Similarities Between 1984 And North Korea

Joyce Sobin Mr. McCormick ELA II HL 11 March 2024 1984’s Relation with North Korea An authoritarian system of government prioritizes control and order over individual freedom. Particular examples of this kind of totalitarianism can be found in George Orwell's novel, 1984, as well as in actual nations like North Korea. The plot of 1984 centers on Winston Smith, a person living in poverty in Oceania, and his attempts to overthrow the Party and Big Brother, its enduring emblem. North Korea's nightmarish civilization and the isolated nation headed by an all-powerful man are paralleled in 1984. With a communist regime, North Korea epitomizes the authoritarianism of 1984 in many ways, including the country's 11-day mourning period marking the tenth anniversary of former leader Kim Jong Il's passing and his overuse of surveillance cameras, which restricts the freedom of its people.
Simple humane acts like laughing, consuming alcohol, taking part in leisure activities, and even grocery shopping were forbidden during this time of grief. This identical kind of coercion was evident during the Two Minute Hate at the start of 1984. "The horrible thing about the Two Minutes Hate was not that one was obliged to act a part, but, on the contrary, that it was impossible to avoid joining in” (Orwell 18). Winston's incapacity to act independently and his need to fit in with what everyone else was doing are best illustrated by this comment. Winston made the decision to follow the throng despite being aware that he was being persuaded. In 1984, the public was required to accept Big Brother as a divine being. Koreans were likewise required to accept that with King Jong II. If not, they would have both been guilty of thoughtcrime and