George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four 1984

Nineteen Eighty Four Short Essay

In Canada, we have the freedom to do almost anything. In the novel Nineteen Eighty Four, there is no freedom. Although there are no laws in Oceania, there are consequences to doing thoughtcrime. The consequences are used not for punishment but for the limitation of people who may perform a crime in the future. There are many differences in our society today and the society that of Nineteen Eighty Four.

In our society today, we encourage thinking. Even in schools, children are taught to express themselves in any way possible. Story writing, acting, or even art, there are a variety of ways to achieve that while in Oceania, children are taught to spy on their parents to see if they are having thoughtcrimes. Thoughtcrime is a word in Newspeak that controls any individual thought. One cannot think on his or her own. He or she can only think what the government tells or allows him or her to think. If they are ever caught with thoughtcrime, he or she would be vapourized.

Freedom of speech is limited due to the fact that thought can lead to the destruction of the government. Speech is also restricted due the Newspeak. Newspeak limits the words one can use to eliminate thoughtcrime. Without words, one cannot fully express themselves.

The people of Oceania do not have the freedom of expression like we do. Without thought, there is no expressions of any kind, which makes him or her a goodthinker. A goodthinker is one that knows naturally, without thought, how to behave or act according to the government. In society today, there is freedom of expression everywhere. In magazines, on televisions, on people themselves and even communication. People express themselves through their clothing, while in the book, everyone wears the same thing.

There is no freedom of expression whatsoever. In both magazines and television, people express their opinion all the time with no fear of being vapourized or the fear of the consequences the community of Oceania has to face. Today, people will protest against the government for what they believe in. For example, teachers protested Bill 160 in the streets against the government. There would never be public protests against the government in Oceania.

History is important for one to know of what has happened in the past and learn from it. We are able to learn history through books, videos and even from people.