International Journal of Contemporary Research in Multidisciplinary

Abstract:

Historical materialism, as advanced by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, asserts that material conditions, specifically the modes of production and class relations, are the foundation upon which societal structures—including political power, culture, and ideology—are built. This paper argues that Orwell’s dystopian society in his novel ‘1984’’ can be read as an extrapolation of capitalist contradictions, where the ruling Party’s grip on power is rooted in the manipulation of material conditions and ideological control. The study investigates the political economy of Oceania, the nature of ideological control, and the implications of class struggle within the novel, drawing parallels between Orwell's world and real-world historical developments. The analysis positions ‘1984’’ as a critique of the exploitation of material reality and the manipulation of consciousness to maintain hierarchical power structures.

Keywords:

Historical materialism, ideology, bourgeoisie, suppression, potential, capitalist

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