Premium Essay

1984 Government Control

Submitted By
Words 1696
Pages 7
George Orwell uses 1984 to show how the government can control everyone in the country and remain in control by exploiting the people’s right to privacy, their right to social life, the right to access accurate information to have an opinion. When the government can maintain absolute power over the people, it is possible to stop any kind of revolution against them. In the today’s world, technology is the same as the government from 1984.

The government exploits the right of privacy by watching over everyone at every moment, having children to be loyal to the government and controlling people’s thoughts.
The government watches over everyone by an electronic object called telescreen. When Winston is at his home, “Any sound that Winston made, …show more content…
Without a strong feeling, it reassures that there would not be a single person who would want to rise up against the government. In today’s world, people’s privacy is exploited by technology. Morden technology makes it harder and harder to keep privacy. Since one would end up freely sharing private information or would be invaded by an outsider. In 1984, the government’s invasion in the people’s privacy by watching over them, having children as spies and having them discharge their hatred, makes the people helpless independently allowing the government to remain in control of the …show more content…
The government alters the information about the past and the information that is given to them in the present then sends it out to the people. By controlling the past and the present, the government also controls the future of the country. At Winston’s workplace, there is a department called Records Department where documents “have been rewritten a dozen times still stood on the files bearing its original date, and no other copy existed to contradict it” (Orwell 43). There is only edited information and all the truth is destroyed and rewritten as the government wants it. Without accurate information, people have no idea about how wrong the information given to them is. By restricting the information given to people, the government is sure that there are no strong bases of a powerful group. To have a group, there must be a purpose, and without information, there can not be a purpose. The government vaporises anyone with too much information. Vaporise is a word used to symbolize complete disappearance of a person without a clue on what happened. Winston foresees that his colleague, named Syme, is going to be vaporised. The reason is that Syme has too much information about the Party and its true aim. One morning when Winston goes to work, Syme was missing from work. When

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

An Analysis Of George Orwell's '1984' By George Orwell

...If ‘1984’ by George Orwell had been written in a different time and place, how and why might it differ? The novel ‘1984’ by George Orwell, written in 1948, is a tragic illustration of what the world would be without the freedom to think independently. The internal context of the novel, which is set in London in 1984, whose protagonist is a rebellious low ranking party member called Winston Smith, is meant to portray a world of government domination defined by fear, hatred and ultimate control. The mode of the novel is written and the tenor is close as the story is told in limited third person. The target audience of the novel is people interested in reading and politics. Orwell wrote ‘1984’ as a warning against totalitarian tendencies and...

Words: 999 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Similarities Between 1984 And V For Vendetta

...Dystopian societies commonly feature in literature, representing what humanity could amount to if corrupted people acquired power. George Orwell’s 1984 is one of literature’s classics, exposing a dystopian society where control over one’s life is removed. V for Vendetta, adapted by James McTeigue, is one of many films based on the themes and ideas of 1984. Both texts exhibit how the Government abuse its power of science and technology to manipulate its people and control their lives by falsifying information, and confiscating their freedom. Invasion of privacy, manipulation in broadcastings and erasing people from existence are considered normal under the government’s forcible reign. Controlling everyday aspects of life to manipulate society...

Words: 999 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

1984 George Orwell Analysis

...Beale, Lewis. "Opinion: We're Living '1984' Today." CNN. Cable News Network, 3 Aug. 2013. Web. 01 Nov. 2015. Lewis Beale a CNN journalist wrote a news story on how George Orwell's 1984 is happening now in today's society. Beale goes on to tell on how the government is constantly monitoring citizens through social media and surveillance cameras in public areas. using fear to shape citizens into the civilians the government wants them to be. He compares today's society to the scary futuristic community Orwell imagined. Lewis tells on how today's society is willing to give up freedom and their right to privacy because of fear. That the government uses fear to spy on everyone, he gives the example of the government using terrorism as way to spy on citizens through social media. With this article being opinion based, Beale makes it clear and understandable for the reader to see his viewpoint. It has a easy to read layout with bold titles making it clear on what each paragraph is about. The Fact that the article was published on CNN, makes it...

