The Origins of Totalitarianism Literary Elements

Political Theory

The book is written in the context of the 20th century rise of totalitarianism.

Since this is an analytical work, Hannah Arendt, the narrator and author, is always the primary voice. She often attempts to understand and analyze other points of view, but the work is always primarily filtered through her analytical perspective.

The tone of the book is very serious and analytical. Arendt refrains from emotional appeal, even in the face of horrors which no doubt shook her personally. The mood reflects this choice. It is sombre and intense. In the preface to the book, Arendt says that she is writing this book "against the background of both reckless optimism and reckless despair" (vii). The events of the 20th century have created an overly emotional and irrational response, and understandably so. But in order to really comprehend something as horrific as the concentration camp, Arendt must be unafraid to ask any question, and ruthless in her pursuit of truth and understanding.

The major problem for Arendt is how to interpret the rise of totalitarianism, which seems to destroy the continuity of history completely. This problem is solved through a complex historical analysis detailing the stages in the rise of totalitarianism.

Allusion is a very important device in this work. Arendt frequently uses allusion to literature and intellectual works in order to support her arguments or characterize different historical periods. Important allusions include Marcel Proust's "Rememberance of Things Past," Nietzsche's "Thus Spoke Zarathustra," Joseph Conrad's "The Heart of Darkness," Hobbes' "Leviathan" and Edmund Burke's "Reflections on the Revolution in France."

Since this is an analytical work, Arendt largely stays away from using vivid imagery that might get in the way of critical analysis. However, imagery is very important in describing the experience of imperial South Africa. The most straightforward use of imagery comes when Arendt borrows passages of Conrad's novel to describe the "Dark Continent." Imagery is also used sparingly for important emphasis.

Any paradox that exists in this work is a reflection of a paradox that exists in reality. The most obvious of these is the paradox of the failure of the Rights of Man, which is a core problem influencing the development of modern society and the seeming irrationalities of totalitarianism.

It is very common in this work for abstract concepts such as power, nature or history to take on the form of independent life. They are described as self-moving and resemble beings, if not directly humans. This device is used to impress upon the reader the loss of human agency that these movements of modern society have caused. Humans do not create these parts of society, but rather are ruled by them.