Tyler Notah Mr. Magnesi English 1A Jan. 29th, 2023 Essay 3 Rough Draft Throughout our lives, we’ve seen society adapt, seen it grow, seen it change so everyone can live a perfect life. Yet there are many aspects of life that are seen to be little off to many. Also could be said that a novel written by George Orwell could’ve predicted it all but no one noticed until now. This seen throughout the novel titled, ‘1984’ written by George Orwell, that many argue have several topics, themes, and key points that can be seen or related to today’s society. Some topics he touches upon like surveillance or sense of zero privacy, thought crime relating to Cancel Culture, and use of censorship can be seen throughout our world today. George Orwell’s novel …show more content…
This can be seen with Winston going into detail about various topics like the Two Minutes Hate on telescreens that appear essentially everywhere. Adding onto the fact these telescreens display propaganda, with a man’s face on it titling itself, “Big Brother is watching you.” Also with that slogan in mind, it’s providing the sense of surveillance by giving citizens of Oceania a sense of protection and security that someone is watching over them. When really it’s stating how much surveillance they have on everyone, as they watch your every move. Another description of the telescreen Winston provides is his opinion about it stating, “He thought of the telescreen with its never-ending sleeping ear. They could spy upon you night and day, but if they kept your head you could still outwit them.” (210) A similar object can be seen everywhere in the modern world, as technology advances, every individual essentially has a telescreen in their pockets. Phones, televisions, …show more content…
Our protagonist Winston works in the Ministry of Truth, a place where history is being covered up, rewritten, or changed. Covering or censoring anything that goes against the party’s view or will affect the citizens way of life, either or going against the party. If this ever happens, the individual is vaporized, erased from history as if they never existed. A slogan that is said around Oceania backs it up stating, “Who controls the past, controls the future; who controls the present, controls the past.” (44) Implying that the party controls the majority of history, they have the power to erase anything from society. This can be seen today with ‘Cancel Culture’ where the public has the ability to look into the past, or present of individuals lives, if they find something that themselves don’t like they’ll be removed from social media, called-out upon, as they fade as people start to forget about them. One example of this comes from an article by Michael Powell, a scientist Dorian Abbot was set to lecture a class at MIT, but was later canceled, due to him not complying with the class; opposing for a particular race-based class. MIT followed up with a statement saying, “Words matter and have consequences.” (Robert van der hilst) This of course showing similarities between thought police and ‘Cancel Culture’by displaying a sense of being wiped from society, leaving no trace of
George Orwell wrote this novel after World War Ⅱ and showed the risks of a government with absolute control over its people. It was modeled after Stalinist Russia and Nazi Germany. George Orwell explores this theme of the dangers of a totalitarian society
We are not only being watched through our phones but they are making laws and taking our freedoms slowly day by day. If we keep going down this path it could lead to protests and destruction. Tying back to how this connects to today’s society Orwell informs us how “You might dodge successfully for a while, even for years, but sooner or later they were bound to get you” (Part 1, pg 24). He informs us how you can run all you want from the government but they will find you and you will regret disobeying them.
He is aware that the government has complete control over all aspects of the citizens' lives, and this makes him apprehensive. This apprehension is further evidenced when Winston mentions the telescreen, “which could not be turned off”. This quote demonstrates the complete lack of privacy and the constant surveillance that Orwell establishes throughout the novel. In addition to the government’s control, Winston is genuinely concerned with the future of truth and the dissemination of information.
Imagine a society controlled by the government, where one is constantly monitored and no one has any individual rights. Dystopian novels such as Brave New World by Aldous Huxley and 1984 by George Orwell depict these potential totalitarian ruled societies and attempt to act as cautionary tales for future generations. Through their novels, both authors have shown how government control and new technology could limit the freedoms of the individual people. In the dystopian societies that are seen through both novels, the totalitarian government creates a world where the idea of individuality vanishes and human’s thirst for knowledge ceases to exist. The concept of an oppressive government is seen throughout 1984 with how the government controls
One of the most prominent themes of 1984 is government surveillance and control. The novel portrays a society where the government, through its pervasive “telescreen” and “Thought Police”, monitors and controls every aspect of its citizens. It was a constant displays of news, propaganda and wellness programming. The telesceen is much like our modern television; however, it displays only a single channel that can never be turned off and the screen also watches its viewers. In addition, there is a constant reminder that “Big Brother is Watching You”.