Words: 1819 - Pages: 8

Premium Essay

Student

...Name Tutor Course Date In the modern world, government control has been limited by democracy in an important way. As a matter of fact, the world has come a long way. Considering the case of 1984, we are able to appreciate the struggle that has been done in different countries across the world. Democracy is essential in regulating government actions. Democracy is applied in making decisions concerning politics, economy and social issues. In democratic societies, people are allowed to join civil groups that advocate for human rights and equality. The citizens are supposed to have their views put into consideration before major political decisions are made. Managing democratic governments is not easy, patience is important because everybody want to be heard. In the recent past, we have seen a wave of unrest in Arab countries such as Libya and Egypt. This means that people are tired of the old way of doing governing countries like in the case of 1984. Winston experiences difficult time in dealing with government that exercises total control. Although he is not happy with the government, he has no choice. This form of government exercises total authority over her citizens. This is evident when the author says, “Party’s parading of political enemies through public squares is a demonstration of psychological manipulation” (Orwell 25). This shows the mindset of people who are supposed to act the way government demands. In today’s world the case is different. Democracy has taken...

Words: 1809 - Pages: 8

Premium Essay

V for Vendetta vs 1984

...However, they are on your trail. Once you get caught, there is no hope. This was what life was like for the inhabitants of 1984 and V for Vendetta. It was an existence full of ironic satirical tragedies, fruitless hope and rebellion. The people that are living in George Orwell’s 1984 and Wachowski brothers’ V for Vendetta are both the victims of a dystopian society. The society of 1984 and V for Vendetta heavily influenced by the possible alternate future in which Germany and the Soviet Union wins WWII and the conquered Great Britain is forced to become a fascist or a communist state. The government is shown to be playing a manipulative puppet-master role to the people in both societies. The two governments have gained absolute power over their people due to psychological motivation by the use of propaganda. Humanity is often criticized to be nothing more than evolved Neanderthals, striving for our own survival. These two novels show that human will turn a blind eye to any wrong-doing if there is a benefit for them. It analyzes how extreme human greed can be and how humans have great amounts of weakness. Both the text 1984 and V for Vendetta is a satire that ridicules the enemy leaders of World War II, exaggerates government manipulation, and criticizes humanity. The two satires ridicule the World War II leaders and the tactics involved. The society in 1984 is a ridiculed society that support communism; this is similar to the Stalin Russia in WWII. “… the Russian Communists came...

Words: 1671 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

Brave New World

...The Longer Lasting World Brave New World and 1984 are two novels that both take place in a totalitarian world; however the two worlds are very different. Huxley explains a world where the only things that are forbidden is having babies, being unhappy/questioning the state, and refusing to do the jobs and duties assigned to them. Contrastingly, 1984 is much more restrictive in the fact that they have complete control over the people, not allowing them to find love, not giving them privacy, nor allowing them to think badly about the government. Furthermore, in 1984 the government puts effort in inducing fear in the citizens by saying that they are in war, and they also use threats of torture if someone steps out of line, even in the slightest. Although both regimes control their citizens through the destruction of social relations, technology and controlling their sense of freedom, Huxley’s world state will clearly outlive Orwell’s party because Brave New World supports the development of a blissfully ignorant society, thus preventing rebellion, whereas 1984’s use of fear will inevitably destroy the stability of the nation. In addition to their methods, the destruction of social relations is something that appears in both texts. In Brave New World, sex is encouraged because it keeps people happy, though love is not. The state does not encourage the people to fall in love with someone because love leads to the want to start a family and have kids. Although both societies do...

