1984, the final installment of George Orwell’s “Dystopian Trilogy”, is renowned for its incisive critique of totalitarianism and its literary achievements. This paper examines the oppression of individual freedom and holistic development under totalitarian regimes in 1984, exploring Orwell’s revelations about the alienation of power and their contemporary relevance. The analysis focuses on four dimensions of alienation: reification through language, education, and technology; self-alienation manifested as the loss of individual freedom; alienation between humanity and its essential nature; and alienation in interpersonal relationships. Through depictions of language manipulation (e.g., “Newspeak”), thought surveillance, oppressive use of technology, and historical falsification, Orwell illustrates the comprehensive distortion of humanity and reason in a totalitarian society. Ultimately, this paper argues that 1984 is not merely a warning against the totalitarianism of the past but also a profound caution against potential totalitarian tendencies in the future. Its insights into human freedom and development remain timeless.

1984;George Orwell;Power alienation;Anti-utopianism;Totalitarianism

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DOI： https://doi.org/10.62639/sspjiss08.20250202

Published： 2025