You can do better than that… That’s better, comrade…” (Orwell,1949, p.36). This shows that people on both sides of the telescreen can see what’s happening on the other side, proving that people in the book are under constant surveillance. A second example that we are under surveillance is in an article by VICE that says,” You are being watched.. Your smartphone is logging your location.
The article reveals the shocking reality of modern surveillance practices, mirroring Orwell's predictions in 1984. The revelations by Snowden exposed the vast scope of government surveillance, raising concerns about privacy and civil liberties in the digital age. This similarity highlights the potential dangers of unchecked surveillance power and the erosion of individual privacy rights. Another instance of surveillance in 1984 is exemplified by the telescreens, which not only transmit propaganda but also monitor individuals at all times. Winston realizes that "the telescreen received and transmitted simultaneously" (Orwell, 1984, p. 6), indicating the constant surveillance and lack of privacy.
These cameras are used to track and monitor citizens' movements, and they have become increasingly popular in recent years. Governments use these cameras to identify individuals and track their movements, which raises concerns about privacy and the government's ability to control citizens. In 1984, the government uses telescreens to monitor citizens' movements and actions. These telescreens are a constant reminder that the government is
The telescreen not only represents the government's control but also the harm of individuality and privacy caused by the use of it. The government's ability to monitor its citizens at all times eliminates any possibility of personal privacy or freedom. The telescreen's function as a tool of propaganda is perceivable through its ability to broadcast government-approved content, including news, entertainment, and even exercises. The constant deluge of government-approved content not only serves to manipulate the thoughts and actions of the citizens, but it also suppresses their freedom. The telescreen symbolizes the government's ability to manipulate its citizens' minds and suppress their unique thoughts and ideas.
George Orwell has raised the prevailing issues and oppression of the power hungry leaders very effectively. He was one of those writers which were against fascism and communism. The parallels between novel’s events and the events in Soviet history are impossible to ignore. Orwell’s main focus in this novel was to portray that how power corrupts a man and he has exposed this through his characters, these characters more importantly symbolize different political figures which gives the text pinnacle. Since communism, imperialism, Stalinism and totalitarianism was not only present in that era but can be related to 21st century too.
Orwell was an adult during the war and experienced the consequences of war. Orwell’s novel 1984 gives insight into the politics of World War II, the time immediately following the war as well. THe ideas presented in this novel were prophetic and can be
While the telescreen is just one of many examples of surveillance used in 1984, it highlights the topic of constant surveillance. Luckily, there are not any telescreens in real life, but mobile phones with social media apps come very close. The social media app TikTok is used to share videos with its users, yet there are many concerns over how much personal information is being stored and shared on
The Relevance of the Surveillance in "1984" Introduction: George Orwell's novel "1984" presents a chilling vision of dystopian society ruled by a totalitarian regime. One of the most pervasive and unsettling themes in the novel is the omnipresence of surveillance and its profound impact on the lives of citizens. Orwell employs characterization, plot, and language to create a deeply realistic portrayal of the effects of surveillance, highlighting its insidious nature and the erosion of individuality and freedom. This essay will explore how the concept of the Thought Police resonates with the challenges we face in the modern world, such as the erosion of privacy, the manipulation of information, and the potential for authoritarian control.
In today’s societies the government has a very easy and efficient way to track and watch humans at any moment,
Technology is a significant part of daily life. Everyone makes use of some form of technology every day. As technology evolves and its quality is made better, it is taking us closer to the world of Big Brother. In his book, 1984, George Orwell describes a world in which society is constantly being watched by “Big Brother,” or their leaders. With current technologies such as GPS and smartphones, our world is not far from the heavy surveillance experienced by people in 1984.