1984: A Cautionary Tale

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1984
1984 is a cautionary tale. Argue whether or not we, as a society, have taken his cautions into account. Offer concrete, cited, examples from today’s world and from the text.
Characterized by great democratic advancement, the society has taken cautions into account. The novel has been able to carefully narrate and expose the realities of cold wars in our community. The book can demonstrate a genuine meaning of suppression as being the negation of the people, and a sign of respect to the state, the party, and the leaders. Despite the milestone made in freedom of speech and equality, the society is aware that regulations, laws, and order are a cautionary measure for a peaceful coexistence. In the novel 1984, the governing party puts in place measures of ensuring that each member of the Oceania is monitored and privately watched so that the party’s agenda is not compromised. The ruling party is aware that Winston works for the Ministry of Truth and it is not ready to have its reputation shattered by anyone.
Being seen as a threat to the ruling
party, Winston was put on a scrutiny by the Big Brother. Telescreens were used to record his movement as well as police patrol peeping on citizen’s windows. Right in chapter one, Winston’s work is under close watch so are his thoughts, “Tough crime was not a thing that could be concealed forever. You might dodge successfully for a while, even for years, but sooner or later they were bound to get you.” (Orwell 24). Today’s society is no different. Societies are ruled by power-greedy leaders who would do anything to hide the truth from its people. Orwell’s totalitarian state in 1984 is based on “Ingsoc” which was supported by few intelligent individuals who believed to be better than others. Even though leaders might feel superior today, democracy, media, technology and human rights involvement has been able to neutralize social injustices.
Because the novel was written more than 60 years ago, some argue that 1984 is no longer relevant. Argue, in the form of an essay, either in favour of this idea, or against it – argue either that 1984 is still a relevant text or that it is no longer relevant to our modern society. Your essay will require example from both the novel and from modern society; please include a roughly balance of the two.
Following modern social, political and economic development, 1984 text is irrelevant. According to Orwell, the central party and communist nightmare were purely founded and supported by few intellectual people who thought that they were superior to others. This might not be the case in the modern world today. During the 1984 era, political powers manipulated, banned and even prohibited some text that was seen to be against the presiding party. Winston’s diary and thoughts were at stake as the “Big Brother” watched. The Ministry of truth could not stand for their rights as police were used to arrest or to some extent kill those against the superiors. Freedom was termed as slavery, war as being the only means of peace while ignorance as strength. Fear was used to intimidate Winston from the Ministry of Truth from writing his diary, “He was a lonely ghost uttering a truth that nobody would ever hear. But so long as he uttered it, in some obscure way the continuity was not broken. It was not by making yourself heard but by staying sane that you carried on the human heritage” (Orwell 35).
The current society leaders might be many and lead in different ways, but they are not as communist as the historical leaders. Sometimes they might think that their movement is organized yet is not. In fact, none of the modern society leaders is a danger in mobilizing fear to revolutionize a movement of any kind. Many political analysts have termed President Trump’s advisor Steve Bannon as being a “collectivist”. This might not be true as Leninism ended with the 1984 prototype; branded as strict party organization structures. The 1984 nightmare was not meant to smash the state, but rather create discipline, and remove revolutionaries whose main agenda was to capture the state and execute their ideologies. As much as the current U.S leadership is described as a danger to other societies, it is still more of an authoritarian corporatism than totalitarianism. The leadership is mindful, interested, and obedient to the common good of its citizens.
Does Orwell mean for Winston to be heroic? Be sure to define heroic ( or heroism, or hero) in your composition and include concrete examples of how he either does or does not live up to that definition
Yes, however, Orwell builds Winston’s character in the novel not to symbolise the traditional qualities of a heroic personality directly. Although Winston is genuine in his totalitarianism resistance, Orwell describes him as a failed hero. Contrary to the definition of a hero which is a person being recognized for his/her brave acts; Winston is depicted as being fearful and easily brainwashed by the ruling party as well as the ministry of love. Winston does not come out as the obvious hero, but rather a hero that is weakened and frightened by the harsh realities of “Big Brother”. There are many instances when Winston is tempted to reveal and write the truth in his diary, but when he remembers what the ruling party would do, he shuns away. In page 44, his mind is described as sliding away into the doublethink world, where lies, intimidation and giving false testimony is the order of the day, “ To repudiate morality while laying claim to it, to believe that democracy was impossible and that the Party was the guardian of democracy, to forget whatever was necessary to forget” (Orwell 44). A true hero would not doublethink but rather act. However, Winston’s character was constructed to bring imagery and symbolic heroism..
How does technology affect the party’s ability to control its citizens? In what ways does the party employ technology throughout the book?
In 1984, the concept and motive of the dominant party is the ability to control its people.
Technology has been used to aid in the manipulation, fear, and intimidation of the voiceless citizens. Telescreens, which represents the Big Brother’s secret eye in its entire people, is a clear indication of oppression to people like Winston had to endure. Each citizen was required to have a telescreen in their homes for the Party to monitor and control their activities. Additionally, telescreens were placed in all public places, streets, work and social places. Technology in the book was reinforced so that the society would portray the strictness of government. Without technology, the characters would have found a leeway to go against the government. Winston uses newspaper clippings which can be used against the party and also devices to re-write the dictionary were
prohibited.
What role does Big Brother play within the novel? What effect does he have on Winston?
Big Brother’s role in 1984 is to enforce the law, collect information, spy, and record all the happenings of the citizens. The police would watch and monitor the people’s activities through the telescreens both in the house and the streets, and those found guilty were punishable by law. The Big brother plays a larger than life role of the government as depicted throughout the book. The Big Brother is not a character per say but a scapegoat created to instil fear, intimidate and manipulate the citizens. Using the doublethink strategy, O’Brien affirms to Winston that Big Brother does and does not exist; meaning that he embodies the dominant party. The Brig Brother brings anxiety and terrorization to Winston as he is forced to abide by the laws of the governing party. Additionally, Julia and Winston are forced to rent a small apartment to escape the Big Brother reality, but ultimately they are caught. Finally, the Big Brother represents the overall theme of totalitarian of the book since without the secret eye; and the government would have been powerless.