Ethical Issues In 1984

George Orwell’s “Nineteen Eighty-Four” novel has been critically well received since it’s release, and holds a particularly strong impact throughout the world today. The dystopian world shown in the plot attracts attention and interest for all the wrong reasons, but the book itself is a glimpse of what the world could become under certain and unfortunate circumstances. This warning was not just relevant in the late 1940’s, but it is today, and will be for as long as free society exists. Oceania’s rule over it’s people is harsh and unfair in many different ways, however some stand out as real ethical issues. Denying basic rights many people enjoy today such as speech and expression, denying life such as intimate relationships, thought, and religion,
as well as baiting citizens into law breaking states of mind so that the government, or “Big Brother” can torture and brainwash them are particularly sensitive areas.
In the book, the main character is Winston, a man who lives in Airstrip One, Oceania. Airstrip One is set in the country formerly known as Great Britain, and is just a small part of the land controlled by Oceania. The majority of the other land is in North and South America, and makes up what would be the United States, Canada, and Mexico among others. Today citizens of these countries all enjoy freedom of expression in multiple ways. Obviously in 1984 Oceania this is not the case, as the people live under constant surveillance and oppression from Big Brother. many would argue that freedom of expression is a basic human right that should always be recognized by a government. Big Brother, along with party members and supporters would disagree, and claim that freedom of expression has no place in society. In fact, the party has plans to change and release an entire new language to only promote
Big Brother, thus keeping the ability to even fathom insulting the party to a minimum. Here lies one major ethical issue readers come across in 1984. The party takes extreme measures throughout the story to ensure that citizens have no voice, no representation, and no influence on the system that governs, directly controls and regulates their lives. Most people don’t even realize they are being oppressed, because it is also illegal to think or claim your mind as your own, which is an entirely different ethical issue. However the few that dare think against Big Brother, such as Winston himself cannot speak of or act out on those thoughts due to fear of intensely unpleasant punishment. Along with speech, writing is also illegal and one of the crimes Winston ultimately pays for in the end. Freedom of expression remains among the most highly valued rights in the free world, and 1984 stands as a reminder of why that is. As previously mentioned, verbal and written forms of expression are not the only forms that are illegal, but thought, and the individual mind are as well.
In fact any form of personalization to one’s life is greatly discouraged and usually outright prohibited under the reign of Big Brother. That also includes happiness, enjoyment, and love. Any amount of love someone can give in their life is reserved for Big Brother. The party comes before family and friends and as a result the significance of social bonds is greatly reduced. Children are taught at a young age to report parents who show even the slightest disrespect towards the government, and marriage is often loveless and exists only for procreation. In regards to this, it is clear that Big Brother owns relationships and love. However another way the party controls emotion is by channeling hate and focus towards other countries by constantly claiming Oceania is at war. This is one way government has figured out the perfect form of control, which is emotional. The citizens of Oceania cling to Big Brother for protection, against real evil which may or may not actually exist. The act of lying in order to gain control of relationships, and emotion and strip individuals of characteristics that make them unique is unethical in every sense of the word. Since there is also no freedom of religion, Big Brother is successfully playing God, by marrying people for the sole purpose of reproduction, and addition of more party members
in the future. This, plus the creation of newspeak proves that Big Brother is still becoming more powerful over time. Ethical issues concerning the 1984 Oceania government surround Winston throughout the entire story. George Orwell paints a perfect picture and enables the audience to envision a dystopian society, in hopes of motivating the world to avoid any similar outcome in the future. Big Brother displays lack of concern for the well being of the citizens, and instead prays on weakness to stay in power. The party’s control reaches deep down into the cour of a persons soul and crushes what makes them human. The people of Oceania are denied freedom of expression, religion, thought, and the government chooses how to use their emotions. This is essentially personality theft on a grand scale, which is unethical in every imaginable way. The party obviously crossed the line years before the novel takes place, and never looked back. The countries that make up Oceania in reality- Great Britain, United States, Canada, and Mexico among others believe that they are obligated to protect their citizens, which includes each person’s sense of identity. As a society we are fortunate this is the reality as opposed to Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four.