Differences And Similarities Between 1984 And 2081

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In dystopian literature, the societies people are living in are often corrupt, and the worlds of 1984 and “2081” are no exception. In 1984, the main character Winston lives in a world where the citizens must love their leader Big Brother or be subjected to severe penalties. Similarly, the society of “2081” is completely equal, with no one stronger, more beautiful, or more intelligent than another thanks to the handicaps the citizens are forced to wear. In the novel 1984 and the short story “2081”, inhumanity in their societies is shown through the memories that are taken from their people and from the cruel ways they are punished. The two civilizations both brainwash their citizens by changing their memories. For instance, in “2081”, …show more content…

For example, in “2081” when talking about the punishment for taking weights out of the handicap, George says , “‘Two years in prison and two thousand dollars for every ball I took out,’” (Vonnegut 1). In their world, citizens can become criminals for trying to remove any of the handicaps that are meant to weaken them and make them more like the average. This fear of jail time and fees causes all of the citizens to always wear their handicaps out in public regardless of whether they want to or not. If one citizen steps out of line, others could follow, so in order to prevent this, the government make their punishments harsh for even the smallest of crimes. Keeping their citizens in line with the use of intimidation is brutal, and by not letting them be themselves, their government is stifling their humanity. Also, in 1984 when Winston is in the Ministry of Love, he observed another prisoner was, “dying of starvation,” (Orwell 35). Besides starvation, the Ministry of Love would beat up and torture prisoners using electric shock and the prisoners’ greatest fears to get what they wanted. Subjecting someone to these barbaric conditions and causing someone to have physical and psychological pain is a form of inhumane torture. By using scare tactics in both worlds, their governments are able to keep better control over their citizens since they live in fear of their rulers’

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