The issues and disputes over surveillance and privacy remain prevalent in current events; citizens of nations throughout the world, especially of the United States ask themselves whether or not government surveillance leads to more or less trust and security. The novel, 1984, also deals with this issue while exploring the impact and consequences of surveillance in a totalitarian society. Through constant surveillance of all citizens, aware and unaware, the governments of Oceania and the United States gain control of each citizen’s thought process and everyday actions in order to gain power and national security; however, results in an invasion of privacy and a loss of overall government trust.
George Orwell’s novel, 1984, depicts the life …show more content…
Winston, like every other citizen of Oceania is impacted by the nation’s strict surveillance. Telescreens, similar to regular televisions, act as security cameras to observe all citizens, who are aware of its purpose. These telescreens enable the government to spy on its citizens all day and all night. In fact, even when a person moves out of sight of the screen, the telescreen will still pick up sound, making it nearly impossible to escape surveillance (Orwell 3). Similar to Oceania, the United States employs constant surveillance to keep tract of its citizens; however, these citizens are not aware of this constant observation. Unlike Oceania, the United States is a capitalist nation, meaning the citizens remain in control of their own properties; receiving more freedom than those under totalitarian governments, such as Oceania. Until the summer of 2013, Americans remained unaware of government spy programs. On June 5, 2013, the British newspaper, the Guardian, published documents which proved the United States spies on its citizens through the National Security Agency, known as the NSA. These documents, released by former NSA …show more content…
Therefore, the impact of differed in each society. In Oceania, surveillance acts as a predominant part of the people’s lives, so much so that they do not remember a time not being monitored. The totalitarian government of Oceania works to achieve total Party cooperation and support, meaning enemies of the Party face harsh consequences by the government. Since the citizens are aware of this surveillance, their actions are influenced so that they are not caught with thoughtcrime, crime against the Party and its beliefs. Winston Smith struggles with constant surveillance throughout the novel. He only expresses original thoughts when he is out of sight from the telescreen, writes in a diary, or believes he is in a safe room without a telescreen. After falsely believing he was not watched, he renounced the government, was arrested and tortured. Other Party members, such as Julia and Mr. Parsons, exhibited anti-Party thoughts and actions. These characters, too, renounced the Party, were caught through surveillance programs, imprisoned, and not released until each person loved and obeyed the Party (Orwell 225). Moreover, the society of Oceania, ruled under a totalitarian government, revolved around government surveillance, emitting a false since of patriotism from its citizens, in order to control the actions, thoughts, and lifestyles
George Orwell’s novel, 1984, depicts the life …show more content…
Winston, like every other citizen of Oceania is impacted by the nation’s strict surveillance. Telescreens, similar to regular televisions, act as security cameras to observe all citizens, who are aware of its purpose. These telescreens enable the government to spy on its citizens all day and all night. In fact, even when a person moves out of sight of the screen, the telescreen will still pick up sound, making it nearly impossible to escape surveillance (Orwell 3). Similar to Oceania, the United States employs constant surveillance to keep tract of its citizens; however, these citizens are not aware of this constant observation. Unlike Oceania, the United States is a capitalist nation, meaning the citizens remain in control of their own properties; receiving more freedom than those under totalitarian governments, such as Oceania. Until the summer of 2013, Americans remained unaware of government spy programs. On June 5, 2013, the British newspaper, the Guardian, published documents which proved the United States spies on its citizens through the National Security Agency, known as the NSA. These documents, released by former NSA …show more content…
Therefore, the impact of differed in each society. In Oceania, surveillance acts as a predominant part of the people’s lives, so much so that they do not remember a time not being monitored. The totalitarian government of Oceania works to achieve total Party cooperation and support, meaning enemies of the Party face harsh consequences by the government. Since the citizens are aware of this surveillance, their actions are influenced so that they are not caught with thoughtcrime, crime against the Party and its beliefs. Winston Smith struggles with constant surveillance throughout the novel. He only expresses original thoughts when he is out of sight from the telescreen, writes in a diary, or believes he is in a safe room without a telescreen. After falsely believing he was not watched, he renounced the government, was arrested and tortured. Other Party members, such as Julia and Mr. Parsons, exhibited anti-Party thoughts and actions. These characters, too, renounced the Party, were caught through surveillance programs, imprisoned, and not released until each person loved and obeyed the Party (Orwell 225). Moreover, the society of Oceania, ruled under a totalitarian government, revolved around government surveillance, emitting a false since of patriotism from its citizens, in order to control the actions, thoughts, and lifestyles