1984 Analytical Essay

George Orwell's novel, 1984, is a classic dystopian work that continues to hold relevance to modern society. The novel explores the dangers of government control and manipulation, which have been recurring themes for decades. By comparing a modern-day issue to an issue in 1984, it becomes clear that the dangers of authoritarianism are continuously growing in present-day societies from the invasive techniques of surveillance technology, the usage of propaganda and invalid facts, and the disapprobation of freedoms like speech and liberties. These can all be seen in the book 1984 as well as current day issues and will only be salvageable if the people under control take it upon themselves to fight back against the tyranny of Big Brother's surge

1984 creates a terrifying worldly essence where the government, through the use of telescreens and hidden microphones, monitors every aspect of its citizens' lives. This concept of government surveillance is still relevant today and growing at rates never seen before; with the evolution of technology that can track individuals' every move. According to "Surveillance Capitalism: A New Phase of Capitalism?" author Shoshana Zuboff states that "the combination of ubiquitous sensors and predictive algorithms constitutes a 'surveillance infrastructure' that provides the means for unprecedented forms of intervention in everyday life, from personalized services to precision targeting" (Zuboff, p.9, 2015). This level of surveillance allows for the government or private corporations to track every movement of an individual, and this surveillance infrastructure can be used to control or manipulate their behavior. Luckily for some, countries have found a temporary solution to this invasion of privacy, such as laws like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the European Union, which gives individuals more control over their personal

In the novel, the government controls every aspect of its citizens' lives, including their thoughts and beliefs, using fear and harassment to gain obedience from its citizens. In modern times, this can be seen in the increasing trend towards censorship of speech and expression seen largely in politics and social media. In his article, The Year in Censorship: 2019 in Review, Gennie Gebhart (2020) highlights instances of censorship, such as when "Facebook suspended dozens of accounts, pages, and groups related to a Brazilian fake news operation in July, citing their use of "coordinated inauthentic behavior" and "misleading others" (Gebhart, para. 6, 2020). This censorship can be a slippery slope that leads to a loss of individual liberties and the ability to express oneself freely, which often leads to a rise in violence, anarchy, and actually influences those under duress to fight back against tyranny. As censorship continues to grow in many places, it is important for those experiencing propaganda to break the narrative of silence and begin to speak up for human morals. The anonymous quote “If you lead, they will follow” is a great example for those looking to break the barrier between freedom and