How Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely in the Novel 1984 and Lord of the Flies

¶ … unchecked and unmatched power within the confines of any social system is that it knows no bounds. In other words, for those holding power there are no limitations to what they can inflict upon their subjects. When the whims and random desires of the ruling class are carried out without fail, the lower classes are destined to suffer. In the novels 1984 by George Orwell, and the Lord of the Flies by William Golding, the ruling parties experience virtually no consequences from the populous for their actions. In 1984 this is done by design, but in the Lord of the Flies it comes about through natural human impulses. In both cases, however, the competing human drives for order and for random gratification come to rest upon forms of social organization that satisfy certain basic desires of mankind while sacrificing power to a small group of individuals.

In Golding's novel the struggle between order and chaos are most clearly exemplified through the characters of Jack and Ralph. The power that Ralph wields over the other boys is sustained by their young understandings of justice and the difference between right and wrong. Ralph is willing to delegate duties and confer some of his power upon others in the hopes of eventual rescue; this is his primary objective. Jack, on the other hand -- obtaining only a taste of power -- craves more, and takes every opportunity to undermine Ralph's authority. The notion of civilization and a return to the rest of the world are completely lost within Jack's base aims for supremacy. When Jack finally comes to power his rule has no objective other than self perpetuation.

A similar theme can be distinguished within 1984. Specifically, the purpose of the state is to maintain its own power: government has become a means unto itself. Orwell gives us little insight into the details of how this government came into existence, but instead, begins his story in a setting where the absolute power of the state has survived beyond the memory spans of its subjects. Just as in the Lord of the Flies, power is maintained with fear. Jack and the Party make fear the primary human emotion within their institutions and value it far above concepts of duty, justice, love, or camaraderie.

Fear is the primary device for holding power; and it must, by necessity, crush all other human urges to make that power complete. Orwell takes this idea to its logical conclusion by imagining a government that has achieved complete control while still upholding the innate nature of the human condition -- people are still people, but they exist in a diminished form. This is what makes Orwell's warning a feasible reality. He draws from philosophical doctrines to identify what he believes to be the foundations of human existence, and then creates a government that manages to twist all of these foundations for their own gain.

Likewise, Golding makes this evident with the increasing fear of the "beast" as the novel progresses. It is this fear that gradually degrades Ralph's command and lends more power to Jack. Yet, the beast itself is nonexistent; at least in the physical sense. During Simon's visit at the glade he hears the beast speak, "There isn't anyone to help you. Only me. And I'm the Beast . . . Fancy thinking the Beast was something you could hunt and kill! . . . You knew, didn't you? I'm part of you? Close, close, close! I'm the reason why it's no go? Why things are the way they are?" (Golding 1954). Accordingly, the "beast" is merely a synonym for the boys' fear residing deep inside them. Jack preys upon this fear and feeds it with nonsensical order. Thus, Jack's power becomes absolute. All he needs to maintain it is provide an outlet for his subjects' emotions -- he finds this in first the hunt, then Simon, then Piggy, then Ralph.

An analogous outlet for fear is seen in 1984 with the two-minute hate. This allows the citizens of Oceana to focus distrust and fear towards Emmanuel Goldstein and other enemies, and thus, away from the party. O'Brien explains to Winston, "Always we shall have the heretic here at our mercy, screaming with pain, broken up, contemptible -- and in the end utterly penitent. That is the world we are preparing, Winston." (Orwell 1949). So, in 1984 the ruling party amplifies the fear and hatred the populous feels to drown out all other emotions that could possibly threaten their absolute power.