Words: 1136 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Moder Totalitarianism

...alert nations that communism was not as great as it sounded. British writer George Orwell wrote the novel 1984 published by Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Inc. in 1949. 1984 is a political novel written with the purpose of warning readers in the West of the dangers of totalitarian government. In 1949, the Cold War had not yet escalated, and many Americans supported communism as possible political systems for the west. Therefore, Orwell wrote his novel in order to expose the cruelty and oppression of communist countries. In his dystopian nation, Orwell gave a sneak peak of what a country could become if the people gave all the power to the government. In 1984, Orwell portrays the perfect totalitarian society in which the government monitors and controls every aspect of human life to the extent that having a disloyal thought is against the law. They do so with the use of technology such as tele screens and microphones across the city which allowed the government to monitor all the citizens almost all of the times. In order to keep the citizens of London loyal and obedient to the government, they use psychological manipulation designed to overwhelm the minds capacity for independent thought. Every citizen has a giant tele screen which not only monitors their behavior, but also feed citizens with positive propaganda of the government which makes them believe their government is successful in every way. "WAR IS PEACE, FREEDOM IS SLAVERY,...

Words: 2560 - Pages: 11

Premium Essay

1984 Compared To Today

...1984, a novel written by author George Orwell, has multiple different aspects that are similar to today’s society. Two of the multiple applicable aspects in the book are telescreens and the endless war that occurs throughout the novel. Orwell’s use of telescreens and an endless state of war allows him to portray a society that is aptly similar to today’s use of surveillance and the world’s infinitely occurring wars. Worldly views of today’s government are exceptionally applicable to the government in the novel 1984 in many ways. In the novel, the government maintains control over everything that happens in the country. Whether it is through the use of telescreens to the constant state of war, the government somehow asserts control over its people. In today’s society, the government maintains control through the monitoring of social media, and through a sense of safety in our country’s ample military. Today’s world, just as in the novel exploits the people’s gullibility. In the novel, the government changes facts to better improve its status. Today, biased news has become a major influence in the view of the government. In the novel, just as in real life, the government asserts power and control in multiple different ways....

Words: 532 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

George Orwell 1984 Vs Today

...of the American government, but they are also witnesses who refuse to do anything about the injustice. George Orwell’s 1984, portrays life under an oppressive government that constantly spys on citizens, presents misleading media, and is constantly fighting a foreign enemy. Today in 2016, the United States government spies on citizens through technology, allows a media oligarchy, and is constantly in the midst of a never ending war. The unacceptable actions of the government in Orwell’s 1984 and today are eerily similar, and the...

Words: 1015 - Pages: 5

Free Essay

Brave New World Comparative Essay

...it feels as if we are pressured to feel or act a certain way by the government and that we are not in control of ourselves, but they are. The two novels Brave New World and 1984 are both good examples of complete government control but when comparing the two it is evident that the governments have different views on the control of sex and morality. In the novel Brave New World it is obvious that the government is in complete control of its society. Within this government it control the thoughts, actions and fate of all citizens starting from before the human is even born. "We also predestine and condition. We decant our babies and socialized human beings, as Alphas or Epsilons, as future sewer Workers or future...He was going to say future World Controllers, but correcting himself, said Future Directors of Hatcheries instead" By stating this, the impression is given that the government has ultimate plans for every human, they choose those plans and abide by them for their own benefit. From even before a child is born they are categorized and have a job chosen for them. By choosing these jobs the government in the long run is also controlling the future of their society and their hope was to have many World Controllers also known as Future Directors of Hatcheries, which is a job that will continue the idea of ultimate control. Similarly, in the novel 1984 the government also attempts to have complete control of the minds and bodies of its citizens. One citizen in particular...

