Sorry Orwell, It’s Not 1984 Anymore.
“It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity”(Albert Einstein). The novel 1984, a dystopian classic written by George Orwell, depicts Winston Smith, the protagonist, being watched everywhere he goes, even in his own home and public restrooms through telescreens; everywhere he looks he sees propaganda which illustrates the face of the Party, a figure known as Big Brother. He is constantly anxious and paranoid due to constant surveillance, ready at all times to kill to protect himself from his “disappearance.” Does our world parallel the world of 1984, an age where totalitarian leaders strive to regulate every aspect of public and private life? The claim that our world …show more content…
Any sound that Winston made, above the level of a very low whisper, would be picked up by it….so long as he remained within the field of vision which the metal plaque commanded, he could be seen as well as heard” (Orwell 3). This is an example of the totalitarian government in Oceania, dehumanization of the citizens, specifically that of the Outer Party citizens. This form of dehumanization continues throughout the novel by forms of control, limitation, and regulation of emotions, thoughts, and even memories. Winston reveals that the constant surveillance is not in fact used to prevent crime but as a form of disciple, specifying, “It was even conceivable that they watched everybody all the time….You had to live- did live, from habit that became instinct….every sound you made was overheard, and, except in darkness, every movement scrutinized” (Orwell 3). Modern society does not have a totalitarian leader keeping us from doing …show more content…
In the article, “In Britain, Somebody’s Watching You,” author Jennifer Carlie, reports “There is now one camera for every 14 Britons living in London, according to research conducted for the Center for Criminal Justice at the University of Hull” (Carlie). This evidence might lead you to pose the claim that Orwell’s depiction of the telescreen is similar to modern day usage of surveillance due to “seizure of privacy”. Yet in the novel 1984, Winston states he lives in a state where he assumes, “...every sound [he] made was overheard, and except in darkness, every moment scrutinized.” By contrast every “sound” and “moment” in modern day society with the use of surveillance is not scrutinized. We do not need to worry about everything and anything we do or say in this day and age. We are entitled to free speech and have access to communicate opinions and ideas without fear of government retaliation or
“It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity”(Albert Einstein). The novel 1984, a dystopian classic written by George Orwell, depicts Winston Smith, the protagonist, being watched everywhere he goes, even in his own home and public restrooms through telescreens; everywhere he looks he sees propaganda which illustrates the face of the Party, a figure known as Big Brother. He is constantly anxious and paranoid due to constant surveillance, ready at all times to kill to protect himself from his “disappearance.” Does our world parallel the world of 1984, an age where totalitarian leaders strive to regulate every aspect of public and private life? The claim that our world …show more content…
Any sound that Winston made, above the level of a very low whisper, would be picked up by it….so long as he remained within the field of vision which the metal plaque commanded, he could be seen as well as heard” (Orwell 3). This is an example of the totalitarian government in Oceania, dehumanization of the citizens, specifically that of the Outer Party citizens. This form of dehumanization continues throughout the novel by forms of control, limitation, and regulation of emotions, thoughts, and even memories. Winston reveals that the constant surveillance is not in fact used to prevent crime but as a form of disciple, specifying, “It was even conceivable that they watched everybody all the time….You had to live- did live, from habit that became instinct….every sound you made was overheard, and, except in darkness, every movement scrutinized” (Orwell 3). Modern society does not have a totalitarian leader keeping us from doing …show more content…
In the article, “In Britain, Somebody’s Watching You,” author Jennifer Carlie, reports “There is now one camera for every 14 Britons living in London, according to research conducted for the Center for Criminal Justice at the University of Hull” (Carlie). This evidence might lead you to pose the claim that Orwell’s depiction of the telescreen is similar to modern day usage of surveillance due to “seizure of privacy”. Yet in the novel 1984, Winston states he lives in a state where he assumes, “...every sound [he] made was overheard, and except in darkness, every moment scrutinized.” By contrast every “sound” and “moment” in modern day society with the use of surveillance is not scrutinized. We do not need to worry about everything and anything we do or say in this day and age. We are entitled to free speech and have access to communicate opinions and ideas without fear of government retaliation or