1984 and North Korea

1269 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Dystopian texts essay

1984 demonstrates a dystopian society in Oceania by presenting a relentless dictator, Big Brother, who uses his power to control the minds of his people and to ensure that his power never exhausts. Aspects of 1984 are evidently established in components of society in North Korea. With both of these society’s under a dictator’s rule, there are many similarities that are distinguished between the two. Orwell’s 1984 becomes parallel to the world of dystopia in North Korea by illustrating a nation that remains isolated under an almighty ruler.
North Korea profoundly corresponds with Oceania by being a highly militarized nation. Although it has been decades since the Korean war, there has been an everlasting tension between North Korea and the nations surrounding it. Every minute of everyday the North Korean army remains armed on its border. Whether it is a South Korean or Chinese citizen trying to cross the border, they will be shot at. This highly militarized state of society was influenced by Kim Il Sung, the tenacious tyrant of North Korea from 1912 to 1994. Kim Il Sung was so paranoid about other nations intervening, that he used the conception of violence and war to prevent outsiders from entering, or even North Koreans from leaving. This strange sense of constant tension between North Korea and other nations reflects an important issue occurring in Oceania. The people of Oceania are to believe that Oceania is constantly at war with one of two nation’s, Eurasia and Eastasia. Big Brother uses the word war in the same calculating way to influence the minds of his people. “The very word ‘war,’ therefore, has become misleading... A peace that was truly permanent would be the same as a permanent war. This... is the inner ...

... middle of paper ...

... Magill’s Survey Of World Literature, Revised Edition (2009): 1-2. Literary Refrence Center. Web. 15 Apr. 2014.
Horvitz, Leslie Alan, and Christopher Catherwood. “human rights violations in North Korea.” Encyclopedia of War Crimes and Genocide. New York: Facts On File., 2006. Modern World History Online. Facts On File, Inc. 13 Apr. 2014.
Orwell, George. 1984. New York: Penguin, 1950.
Peterson, Mark, and Phillip Margulies. “North Korea, 1945-2009.” A Brief History of Korea, Brief History. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2010. Modern World History Online. Facts On File, Inc. 13 Apr. 2014.
Varricchio, Mario. “Power of Images/Images of Power in Brave New World and Nineteen Eighty- Four.” Utopian Studies 10.1 (Winter 1999): 98-114. Rpt. in Children’s Literature Review. Ed. Dana Ferguson. Vol. 151. Detriot: Gale, 2010. Literature Resource Center. Web. 13 Apr. 2014.

Show More
Related

  • Heartbreaking Tale in Escape from Camp 14 by Blaine Hardyn and Imprisoned, Shin Dong-hyuk

    1352 Words  | 3 Pages

    Blaine Harden, former national correspondent and writer for the New York Times, delivers an agonizing and heartbreaking story of one man’s extremely conflicted life in a labor camp and an endeavor of escaping this place he grew up in. This man’s name is Shin Dong-hyuk. Together, Blaine Harden and Shin Dong-hyuk tell us the story of this man’s imprisonment and escape into South Korea and eventually, the United States, from North Korea. This biography that takes place from 1982-2011, reports to its readers on what is really going on in “one of the world’s darkest nations” (back cover of the book), that is run under a communist state and totalitarian dictatorship that was lead by Kim Il-sung, Kim Jong-il, and currently lead by Kim-Jong un. In Escape from Camp 14, Shin shows us the adaptation of his life and how one man can truly evolve from an animal, into a real human being.

