Nineteen Eighty-Four

The poem "Oppression", written by Jimmy Santiago, discusses the basis oppression, its brutal effects on one’s mind, and the importance of one's ability to seek emancipation. In the first stanza of the poem, Santiago defines oppression as the feeling of "being trampled under" (Baca 3). Santiago continues to explain that oppression "[i]s a question of strength" (1) in regard to the oppressor, and likewise a question "of unshed tears" (2) in regard to the individual enduring oppression. Baca is…

Absolute Power: Destruction at its Finest Although power is coveted by many, it is nothing compared to absolute power—command that has no limitations and is beyond anyone’s control. Absolute power is like the authority Tsar Nicholas II had before the Russian Revolution. The Tsar has a divine right to rule, therefore, his decision, once made, was final. The President of the United States’ power is nothing compared to the Tsar’s absolute power. However, just because one has complete control,…

In the short stories of Harrison Bergeron and The Pedestrian, the author reveals how the government can easily control the minds of the public in the stealthiest way possible. The moral of the stories are quite divergent however they both have the same theme. The government uses technology as a secret weapon to control the minds with corrupt values and a questionable morality. The influence of technology can only be determined by the individual. The interpretation of the stories can be…

Could our language become completely controlled by the government? In 1984, George Orwell wrote about a world in the future where speech was greatly restricted; he called this language “Newspeak”, and it is very similar to the political correctness that is noticeable in America today. It was a language that was created by the totalitarian state, and it was used to limit free thought and any concepts in which the government felt threatened. Political Correctness is the avoidance of the…

In the midst of oppressive rulers, many times throughout history the people of a civilization seek outside help in order to overthrow their exploiters. Repressive leaders weaken morale of its citizens, and make the people unsettled to trust its own leaders. The impact that religion has in the government’s ability to govern and show the people that it’s leaders are in fact of divine right is also profound. In Babylon, King Nabonidus was a very unpopular and unjust leader and was creating unrest…

The three little pig's tale has been an all-time classic that has been told throughout countless years. The tale can be classified as a fable, “a short story that usually concerns animals and intended to teach a lesson". This story has an effective moral that all ages can learn from. Although this story has different interpretations and various versions of the tale, the overall lesson has always been the same. Regardless, I believe that the overall moral of the story is that time and effort will…

The start of the novel Winston Smith goes to part of a city where the “Proles” live. While he’s among the Proles Winston goes to an antique store in the prole district and comes along to find a beautiful old looking paperweight. The store owner Mr. Charrington describes it as “a beautiful little thing” (84). The paperweight is meant to symbolize many of events and things that happen to Winston such as Winston's hopes and dreams and his future with him and Julia. He wants things to be normal…

Ashlynn Hall & Kelsey Bastian Mr. Davis D.C. Govt. 9 November, 2015 Bridge of Spies The movie Bridge of Spies is a suspenseful and inspiring true story of James Donovan, a New York attorney who took national prisoner trading negotiations into his hands. Sacrificing the safety of his family and himself, as well as putting his firm in jeopardy, Donovan was a great example of doing what’s right even when the odds were stacked against him. Throughout the movie, one can see how Donovan stays true to…

Individuality is a particular quality a person possesses that distinguishes one person from others, and presents uniqueness upon that individual. Individuality promotes independence and self-will, which is evident throughout many literature pieces as the individuality of characters advance. Within the novel 1984, Winston Smith is the epitome of a citizen possessing individuality within Oceania as his efforts to maintain self-control of his progress in this totalitarianism society work against…

In addition, the lack of love and mutual interests between Winston and his companion Julia is presented in every dysfunctional relationship. Rather than love, Winston and Julia are connected for the purpose of using each other for their own benefits. Julia is a twenty-six years old Party member who works in the Records Department of the Ministry of Truth. Also, she is part of the Anti-Sex League, which is somewhat ironic considering that she is sexually associating with Winston. In fact, Julia…