According to Mirriam-Webster dictionary the definition of dystopia is “A society characterized by human misery, as squalor, oppression, disease and overcrowding” (Dictionary and Thesaurus). The book 1984, by George Orwell, is a classic example of a dystopian society. The book is about an oligarchy from the future. The government strictly controls all members, and when Winston Smith gets caught working against the government, he is tortured for his actions. The book 1984, by George Orwell, is clearly about a dystopian society because everyone is constantly being watched, the people have no say in how the government is run, and the living conditions are very poor contributing to the misery, oppression, and squalor present in the society. Human …show more content…
Individuals generally have no say in how the government is run. The only people who have any voice in the government are the members of the inner party, who make up only two percent of the population. One of the most basic rights in societies today is the ability to vote, and have input into how the government is run. Society in 1984 is also oppressed by their lack of access to historical facts. Winston’s job at the Ministry of Truth is to modify historical records to reflect positively on the government. By controlling access to the information that society receives the government is further oppressing individuals. Anytime an individual learns something that could harm the government, they are vaporized. “Your name was removed from the registers, every record of everything you had ever done was wiped out, your one-time existence was denied and then forgotten” (Orwell 19). Another way the government oppresses people is by creating a new language that will remove all ideas that may conflict with the government. Syme, the creator of Newspeak, said, Don’t you see that the whole aim of Newspeak is to narrow down the range of thought? In the end we shall make thought-crime latterly impossible, because there will be no words in which to express it (Orwell