Since the beginning of time man has tried to build vast empires to control the globe. Manifest Destiny has been sown into our human nature creating in us the desire to conquer. In the United States, we are accustomed to a safe democratic government where everyone has a voice and freedoms, but what if it all changed? What would it even look like for America to be stripped of all our freedoms, rights, and liberties? We think this is crazy and could never happen, but George Orwell illustrates, throughout his novel 1984, the possible dangers of complete government control. Even though this exaggerated society seems farfetched, many of his fictional governmental qualities are starting to line up with our government today.
Ellis, Elizabeth, and Anthony Esler. World History: The Modern Era. 1st Ed. Pearson Prentice Hall, 2007. Print.
A poll conducted by the Pew Research Center in 2006 found that 68 percent of American Muslims expressed an unfavorable opinion of al Qaeda (Jenkins, 2010). The remaining responders of the poll included 27 percent that declined to offer an opinion and five percent that offered support for al Al Qaeda. This poll illustrates; there is a mixed message of whether the extremism is coming from the mosques or actually from more lone-wolf and smaller groups of people. The history or Muslim extremism and violence clearly reflect a past of vitality and illicit activity, which makes it a pertinent threat in today’s world.
Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell portrays a dystopian society that is controlled by a totalitarian dictatorship. Through his book, Orwell describes many aspects of society that existed in the late 40’s when he was writing. He used his book to make statements about the serious problems that people were facing in countries that were living under actual totalitarian rule. Through the writing of Nineteen Eighty-Four, Orwell clearly depicts the negative aspects of the post-war period and what totalitarianism would look like when taken to its absolute extreme.
One of George Orwell’s most significant goals as a writer was to receive recognition for his works. Orwell achieved his aim by projecting his political perspectives into fictional works such as 1984 and Animal Farm. His position against totalitarianism is strongly evident throughout his novels and even today Orwell’s works still seem relevant because of the fear of totalitarian governments perpetuated by the media and the recent democratic uprisings in the Middle East against dictatorial regimes. In this essay, I argue that Orwell’s reasons for writing, as he outlines them in his essay “Why I Write,” is to seek literary fame and he found that through incorporating political commentary into his writing; in doing so, Orwell successfully turns his political thoughts into a form of art. Using 1984 and D. J. Taylor’s article “Left, Right, Left, Right,” I will also discuss briefly how Orwell’s novels can apply to contemporary political situations.
One of the most interesting aspects of 1984 is Orwell’s understanding of how thought and language must be subverted in order for the Party to maintain absolute control. Regarding thought, doublethink is the name of this subversion. Arising time and time again in the novel, doublethink is perhaps most clearly defined in Goldstein’s putative treatise as, “the power of holding two contradictory beliefs in one’s mind simultaneously, and accepting both of them” (Orwell 190). It operates as a psychological mechanism that undermines the structure of truth to the point where people see falsehoods as verities and vice versa; the categories of true and false become meaningless. Through the modification of the past and the creation of contradictory mottos, the Party inures its subjects to doublethink, thus, guaranteeing its absolute and unchallenged right to power. The Party is more effective than a typical government because it treats the root cause of disobedience: freedom of thought as opposed to freedom of action.
With the steadily increasing advancement of technology within our generation it is needless to say that George Orwell’s dystopian society depicted in 1984 is gradually becoming reality. The telescreen is an “oblong metal plaque” resembling a modern television that broadcasts government propaganda, news, and approved entertainment. However, these screens are incapable of shutting off completely and are used as two-way monitors to spy on citizen’s daily lives. There is no way of escaping the excessive use of propaganda and surveillance in contemporary society now that TVs, phones, and computers are widely accessible. In relation to 1984 violence, hatred, and sex are broadcasted throughout our modern “telescreens” to brainwash the population,
George Orwell's 1984
War is Peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength. These are the beliefs that the citizens of Oceania, in the novel titled 1984, written by George Orwell, live by. In this novel, Oceania, one of the three remaining world super powers, is a totalitarian, a society headed by 'Big Brother' and his regime, known as the ministries of Truth, Love, and Peace.
Upshur, Jiu-Hwa, Janice J. Terry, Jim Holoka, Richard D. Goff, and George H. Cassar. Thomson advantage Books World History. Compact 4th edition ed. Vol. Comprehensive volume. Belmont: Thompson Wadsworth, 2005. 107-109. Print.
Thinking back into history, many important events have occurred in history since the publication of 1984 by George Orwell in 1949. In no specific order there would be the Holocaust, The creation of the United Nations, NATO (North Atlantic treaty Organization), and even The Iron Curtain being established. After 1984 was published huge events also occurred in history. There was the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Korean war, the Vietnam War, the creation of the Berlin Wall, and the destruction of the Berlin wall, Joseph Stalin dies, and Khrushchev gains power....etc, etc. No matter when a book is published the events in history will always surround it, such as this book.