strong enduring appeal, whose reputation is disproportionate with their success (cult figure 1). In George Orwell's novel, the reader never discovers if Big Brother is a real person or not and also the Inner Party makes itself seem bigger than it really is, so as to avoid a revolt from the Proles. Jim Jones used his persuasive personality to trick his followers into believing everything he told them. Similarly, Hitler was able to manipulate people by the use of propaganda materials. Adolf Hitler lived from 1889 until he committed suicide in 1945 (Hoffmann 1). Hitler was in power of Germany from 1933 to 1945 and turned the country into a powerful war machine and also provoked World War II in 1939 (1). Hitler is believed to be the "man-behind-the-curtain" in regards to the Holocaust which took place in Germany from 1941 until 1945, killing as many as 6 million Jews and an equal amount of Christians, Slaves, Blacks, etc. Adolf Hitler would one day lead a movement that placed supreme importance on a person's family tree even making it a matter of life and death (Meiser 1). This action of Hitler's reflects that of a cult figure in the fact that he portrayed himself disproportionately to his background (dictionary 1). Hitler targeted Jews and blamed them for all the problems which occurred in Europe during this time, even though it is speculated that his grandfather may have been Jewish. Also, Hitler caused his followers to believe that blonde hair, blue eyes and a clean cut face was the ultimate race of the world, whereas he had brown hair and a moustache. Hitler's emotional delivery of impromptu speech[s] captivated his audience [and]...subsequent mass meetings attracted hundreds of Germans eager to hear the young, forceful and hypnotic leader...Hitler electrified the audience with his masterful demagoguery (Meiser 6). A demagogue is a person or political leader who gains power and popularity by arousing the emotions, passions and prejudices of the people (demagogue 1). Hitler's ability to capture crowds with his "fiery-words and brilliant blue eyes" (Hoffmann 1) were key features of a cult figure, which allowed him to have influence on peoples decisions and beliefs. Hitler also wrote a book called "Mein Kampf" which was filled with glorified inaccuracies, self-serving half-truths and outright revisionism (Meiser 7). This is a characteristic of a cult figure because Hitler is attempting to allow himself to appear better than he is in reality. During Hitler's reign in Nazi Germany, he appointed Joseph Goebbels as head of propaganda (Propaganda 1). Goebbels became known as the Minister of Propaganda and National Enlightenment and his task was to ensure nobody in Germany could read or see anything that was hostile or damaging to the Nazi Party and to ensure that the views of the Nazis were put across in the most persuasive manner possible (2). Hitler's control of media and of what the country viewed about him and his operations helped him to take further control of the German people and their support of him. Jim Jones lived from 1931 until 1978, when he died in his world of Jonestown from a bullet wound to the head. Jim Jones was a well-educated man, having degrees from both the University of Indiana and Butler University (Robinson 1). Many people believed that Jones was a Fundamentalist pastor because he was depicted as one in several reports in the media, but in fact he was not (1). Jones was ordained in the Christian Church/Disciples of Christ and during this time congregations were allowed to select and ordain a minister of their own (1), in this case, Jim Jones was chosen by People's Temple. Jones preached to a wide variety of people, wanting his church to be open to the less fortunate. The People's Temple was initially structured as an inter-racial mission for the sick, homeless and jobless (1). Jones chose to administer to these types of people because they had low self-confidence and were searching for answers. Jones seemed to have all the answers, as he prophesied the future, knew what people were going through or what had already happened in their lives, seemed to be able to read minds and also to heal the sick. These actions gave the people of Jonestown a false sense of who Jim Jones was. In 1984, Big Brother has many similarities to that of Jim Jones. "To keep everyone abreast of...dangers, public address systems, televisions and large television screens in front of which hundreds gather(ed), [kept people] informed of what is going on anywhere in the world- so that [they did] not feel alone and wouldn't have the chance to think and ponder [their] existence (Coppens 1). Similarly, there was seldom a time in which Jim Jones' voice was not droning over the loudspeakers in Jonestown. Jones made sure that his teachings were continually fresh in the minds of his followers, so that they did not lose their way or tried to think for themselves. He did so by having socialism classes late in the nights and then testing everyone on Sundays, also everyone in Jonestown was overworked and had limited rest as to help in distorting their minds and causing them to be weak. In 1984 society, the people were daily given a strong gin which helped in controlling their minds (Orwell 50). Parallel to this, some members of Jonestown began to have doubtful thoughts and had "..a powerful sedative, Thorazine...added to [their food] and [were] under constant watch" (Ross 4). Also, the members of society in the novel 1984 are under constant surveillance, whether by telescreens, Thought Police or even children (Orwell 2). People who disappeared from 1984 society were deemed "unpersons" and other members of society were not suppose to speak of that person again; it was to seem as if they had never existed. Winston himself becomes an "unperson" towards the end of the novel, as he is taken to the Ministry of Love, drugged and eventually killed. In Jonestown, "...