The presence of Iranian spies seems ubiquitous in Israel, with operatives allegedly being recruited from all strata of society for missions ranging from sabotage to intelligence-gathering to graffiti attacks.
George Orwell’s works, particularly “Animal Farm” and “1984,” serve as powerful critiques of totalitarian regimes, and the concept of ubiquitous spies is central to his portrayal of such societies. Here’s how Orwell illustrates this through the character of Snowball and the broader context of “1984”:
Snowball, representing Leon Trotsky, is systematically demonized by Napoleon (representing Joseph Stalin). After Snowball is driven off the farm, Napoleon attributes all the farm’s problems to him. This mirrors Stalin’s practice of blaming Trotsky and his followers for any setbacks in the Soviet Union.
The idea that Snowball is secretly sabotaging the farm, even in exile, creates an atmosphere of paranoia. This fosters the belief that spies and enemies are everywhere, justifying Napoleon’s increasing control.
By portraying Snowball as a constant threat, Napoleon justifies his own authoritarian actions. The animals are constantly told that Snowball is plotting their downfall, which makes them more willing to accept Napoleon’s oppressive rule for “protection.”
This is a key element of totalitarian control: creating a perpetual enemy to maintain power.
In “1984,” the Thought Police embody the ultimate expression of ubiquitous surveillance. They monitor citizens’ thoughts and actions, ensuring absolute conformity to the Party’s ideology. This goes beyond physical spying, delving into the realm of mental control.
The omnipresent telescreens serve as both surveillance devices and propaganda tools. They constantly watch citizens, creating a sense of being perpetually observed.
This constant surveillance instills fear and prevents any dissent.
Orwell emphasizes how totalitarian regimes manipulate even children, turning them into spies for the Party. This breaks down familial bonds and creates a society where no one can be trusted.
This is a very effective tool, because it creates a society where even the most intimate relationships are no longer safe.
The purpose of these spies is to create a climate of fear and paranoia, where individuals are afraid to express dissenting opinions. This allows the ruling party to maintain absolute control over the population.
“Animal Farm” thus serves as an allegory for the rise of totalitarianism, while “1984” depicts its fully realized form.
The demonization of Snowball in “Animal Farm” lays the groundwork for the pervasive surveillance and thought control in “1984.” Both works highlight how totalitarian regimes use spies and propaganda to maintain power.
In essence, Orwell used the Snowball character to exemplify how a totalitarian leader creates an “enemy” to instill fear and justify their actions, and then expounded on the full realization of that concept in “1984” by showing the extreme lengths a totalitarian government will go to, to maintain absolute control.
