1984 by George Orwell Essay

Submitted By alexblows

Words: 510

Pages: 3

Open Document

Some people think they need to know everything. In George Orwell’s 1984, people only know what they are told because their government teaches them that "Ignorance Is Strength". The failure of the people to acknowledge the disagreements between things strengthens the power of the strict government in charge and the people don't know what knowledge they are missing.
Throughout the novel, although three slogans are repeated redundantly (War is Peace, Freedom is Slavery, and Ignorance is Strength), the last is the most prevalent. The Party, which is the governmental entity in charge, advertises their slogans almost anywhere one can imagine. Their goal is to be sure the people not only know the slogans, but believe in them and live by them.
These words are the official sayings of the Party, and are written in huge letters on the white pyramid of the Ministry of Truth. The main character, Winston Smith, observes this early on in the story. Because it is introduced so early in the novel, this belief serves as the reader's first introduction to the idea of “doublethink”. “Doublethink” is a way of weakening the independence and strength of individuals' minds and forcing them to live in a relentless state of advertising-induced fear. In this way, the Party is able to force its subjects to accept anything it rules, even if it is entirely illogical. For instance, the Ministry of Peace is in charge of engage in war, the Ministry of Love is in charge of political cruelty, and the Ministry of Truth is in charge of modifying history books to reflect the Party's belief systems rather than what has really happened.
In an imperfect future where nuclear war has divided the world into three cruel superstates, middle-aged Winston Smith works for the Ministry of Truth in the superstate of Oceania, in the city called Airstrip One (used to be London). He has no hope of escaping the observant eye of Big Brother until he meets Julia. Julia is a younger woman who influences him to sneak

George Orwells 1984

GEORGE ORWELL’S 1984 Presented by Samantha Stewart ABOUT THE AUTHOR Born in 1903, Bengal, India, Eric Arthur Blair, later known as George Orwell, was destined to become known as one of the most influential author’s of his time. George Orwell spent the earliest days of his life in India, where his father was stationed. One year after his birth, his mother moved him and his older sister, Marjorie, to Henley-on-Thames, England. At the age of four, he began composing his first poem. His first success…

Words 1190 - Pages 5

George Orwell 1984 Similarities

Governmental Similarities and Inspiration for 1984 George Orwell’s novel 1984 is a premonition of what Orwell believed the world would become if it continued on its present course. Orwell wrote this novel during a very dangerous and controversial time period, and he seemed very dissatisfied with the world he was living in: “I write… because there is some lie that I want to expose, some fact to which I want to draw attention” (Orwell). There were plenty of attention-worthy topics and many lies to…

Words 1320 - Pages 6

George Orwell 1984 Analysis

It has been almost seventy years since George Orwell’s novel, 1984, was first released to the public. Despite the years that have passed since the novel’s inception, the ideas behind Orwell’s fictional story are as prevalent and important as ever. In my view, the fundamental political message of 1984 is how the creation of a mass surveillance state erodes the trust of the people, and ultimately makes the state more fragile. This message has become a central issue throughout the American public and…

Words 1511 - Pages 7

1984 By George Orwell Essay

up from. This is how I would describe the world of 1984 if we had to live in it ourselves. The book “1984” by George Orwell describes the journey of a man named Winston Smith in the dystopian world Orwell predicted could come. I will speak about the three most important parts of understanding the book; the historical background, storyline of the book, and deeper meaning of the story. A key piece to understanding and truly knowing the book “1984”, is knowing the historical background of it. The book…

Words 965 - Pages 4

1984 George Orwell Analysis

that knowledge is power and thus those who control knowledge have all the power. In 1984, the party rewrites history and regulate what is made public and what is destroyed to never be seen again. This has shown to be an effective way to control the citizens in 1984. Although the government believes that controlling the intake of knowledge is the best way to keep society peaceful and ignorant, nevertheless, George Orwell believes this type of control is the most dangerous because, when citizens are naive…

Words 560 - Pages 3

1984 By George Orwell Analysis

The novel 1984 , written by George Orwell, discusses how Winston tries to escape Big Brother’s tyranny. He does it in his own mind but then writes it down in a diary which is punishable by death. If he were to try to do anything out there within the human population it would be an impossible task to complete seeing as though there are telescreens everywhere. Such as in his own home, in his cubicle at work, in the cafeteria where he eats, even in the bathroom stalls. No place is safe for him to do…

Words 1129 - Pages 5

1984 George Orwell Analysis

their own people it is considered as an act of surveillance and it actually takes away peoples’ freedom. In the book 1984 by George Orwell, the Inner Party spies on members of the Outer Party by using telescreens. It is not an effective strategy because the use of the telescreens means going deep into peoples’ minds and pulling out the words that oppose them. For example (from 1984): “Winston kept his back turned to the telescreen. It was safer; though, as he well knew, even a back can be revealing”(1…

Words 364 - Pages 2

1984 George Orwell Analysis

Joseph Goebbels, a Nazi propagandist, once reveals, “A lie told once remains a lie, but a lie told a thousand times becomes the truth.” Through literature, deception can turn thoughts into a favourable weapon. In the novel 1984, George Orwell approaches this concept of manipulating speech, with the eyes of Winston and Julia, the protagonists. Situate in Oceania, a socialist superstate, freedom of speech and thoughts are bound by the big brother’s draconian rules. With the assistance of technology…

Words 879 - Pages 4

1984 By George Orwell: An Analysis

people’s lives and interfere into their private lives. As an example, in the book 1984 written by George Orwell shows how the party was able to control and monitor people’s lives through a telescreen. In the book, the author describes how the telescreen was a very powerful tool that allowed the Party’s leaders not only to interfered into people private lives, but also it was use as mean to keep them in power. People in 1984 had not control of their private life nor did they had control of their own minds…

Words 263 - Pages 2

George Orwell 1984 Analysis

1984 was written by George Orwell in 1949. This book is set in a dystopian society in which Big Brother (the powerful leader) has total control. Winston, a member of the “outer party” attempts to start a rebellion to save himself and others from turning into automatons. The people in this society are all watched through telescreens, and anything like face crime, thought crime can lead to vaporization. Orwell’s warning is to make sure people know and are aware of what can happen to the society if…

Words 745 - Pages 3