Big Brother (1984)

: For related uses and alternate meanings, see also Big Brother.

Purported origins of Big Brother

In the essay section of his novel 1985, Anthony Burgess states that Orwell got the idea for Big Brother from advertising hoardings current during World War Two for educational correspondence courses run by a company called Bennett's.

Related Topics:
1985 - Anthony Burgess - World War Two - Correspondence course

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The original posters are claimed to have shown Mr Bennett himself - a kindly looking old man offering guidance and support to would-be students, with the slogan "Let me be your father."

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When Mr Bennett died his company was inherited by his son, whose rather aggressive-looking face appeared on the posters instead, accompanied by the unappealing slogan: "Let me be your big brother".

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The ideological basis for Big Brother likely comes from Leo Tolstoy's novel War and Peace, particularly the discussion of the science of history in part two of that book's epilogue. Napoleon Bonaparte and various other military and political figures traditionally revered as geniuses, are presented in the theory of history Tolstoy opposes as the cause of the movement of humanity and nations. Orwell appears to call upon this previous work by his invention of just such a patriarchal figure.

Related Topics:
Leo Tolstoy's - War and Peace - Napoleon Bonaparte

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