Words: 901 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

1984

...Rachel S. Stoker Mr. Saluga Honors English 10 20 April 2015 Government’s Humanity A government is a body of power used to control a nation. Different governments use different tactics. There’s democracy, socialism, monarchy, communism, and many more. Some rule with love, others rule with fear. The government portrayed in 1984 is known as “totalitarianism.” They control everyone and everything. In order to do so, the government manipulates humans by using their own traits against them. Some say this is dehumanizing them. However, you cannot dehumanize someone by using their human qualities, instincts, and natural survival tactics belonging to humans. For example, the number one instinct humans have is self-preservation. They will do whatever they can to survive, no matter what the case. To survive in the era of 1984, is to comply. The people of that time are forced to abide by every law and rule set by the totalitarianism style government. As a result of self-preservation is a natural tactic of survival for human beings, it’s something they will do subconsciously and automatically. Conforming, in this case, is requiring to “remove emotion” and individuality. In those places, they incorporate routine, acceptance, and – most importantly – taking away thought. They practically become robots in some ways. To self-preserve, people automatically conform. Whether they wish to or not, the human mind will do anything to preserve itself. It took a decent amount...

Words: 599 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Technology In 1984

..."If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear." This quote from the book 1984, by George Orwell, portrays a theme that is consistent throughout the novel: freedom. Imagine a world where you have no freedoms; you cannot state your opinion and even having your own thoughts could be detrimental. Well, George Orwell decided to take this idea and create a story out of it called 1984. This novel is definitely worth the read and deserves to be discussed. First, I will assess the importance of reading this novel. Then, I will compare Orwell's vision of the future to our reality by looking at the government's power, our civil rights, and how technology advancements have affected our freedoms. Although...

Words: 1174 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Utilitarianism In 1984

...1984 in 2014 In 1984, George Orwell describes life in a world with an ideal government that has society’s support and citizens that obey all laws. Otherwise known as a “negative utopia,” Oceania is ruled by The Party, composed of different Ministries to maintain their compliant citizens. Thought Police work for The Party to identify those who oppose The Party by monitoring every action taken and word spoken. “Telescreens" and hidden microphones allow for effective monitoring, but the only thing they cannot know for sure are the thoughts that citizens keep in the privacy of their mind. As Winston’s life progresses in 1984, he becomes more aware of his and other’s opposition to The Party, and accepts the memories that The Party does not want...

Words: 1104 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

None

...Ben Burrows English 12 Daulerio George Orwell's famous book 1984 was written as a political novel to warn people of the dangers of facing Communism in a totalitarian government. This book not only warned the world of potential dangers of being ruled this type of government, but it also presented some controversial new societal trends and technological advancement ideas for the future. Little did society know that Orwell's technology predictions in this book would actually come true in the near future. Orwell was especially concerned with the technological role in these governments, allowing them to control and keep an eye on their citizens. People in the time period that this book was written had a hard time grasping what Orwell was predicting. Many of his ideas and concepts were said not to happen for thousands of years, some were even claimed impossible to be done. In actuality, as we know today, a good amount of Orwell's predictions in the book 1984 have already became a reality. Orwell presented these ideas to warn people of what might be ahead and to be careful, but it may have created an opposite effect. His ideas may have actually had society work towards making his predictions come true. Orwell's book 1984 revealed how powerful technology could be, as the Party, or "Big Brother", used its complex technology to monitor and implement fear into those it identifies as its enemies. One of the devices the Party used for this purpose was the "telescreen"...

Words: 1367 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

1984: Today's Relevance To The Modern World

...The novel “1984” describes the results of drastic totalitarianism which tramples the dignity of humans who are under the control of an omnipresent, Big Brother. Many people do not believe that the novel “1984” is significant to our society. Likewise they think that the novel itself posses very little relevance to the modern world. Though many people might think 1984 is solely relevant to the post after World War II politics, but the fact is that today any of us could become Winston or Julia. It is clear that the circumstances of novel “1984” are revealing to our society with the three slogans; War is Peace, Freedom is Slavery, and Ignorance is Strength, invasion of privacy and physical Control. This essay will go on to discuss these points in greater detail. “War is Peace, Freedom is slavery, Ignorance is Strength” which is the three slogans of the English Socialist Party of Oceania emerges the...

Words: 1996 - Pages: 8