Privacy In George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four

Imagine a world ruled by a government that will punish you for thinking the wrong way. In George Orwell’s novel, Nineteen-Eighty-Four, there are various points as well as examples in which the leading character, Winston Smith, is under extreme surveillance under the eyes of the almighty Big Brother. Big Brother is the governmental persona of the country of Oceania and of, “The Party,” who always watch their citizens while constantly checking for their loyalty along with their unwavering devotion. Thankfully, the nations of today do not react in that manner, but is it a possibility that the lands that we, as individuals, reside in could turn like that of Orwell’s vision of Nineteen-Eighty-Four? Could our privacy become violated, directly resembling

Whether it be through the childrens youthful, malleable, minds your own television set, or even a camera on a wall, you’re always being watched. For example, in the novel, Winston’s neighbor, Tom Parsons, has few children. The children are consistently afflicted with outside influences from the student sof Big Brother. They are so loyal to their own country that they report their father to the Thought Police. Tom stated, “ ‘It was my little daughter, [. . .] she listened at the keyhole. Heard what I was saying, and nipped off to the patrols the very next day. Pretty smart for a nipper of seven, eh? I don’t bear her any grudge for it. In fact, I’m proud of her. It show I brought her up in the right spirit anyway,” (Orwell, page 233). This therefore shows that Oceania’s Big Brother figure was influencing its youth to work against their own family, their blood, just for the sake of keeping false peace in an unforgiving nation. Another form of privacy violation that happened in Nineteen-Eighty-Four was between Winston and his love interest, Julia. In a later part of the novel, Julia and Winston are engaging in sexual intercourse. They consistently engage with one another hoping that Big Brother isn’t watching in someway as there is no telescreen in the room that they are in. Unfortunately, not all, “blessings” last forever. While in the midst of their heated intercourse, they talk to one another, and almost immediately, a voice repeats what is said. “ ‘You are the dead,’ said an iron voice behind them. [. . .] ‘You are the dead,’ repeated the iron voice. ‘It was behind the picture,’ breathed Julia. ‘It was behind the picture,’ said the voice. ‘Remain exactly where you are. Make no movement until you are ordered,’ “ (Orwell, page 221). In a common form of practice today, intercourse is viewed as sacred. Nobody would want someone else watching them have sex. So,