What Is Technology In A Dystopian Novel 1984

Technology is not good, nor is it evil, but rather, it is humanity that determines its purpose and use. In the dystopian novel 1984, written by George Orwell, the government’s rule over the people is attainable through the means of a corrupt use of technology. Technology advances in warfare and mass surveillance, and develops simply to constrain the population. This is shown by the development of warfare and mass surveillance technology present throughout the novel. Since control of the people is essential to the success of the inner party, technology is advancing with the sole purpose of controlling civilians.

The government uses war technologies as a tool to render the nation obedient to their bidding. Funds in Oceania are made available

Currently, there is no such thing as a “Floating Fortress”, but seeing that the setting is set in 1984, and such a feat is possible, simply expresses how much the government spends on the development of militaristic technologies. Notice also that the news preoccupies the entire nation with nonsense reports, of battles and such, that presumably do not even happen. Keeping the nation's attention on armaments of a new killing machine is used to diverge the masses’ scrutiny, and therefore quenches the regime’s thirst to secure complete control. Additionally, the inner party insists that everyone remembers the heroes on the Malabar front. Considering that all three nations are in a constant dispute, a successful conquest on the Malabar front requires unprecedented wartime technologies. Orwell demonstrates this when a news anchor exclaimes “A newsflash has this moment arrived from the Malabar front. Our forces in South India have won a glorious victory. I am authorized to say that

Winston, and other characters confront the frightful face of the inner party, even in their own homes. Telescreens are an essential tool of the party to conduct espionage on its own citizens. Thought police watching the telescreens placed in everyone’s homes gives enough reason to be frightened enough to submit to the regime’s authority: “Any sound that Winston made … would be picked up by it, … You had to live … in the assumption that every sound you made was overheard, … every movement scrutinized” (5). Stories and rumors of people becoming “unpersons” is enough to convince the entire outer party population that allegiance to Big Brother and the party is required in order to survive. One’s life could be in danger from any suspicious signs seen through the telescreen. Rebels like Winston must act remarkably loyal to prevent being suspected. A single sigh as the national anthem plays is enough settle one down in Room 101. To survive, one must irrationally worship Big Brother and the party, or at least do so to the telescreen’s face. Furthermore, simple actions can be seen by the authorities as a crime against the state. Winston is anxious over turning his back to a telescreen “Winston kept his back turned to the telescreen. It was safer, though, as he well knew, even a back can be revealing” (5). Though