How Is 1984 Still Relevant Today

The book 1984 depicts a utopia built on a world of fear and corrupted power. While the book seems like a false thing, 2016-17 has shown that objects of this book are in the world today. When it comes to power and people, 1984 is slowly becoming a reality. This is shown in today’s technology, in Trump’s Immigrant ban, and in the ‘sin taxes’. While 1984 seems like a weird book that most every highschooler reads, this fictional story is slowly becoming America’s reality.
Everyday, little by little, our society is changing into the settings of 1984. While it is not as extreme or disturbing as 1984’s society it is becoming like it. Some similarities are how the government controls the media and what we can see or not see, just like how thought
police controlled how people thought or what they couldn’t think. In 1984 the people controlled where they could or couldn’t be and what people could be in specific places. This is almost the same as how Trump’s American is just like in 1984. He is almost just like the enforcers and the Big Brother society. In 1984 telescreens are a big part of everyone’s daily life. They are in their homes, outside on the streets, at their works, just in every public or private place. Telescreens broadcast news, announcements, propaganda, and watch the people’s daily life. Making sure that no one goes out of strict order, like thinking, writing, etc., because by doing that you would be committing a ‘thoughtcrime’. While it seems crazy to think that someone is watching your every move at all hours of the day, that happens in people’s lives today whether they know it or not. Social media today keeps records of what we watch, like, dislike, share, the list goes on and on. We are watched as well.
Our phone calls, computer's browsing histories, social security, and zip code numbers are accessible by the government. Cameras record us on the daily, spying on our routines. Always being monitored
Big Brother, the face of everything in 1984. This possible real, possible fake person is the leader behind the great power of this totalitarian system. Big Brother is supposed to be a trustworthy person that everyone should find safe, but he is most the opposite. He is always watch, waiting for a thoughtcriminal to appear so he can take them and lock them away in Ministry of Love.
Big Brother is the big symbol of 1984 just like how Trump is the big symbol of the Republican party. Trump is trying to make today's society just like the totalitarian one of 1984. Trump lies and listeners either cower in fear, stammer in disbelief, or try to see how they can turn the lie to their own benefit. Just like in 1984 Big Brother lies to everyone on how ‘hate week’ is a great thing. Trump achieves power by being shallow, impulsive, incompetent, inconsistent, and contemptuous of truth and reason. He has made people think that he is superior because of this, just like Big
Brother. “Sin taxes”.
In 1984 these are a big part of people’s lives. These “sin taxes” deprive people from natural things like sex, chocolate, alcohol, reading, etc. etc. In 1984 is is unacceptable to have sex for anything other than procreating children. To have sex for pleasure is illegal. Eating chocolate is also considered pleasurable, as well as drinking high quality alcohol. Reading books is also unallowed because it will give you knowledge that you are not supposed to know. Food is rationed and the 1984’s government makes the people believe that it is of good quality, when in fact, it is not. All of this is intended to keep people in 1984 from seeing life’s pleasures. Doing that could possibly make them lose interest and loyalty in Big
Brother. Today we also have these “sin taxes”. Forced to pay a penalty for purchasing alcohol and tobacco. Drinks are regulated in places by sizes and we have to pay for gas and the government scolds us when we drive big car, trucks, or suvs. Even the quality of our food is horrible.

In the end, America is slowly becoming the horrifying utopia like in 1984. Orwell’s book based with fear, cruelty, anxiety, and hatred is what is becoming of our society. It could even be disturbing than even Orwell knows. It is even been said that, “The world of 1984 is a perfect metaphor for today” (Futcher). People are able to watch your every move, Trump’s america is becoming a reality in today’s society, and “sin taxes” are in our everyday lives.