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Discuss George Orwell as an enemy of totalitarianism.

George Orwell was a social critic because the purpose of his writing was to present social problems. He realized that money is the urgent need of common man. He knew well that number of rich were very small while the poor were in the great number. So, if the problem of money of poor is not taken carefully and sympathetically, he might have become the victim of exploitation at the hands of rich. He thought that socialism was the only way by which a common man could develop his life. He believed that all the systems were worthless and full of despair. He thought that Socialism should be separated from Utopianism, because the people who were confused between Socialism and Utopianism, attacked Socialism. He felt that Socialism believed in reality while Utopianism aimed at imagination. He desired to minimize distance between the rich and the poor. He proved that this distance caused many sufferings to the poor. Basically, Orwell was an anti-communist. He believed that in 1930, the people of Russia were the best fed, the most advanced and the happiest people in the world. During that period the problems of Russians were much more than those of other people in the world. But in 1941, due to foreign policy of Stalin, relations of Russia were declined with other nations of the world. In short, Orwell believed that Stalin’s policy was merely opportunistic and it did not care for the welfare of common people. But later on Communism came to stay in Russia and the author began to believe that the experiement of Communism in Russia could never contribute to the progress of the country because it was lost revolution.

In 1948, after the end of IInd World War, the theory of socialism was accepted by many nations. Orwell found that many countries started to work under the influence of socialism. Britan was also one of them. But he realized that society was not free from many problems. He was of the view that the individual development made the general development. Neither he desired that the poor should become rich no he thought that rich should give up their prosperity. But he expected a harmony between the rich and the poor. He wanted to see a change in the mentality of common man. He laid emphasis on the fact that money is not greater than the virtues of man. He was of the opinion that this fact could make man free from many problems.

Orwell opposed totalitarianism. Totalitarianism stands for that society which is ruled by a dictator or a group of dictators. All the human liberty and rights are taken away. Fascism, communism and Socialism in their worst form are the totalitarianism. Thus, totalitarian state owes no justice for the society. Orwell hated the society which is dominated by the totalitarianism. However, Orwell is not completely pessimistic about the development of society. He was of the view that intellectuals could defend moral values and consciousness of the common people from the invasion of totalitarianism. Therefore, intellectuals should realize their role in this connection. However, the novels of Orwell are the best warning against the dangers and evils of the totalitarian activities.

Orwell is basically a political writer. All his best works present social and politica. probiems. It is also obvious, through his novel, that he spent a lot of time in seeking a political theory that may enrich the society with ideal thoughts. He believed in the Socialism which stands for justice and liberty. But he did not like socialistic propapganda. He also opposed Fascism because of its tyrannical nature. He also did not agree with Marxist theory which always mixed up class-distinction and bloody revolution. His most remarkable work, ‘Animal Farm’ is a protest against totalitarianism. In fact, it is mocking satire on the vices of a socialist at the expense of Soviet experience.