George Orwell’s 1984 is a haunting depiction of a dystopian society where individualism and free thought are suppressed, and the government has complete control over the lives of its citizens. Although the book was written in 1949, many of its themes and ideas are still relevant today. In fact, many aspects of modern society are reflected in the book, from the use of technology to the manipulation of language. This essay will explore how the book 1984 reflects modern society with text references. One of the most striking parallels between 1984 and modern society is the use of technology to monitor and control citizens. In the book, the government uses telescreens to keep an eye on its citizens, and citizens are encouraged to report any suspicious behavior they observe. This is reminiscent of the surveillance state that many countries have become today, with governments using technology to track their citizens' movements and communications. As Orwell writes, “there was of course no way of knowing whether you were being watched at any given moment… You had to live – did live, from habit that became instinct – in the assumption that every sound you made was overheard, and, except in darkness, every movement scrutinized” (Orwell, 4). …show more content…
In the book, the government has created a language called Newspeak, which is designed to limit freedom of thought and prevent citizens from questioning the government’s actions. This is similar to the way in which language is manipulated in modern society, with words being redefined or reinterpreted to suit political agendas. As Orwell writes, “Don't you see that the whole aim of Newspeak is to narrow the range of thought? In the end, we shall make thoughtcrime literally impossible, because there will be no words in which to express it” (Orwell,