    Read More

  • Similarities Between 1984 And 1984

    461 Words  | 1 Pages

    Between the poem, ¨ No one died in Tiananmen Square¨ by William Lutz and the novel, 1984 by George Orwell there are multiple similarities. Subjects such as their government, their denial of history, and the use of doublethink and re-education are all parallel between the novel and the poem. For instance, both the governments have a highly strict government. Their governments are so controlling of their people that they use brute force in order to help re-educate them. For example, in 1984 the main character, Winston Smith was trying to go against their government, The Party, and because he tries to do so, he is placed in The Ministry of Love and brutally beaten by the man whom he assumed was a part of the Brotherhood, O'Brien. O'Brien claimed

    Read More

  • 1984 Government And Totalitarianism

    918 Words  | 2 Pages

    While government as an institution can be used for benevolent purposes, George Orwell’s novel 1984 contends that when taken to an excess in the form of totalitarianism, government becomes dangerously self-serving.

    Read More

  • Thirdly The Clash Of Civilizations: The Clash Of Civilizations

    1154 Words  | 3 Pages

    In addition, the leader’s death was around two decades ago, yet there are over 500 statues of him (Bristow). It is remarkable that North Korea’s life and culture are different from South Korea’s. Bristow writes about these cultural differences between the isolated North and allows the reader to compare and contrast with the developed South. It is true that status symbolizes respect and honor for their past leaders, but North Korea’s massive erection of statues – coupled with the belief that the leader is still alive today – is an uncommon idea that is rooted in an isolated and repressive country. In terms of religion, North Koreans believe in Buddhism and Confucianism, whereas South Koreans believe in Buddhism and Christianity. The differences show that both of these countries stand on the opposite sides of the religious pole. North Korea favors a religion that is widely held by the Chinese, while South Korea embodies a religion that is expressed by the West. Confucianism, at its most basic principles, includes a leader ruling over its people, whereas Christianity pushes for individuals in a society to make important decisions. While

    Read More

  • Comparison Of 1984 And 1984

    1026 Words  | 3 Pages

    Finding yourself takes true inner strength, in the world that so easily consumes you. Corrupting you and leaving you a clone in a fixed society obeying every command given to you. The protagonists

    Read More

  • What Is The Role Of Government In Fahrenheit 451

    571 Words  | 2 Pages

    Fahrenheit 451 can be connected to history on many occasions. The most evident parallel is the direct comparison of the controlling government and the dictating government of, North Korea. In this novel, books are totally illegal, no exceptions. People that are caught with books have no choice but to let their house be burned and spend time in prison. Books are illegal for the simple fact that the government wants their people to stay uneducated. This way, the people are ignorant and happy and there are no reasons for them to rebel or start riots. This same method is used by the supreme leaders of North Korea. These dictators don’t give their people the leisure of reading anything they want; instead, citizens of North Korea can only read books that their former leader, Kim Jong Un wrote. This prohibits North Koreans from becoming curious about the world outside of their tiny cities.

    Read More

  • The Orphan Master's Son Sparknotes

    962 Words  | 2 Pages

    Adam Johnson’s Pulitzer Prize winning novel, The Orphan Master's Son, depicts the tumultuous government of North Korea. Jun Do, the protagonist of the story, experiences multiple fatalities through life such as the struggle of finding his true identity. Although, the novel does not fully represent what goes on within the country's borders. Even so, Johnson has his readers immersed in the topic of North Korean lifestyle and government. The Orphan Master’s Son provides its readers with a only light depiction of Jun Do’s life in present North Korea. Johnson’s description of North Korea is just a small section of what we cannot see due to minimal exposure and censorship of the country's actions, yet it does give some intel on the encounters experienced

    Read More

  • Fahrenheit 451 Critical Analysis

    735 Words  | 2 Pages

    The North Korean government is known as authoritarian socialist; one-man dictatorship. North Korea could be considered a start of a dystopia. Dystopia is a community or society where people are unhappy and usually not treated fairly. This relates how Ray Bradbury's 1953 novel Fahrenheit 451 shows the readers how a lost of connections with people and think for themselves can lead to a corrupt and violent society known as a dystopia.

