Totalitarian Novels: History and Language in 1984

On this episode of The Hillsdale College Online Courses Podcast, Jeremiah and Juan discuss how totalitarian states destroy the human spirit before introducing Hillsdale College president Dr. Larry P. Arnn.

Totalitarian novels depict regimes that exert complete and pervasive control over the lives of their subjects. George Orwell, Aldous Huxley, Arthur Koestler, and C.S. Lewis imagine the terrible possibilities of unchecked modern tyranny. Join Larry P. Arnn, president of Hillsdale College, and Hillsdale College students in this exploration of 1984, Brave New World, Darkness at Noon, and That Hideous Strength.

The course includes four lectures and four conversations, each about 30 minutes long. It is structured with one lecture about each book followed by a conversation between Dr. Arnn and the students about themes from that book.

Orwell explores the possibility of a regime influencing human nature by controlling history and reforming language to limit the range of ideas its subjects can contemplate. Although the novel does not provide hope to the characters, the reader is inspired to courageous resistance against such a regime.

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