In the novel 1984, outward conformity is crucial to the survival of the citizens of Oceania. One character in particular who practices this extremely well is the main character, Winston Smith. He not only conforms outwardly, but also questions his society inwardly, due to the overhanging fear that Miniluv will find and torture him. Winston constantly questions Big Brother and all of the laws that the citizens of Oceania are required to obey while also inwardly questioning his forbidden romance with Julia. Without this rising tension throughout the novel, 1984 would lose its suspenseful tone and would easily lose the focus of readers.
The 1950’s was characterized as a prosperous and conformity for various reasons. One of the main reasons was the development of the suburbs. Since a lot of the black people migrated to the big cities there was rich and middle class families left to live in the suburbs areas to escape the crime of the cities. This mass migration later became known as the “white flight” (Document A). The 1950’s was the times when the American soldiers were coming back home from WWII and many new babies were born.
With the spiritual presence of his family, he feels their support and finally lets everything he has been holding in
He shows glimpses of hope
I can assume a common person in the 1960 would find information in a library. I think information literacy was despite the fact they did not have the technology like we have now days, it was something people would still have to learn to get accurate information. Newspapers, phone books, radio, library with tons of books and encyclopedias were also part of that era that started the necessity for inventors to create what we have today. Information literacy then and now I think it was the same practice just with the different tools.
While there were many reforms between 1920-and 1970, the reforms made during the 1920s, 1930s, and 1960s have had the most longer lasting effect on the United States. The 1920s saw a period with the greatest social reform. Americans were beginning to realize that there was more to life than working, in respect to the fact during the 1920s, “Americans spent more and more of their income on leisure activities like vacations, movies, and sporting events” (Foner 783). The rapid expansion of industries causing the development of the middle class is a primary reason why Americans were able to enjoy leisure activities since the had a steady income coming in. The use of technology increased during this decade, as people were able to afford radios and phonographs.
During his speech addressed to the UN general Assembly given on September 25,1961, John F. Kennedy stated, “Conformity is the Jailer of freedom and the enemy of growth.” In other words, if we all accept the circumstances and go with the flow like dead fish, how can we know what we are capable of accomplishing-how much we can grow, especially as a nation? Conformity can be defined as the compliance with standards, rules, or laws or the moment you willingly chose to fit in when you’re meant to stand out. In the 1950s, a flood of social conformity washed over the country and had people leading similar and stereotypical lives. Many, at the time, strived for the comfort and simplicity depicted in TV shows such as “Father Knows Best” and “Leave it
Conformity is behavior in accordance with socially accepted conventions or standards. Also according to Webster's dictionary social repression is is the act of controlling, subduing or suppressing people, groups and larger social aggregations by interpersonal means. I agree to the greater extent that during the 1950’s were a time of conformity and social repression. In American life housing, genders and culture get an impact on conformity and social repression.
The Right Side of the Sixties: Reexamining Conservatism’s Decade of Transformation. Edited by Laura Jane Gifford and Daniel K. Williams. (New York: Palgrave MacMillan. 2013. vi.
Between 1880 and 1920, as immigrants flooded the United States, the U.S. transitioned from a highly rural, agricultural society to an urban, industrial nation. Although during the Progressive era, progressives sought to push the nation into economic advancement, it was actually President Roosevelt’s New Deal, that restored public confidence and created government programs that led to relief for millions of Americans after Progressivism drove the country into turmoil. The new society established during the progressive era lacked stability, cultivated a sense of despair, high unemployment rates, shrunk and ultimately crashed the economic system. With urbanization, cities grew in number and size providing jobs to those who moved there, however
A truly unique American mass culture saw its creation in the 1920’s where radio shows and movies could be shared all over the country and more Americans were living in cities than ever before. The creation of mass culture in America could be seen as a side effect of all of these new technologies and societal differences that took place in the 20s. Time space compression also had a large effect on mass culture as well. In the 20s because of the creation of new technologies. people could now communicate throughout the country and develop their own similar culture.
By looking deeper into the novel and analyzing specific details Orwell included it can be seen how Orwell used the setting of the story, the city itself as well as the workplace of Winston as a few examples, and also the characters themselves, such as the Parsons, to get readers to see the message he was trying to warn of. The idea of conformity was enforced throughout the story, as shown above, in the ways that all citizens are made to essentially be the same as all others around them, with deadly consequences if they refuse. The theme of dehumanization is also deeply explored as all personal feelings and emotions are outlawed by the Party in an attempt to create people who all are the same. As well the setting is used to present the theme of the dangers of totalitarianism as Winston’s job is to change and “fix” any document that is critical in anyway of the government or expresses free speech. This use of literary devices effectively delivers the theme Orwell was trying to
Throughout Bram Stoker 's time in the Victorian Era, societal norms were prevalent in terms of the seclusion of women 's rights, as well as the religious revival of Catholicism. The time in which Stoker lived was when Catholicism made its breakthrough in english societies. In terms of prominent time periods,"The Victorian Age is in fact above all others an age of religious revival" (Arnstein 149). Because religion was one of the largest changes in the Victorian era, Bram Stoker was surrounded by efforts of incorporating Catholicism back into everyday life. In addition, Stoker grew up in an environment where the "Problem of women 's emancipation in nineteenth century Britain was...recognition for their achievements" (Jihang 49).
Countless people evaluate their life and wish they had the chance to grow up in a different era or decade. An era like The Great Gatsby, everything so grand and luxurious, or a decade like the 50s, when teenagers hung out at the local diner and drove in vintage (vocab word) cars. Nevertheless, nobody gets to choose when they are born. Growing up in any decade, all children experience similar occurrences such as puberty, relationships, and finding themselves; however, growing up in the 80s is vastly different than growing up in today’s world but they both face distinct challenges. When most people think of the 80s, they think of vibrant fashion, upbeat music, and the popular video game Pacman.