    Read More

  • The Similarities Between 1984 And Gaddaffi's

    995 Words  | 2 Pages

    The similarities in the book 1984 by George Orwell and the reign of Muammar Al-Gaddafi are quite extensive. Muammar did not start out as a very affluent man, but his wealth grew along with his cruelty. He took a stand to rise to power. But, sometimes taking a stand doesn’t end with positive effects. In fact, this desire to rise to power took an absolute turn for the worst; but to Gaddafi, he was living his dream. 1984 also exhibits how good intentions can turn horribly wrong in the blink of an eye. Oppressive behavior is shown throughout 1984, as well. Their main goal was control people’s minds in order to have a perfect society, but perfect societies do not exist.. Gaddafi’s reign and 1984 show the undying thirst of a ruler to have power, and ultimately this thirst was not quenched until lives were ruined and people’s livelihood was put at stake; this

    Read More

  • 1984 Dehumanization Analysis

    949 Words  | 2 Pages

    In 1984, George Orwell presents an overly controlled society that is run by Big Brother. The protagonist, Winston, attempts to “stay human” in the face of a dehumanizing, totalitarian regime. Big Brother possesses so much control over these people that even the most natural thoughts such as love and sex are considered taboo and are punishable. Big Brother has taken this society and turned each individual against one another. Parents distrust their own offspring, husband and wife turn on one another, and some people turn on their own selves entirely. The people of Oceania become brainwashed by Big Brother. Punishment for any uprising rebellions is punishable harshly.

    Read More

  • Summary Of Hajime Isayama's Attack On Titan

    1753 Words  | 4 Pages

    The corruption is modeled after the very real corruption in North Korea and is used as a lens to examine the country’s governing style and its effect on the North Korean people. The oppression of these people is a direct result of the ghost of the original leader of North Korea, Kim Il-sung, manifesting as a personality cult that brainwashes many powerful people, in the same way the First King brainwashes and controls the Central Military Police, leading to the oppression of the common

    Read More

  • Intervention and American Foreign Policy

    2350 Words  | 5 Pages

    Kim, Yǒng-jin (1973). Major Powers and Korea. Silver Spring, MD: Research Institute on Korean Affairs. 46.

    Read More

  • Power and Corruption in George Orwell´s 1984

    627 Words  | 2 Pages

    North Korea could be described as a dystopian society. For all of its citizens, the Internet is widely monitored and restricted, allowing only limited access. “One could speculate that it is more propaganda about the country, its leaders, or negative coverage about the US.... ... middle of paper ... ...

    Read More

  • Cultural Differences Between North And South Korea

    1393 Words  | 3 Pages

    North and South Korea were not very different politically or culturally from one another before mid 1940’s (White, Bradshaw, Dymond, Chacko, Scheidt, 2014, p. 125). However, North Korea started the Korean War when they invaded South Korea in 1950. These two countries, which were once the same, are vastly different in the areas of politics and culture The Koreas’ continue to disagree and not be at peace with each other since the Korean War despite small steps toward progress over the

    Read More

  • North Korea International Relations: A Realistic Interpretation

    878 Words  | 2 Pages

    Moreover, according to the same theory, relations among states are derived primarily by their level of power, which constitutes basically their military and economic capability, and in pursuit of the national security states strive to attain as many resources as possible. The theoretical model explains thus why the nuclear issue has eventually resulted in identifying with a security one, meaning that North Korea main concern is to assure its survivor, its efforts are in the first place finalized at meeting that target and its only means of pursuing it consists of the posing of the nuclear threat. North Korea finds itself stuck in an economic and, to some extent, diplomatic isolation; even though the financial sanctions leading to the just mentioned critical conditions have been caused by the government inflexible, aggressive and anti-democratic behavior, the regime has no other choice than restate and strengthen its strict and, apparently, definitive positions to ensure its survivor, since at the moment any concession or move toward a more liberal approach breaking the countrys isolation could easily cause a collapse of the whole system.... ... middle of paper ...

    Read More

More about 1984 and North Korea

Open Document