The Relationship of Big Brother to Joseph Stalin
Max De Castro
Throughout 1984, the Party’s main head figure was “Big Brother”. His face is enlarged on posters, telescreens and everywhere throughout Oceania, often accompanied by the quote “Big Brother is watching you”. Big Brother’s face is described in the book as “simply an enormous face, more than a meter wide: the face of a man of about forty-five, with a heavy black mustache and ruggedly handsome features”. This description offers a lot more subtext than what catches the eye. The biggest facial feature that Orwell chooses to highlight is the presence of a thick black mustache — relating to that of Stalin’s. 1984 is a critique on communism and the soviet union throughout the 20th century. It is no accident that Orwell creates Big Brother in the image of the former Soviet Leader, Joseph Stalin. However, the similarities of Big Brother to Stalin transcends that of facial hair and rugged features. Stalin’s presence is seen throughout 1984 and especially in the creation of Big Brother. This is through Big Brother’s terror and oppression; following of Marxism; and systems of punishment.
Stalin throughout the Cold War was the “head” (Big Brother, again) of the Soviet Union. He was a major aspect of establishing the power of the Soviet Union throughout the Cold War. He believed in Marxism and was an Authoritarian Left leader… much like Big Brother. Stalin was a larger than life figure that reigned with terror and oppression in the Soviet Union. Orwell also creates a similar demeanor of an authoritarian figure that reigns with terror and oppression through Big Brother. Big Brother is constantly on the watch for all those who try to defy him, even in thoughts (the thought police is an example of oppression to the furthest extent.). Big Brother and Stalin are also followers of Marxism, an economic system where workers own the means of production and society is organized so that the proletariat is in charge of their labor. The ruling of Big Brother and Stalin follow similar traits that defined their societies. In 1984, Big Brother created Three Year Plans that intend to better Oceania and create more production. In Stalin’s case, there were creations of Five Year Plans with the same goals and formats of Oceania. Big Brother and Stalin likewise had agents of spies throughout their population in order to increase oppression.
In the Soviet Union, Stalin encouraged a secret police to spy on citizens, and even citizens to spy on other citizens. Stalin also had created Gulag Systems that had millions of people killed and forced into labour camps. The similarity to Big Brother persists, with the representation of the “Thought Police” and “Spies’’ — little children who spy on their parents, friends and everyone. Orwell once again takes elements from Stalin to create Big Brother, by changing the Gulag Systems into the Ministries. Throughout 1984, once a person is denounced to the thought police, they are sent into forced labour camps or ministries that “reform” them through torture and other malicous practices. Orwell also takes major events in Stalin’s reign for inspiration. For example, “The Great Purge” was a major group of assassinations on anyone who even had the slightest disagreements with Stalin and the Communist party. All round 1984, there are references to vaporizations (executions) of persons who tried to defy the party and Big Brother. These people can be vaporized for being too smart, too interesting and too strong.
Overall, Stalin’s presence is seen throughout 1984 and especially in the creation of Big Brother. This is through Big Brother’s terror and oppression; following Marxism; and systems of punishment.
