The Importance Of Man Vs. Society

Perhaps one of the greatest novels of our time, 1984 has stood out as a tale that not only serves as a warning to those who would passively watch as injustice was done, but also accurately portrays the ugly sides of human nature. Endowed with many literary themes that arise throughout the novel, the most common and overwhelming theme is “man vs. institution” or “man vs. society” . In the accurate portrayal and address of these many themes, 1984 serves to teach us that while institutions and the whims of society are an accepted part of modern life, one must always be weary about the perception of injustice and the action taken against it. Without constant vigilance, the world risks falling beneath an institution that changes the perception of …show more content…
It is unfortunately impossible to hope to win against an unjust institution that has already established itself as the new “normal”, especially by oneself. This brings to light the importance of keeping a watch on society as a whole and standing up to gain the attention of others when something is wrong. It’ll be too late if the institution is already established and people are used to it, because the one man’s difference then becomes nothing and his stand means nothing to anyone, as shown in 1984. As George Orwell reveals what happened to Wilson, the one man who took a stand when it was too late, “But it was all right, everything was all right, the struggle was finished. He had won the victory over himself. He loved Big Brother” (1984). Wilson’s stand becomes nothing and the proper authorities deal with him and eliminate his individuality, which he could not hope to conceal, and he is left as just another mindless and fearful citizen under Big …show more content…
Nazi Germany was much the same, in that no one spoke up about the injustice of it until it was too late and they could no longer speak up out of fear of death. Even today in present times, North Korea is ruled by a dictator who controls everything, including a radio that you cannot turn off, and people who speak out are killed just like the events in 1984. Once people rise to power, it is easy to alter everyone’s view of what is real and what is false, making it all the more easy to control the people and prevent anyone from standing against them. As Orwell states, “[I]n no case would it have been possible, once the deed was done, to prove that any falsification had taken place” (1984). This warning serves to tell us that once the institution has gotten a hold of the press and the literary aspects of a society, things can be whatever they wish for them to