Essay on Orwell: Nineteen Eighty-four and Orwell

Submitted By akimchbi
Words: 791
Pages: 4

Andrew Kim
January 11, 2015
Jonathan's Writing Hw
1984

George Orwell's 1984 is a warning for readers to be more critical and aware of the country they live in because their country has the potential to become a dis-utopia similar to that of 1984's. The dis-utopia created by Orwell demonstrates the failure of an attempt to try an create a utopia based on the government systems we have today. Communism and totalitarianism is shown throughout the book as the protagonist Winston develops a reasoning for wanting a revolution. Winston notices that unnatural standards that Big Brother had created for his “beloved” people and how morally wrong it is to rob people of their free thought. Although the book is a terrifying vision of Orwell's nightmare world where a dominating power makes all the rule, it is clear that this can come into reality. Through Winston's revelation and critical thoughts towards his daily routine, we are able to see how unsatisfied he is with what Big Brother had created. The mass propaganda encouraging children to betray their parents, the guidance of individual thoughts, the lack of privacy, and the constant moments of fear about breaking the law. We see that thought process is limited through NewSpeaks, a language designed to condense the english language, and how it is monitored through implanted technological devices. Subjective laws that prevents any from of social or political retaliation and the falsification of truth. Although we may believe the existence of such a society is impossible, Orwell shows signs through Winston of how we are headed towards this dis-utopia. We have dominating superpowers that have the ability to falsify truth and guide our thought processes. We have subjective laws that bound us and have hidden propaganda messages throughout our censored lives. Orwell's demonstration through Winston thought process can broadens our view of our country. Winston's quote,“Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past.”(p. 35 Orwell) is an example of how a dominate power can define moments in history as they are either the victors from a great war or have the strongest influence. This meaning includes the falsification of information to benefit the reputation of a country or to erase anything ,such as an individual, that may bring harm to the government without a trace. Examples such Japan denying and falsifying their reasoning behind the brutality towards women slaves shows how a country wants to protect its reputation. The most common example can found in history textbooks that focuses on the past glories of certain countries without having mentioning other acts that help portray a countries history. Either way we have large examples of history being perverted towards one's favor and how our thoughts are being shaped by them. If we are not critical of such changes, then this inevitably becomes our truth. Another one of winston's quote, “In the end the Party would announce that two and two made five, and you would have to believe it.” (p. 80 Orwell) is an example of how a