Comparing Orwell's Gattaca 'And 1984'

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Compare the ways in which George Orwell in 1984 and Andrew Nicol in Gattaca explore that when systems are unjust people of conscience must act Realistically exploring two distinct dystopias is George Orwell’s 1984 which is set in 1984 and Andrew Nicol’s Gattaca which is set in ‘the not-too-distant future’. Both texts are believable as a result of their historical context. 1984 was written during the reign of the Soviet Union. Where Orwell imposes his fears of Communism and totalitarianism onto the reader through depicting a government with absolute power over the citizens. Gattaca was conversely filmed amidst the contemporary controversy surrounding human genetic engineering. Nicol also tries to persuade the viewer to be against an otherwise advantageous innovation through highlighting the higher …show more content…

On this note, Nicol uses biometrics as a symbol similar to Orwell’s ‘telescreens’ to show how ‘lesser beings’ are kept away from powerful positions. Orwell’s Inner Party is recognisably similar to the police force, scientists, and employees at the Gattaca Aerospace Corporation as these groups have excessive influence and power over the lower classes. While the inferior groups are clearly the ‘faith-births’ from Gattaca and in 1984, the ‘Outer Party’ and ‘Proles’ who are all mutually characterised to be underprivileged and powerless. Nonetheless, the protagonist of 1984, Winston says these ‘animal like people’ are the real ‘human beings’. Nonetheless, Orwell and Nickel show that the constant oppression only adds to the characterisation of the general population who become dehumanised by unjust societies. After all, in 1984 the masses are manipulated and ignorant to the point that they believe that ‘WAR IS PEACE’, ‘FREEDOM IS SLAVERY’, and ‘IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH’ which is the Party’s slogan. Throughout 1984,

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