[people] labeled as 'dissidents' were to be 'resocialized' [in] the compounds 'Extended Care Unit' (Ross 4). An attorney named Charles Garry visited Jonestown and was told not to speak about a man named Gene Chaikan because he had been taken to the intensive care unit in Jonestown and was probably drugged or even dead (4). Jim Jones also manipulated his followers into believing that the United States government was coming after The People's Temple and if the members of Jonestown were to ever return to the United States they would be either murdered, tortured or sent to prison. He even had his guards shoot into the jungles during the nights to cause the people in Jonestown to believe that the United States government was trying to harm or destroy Jonestown, as well as the people living there. Jones told these lies to cause his followers to believe that life in Jonestown really was paradise and to ensure that they would not attempted to leave or escape. Similar to this, Julia states that she believes that Oceania is simply dropping bombs in cities within its own country as to create terror and make people believe that there is a threat. When people are frightened or feel that they are being terrorized, they will listen to leaders and are more easily controlled, as they are searching for protection. One other way people in 1984 society are controlled is by destroying the love for one another and for an individual's family. Children are taught to go against their parents and no one is allowed to have true relationships. The only emotions people are taught is to hate Goldstein and the enemy and to love Big Brother. In Jonestown, "Jones dismissed the nuclear family as 'noxious' and did everything possible to undermine traditional family ties. There could be only one 'Dad' for everyone" (Ross 2). Just like in 1984, the people in Jonestown are taught to simply have love for Jim Jones, who they also call "Dad", "Papa" and "Father". Adolf Hitler is much like Big Brother in George Orwell's novel, 1984. Where Big Brother controlled all of Oceania, Hitler controlled all of Germany, and practically all of Europe, during the time of World War II. In 1984, Oceania seems to be in a constant war with either Eurasia or Eastasia, but the war is never ending because everyone knows that Big Brother will win in the end. Similarly, Hitler was planning to take control of the whole world, and when the Nazis began taking control of neighboring countries, such as Czechoslovakia, they believed that Hitler was unstoppable. Hitler's government was known as Third Reich and it was said that "[there was] no place for freedom under his government" (Hoffmann 5). In 1984 there were 3 Party slogans, one of which was "FREEDOM IS SLAVERY" (Orwell 16) and freedom was viewed as a burden in 1984 society. Another similarity between these two figure heads is their ability to virtually hypnotize their followers. Big Brother, with his inscrutable face, every watching eyes and unknown smile entices people and at one point Winston even believes that the smile hidden beneath the moustache is one of warmth and kindness. It was said that Hitler's "fiery words" and "brilliant blue eyes" seemed to hypnotize people who were willing to listen to him (Hoffmann 1). In 1984, the "Junior Sex League" is invented to cause young women to be completely loyal to Big Brother and to follow all of his teachings, no question. Parallel to this, Hitler organized groups for youth which were "designed to condition German children to military discipline and to win their loyalty to the Nazi government" (Hoffman 6). In Nazi Germany, the government regulated; wages, housing, production, working hours and leisure activities (Hoffmann 6). Like this, Big Brother controlled every aspect of society members lives; choosing jobs, spouses, housing, working hours, payment, activities and even food. Jim Jones and Adolf Hitler, two historical figures notoriously known for creating real life cults, are very similar to the fictional cult figure in George Orwell's 1984, Big Brother. These all-too-real leaders control the minds and physical actions of the society's members, much like Big Brother does in Orwell's novel. The similarities of these two figures actions and those of Big Brothers eerily and amazingly parallel that of one another. Works Cited "Adolf Hitler." History Learning Site. N.p., 2000. Web. 26 May 2010. Angelis, Gina De. Jonestown Massacre: Tragic End of a Cult .new Jersey: Enslow Publishers, 2002. Print. "Communism." Encyclopedia Britannica. 2010. SIRS. Web. 27 April 2010. Coppens, Philip. "1984: For the love of Big Brother." philipcoppens. Philip Coppens, n.d. Web. 26 May 2010. "cult figure" dictionary. N.p., 2010. Web. 26 May 2010. "demagogue " dictionary. N.p., 2010. Web. 26 May 2010. Grison, Krystal. "The Effects of Communism on People and the Earth." Warrensburg., n.d. Web. 27 April 2010. Hoffman, Peter. "Hitler, Adolf." World Book Student. World Book, 2010. Web. 27 April 2010. "How did the Hitler and the Nazi party gain support'." schoolshistory. N.p., 2001. Web. 26 May 2010. Johnston, Sally. "Cult figures." rickross. N.p., 1999. Web. 26 May 2010. Layton, Deborah. Seductive Poison. New York: Anchor Books, 1998. Print. Meier A., David. "Adolf Hitler's Rise to Power." nodak.edu. N.p., 2000. Web. 26 May 2010. Orwell, George. 1984. New York: Penguin Group Inc., 1977. Print "Propaganda in Nazi Germany." historylearningsite. N.p., 2010. Web. 26 May 2010. Robinson, B.A. "Destructive Cults." Religious Tolerance. Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance, 2007. Web. 26 May 2010. Romero, Simon. "Can Ghosts Bring Life to Jonestown Cult Compound'." The New York Times. 2 May 2010. Web. 6 May 2010. Ross, Rick. "Letters from Jonestown." rickross. N.p., 2008. Web. 26 May 2010.