Bradley Nicholas
Banned Book Essay
11/8/14
Mrs. Frazier
“War is peace.
Freedom is slavery.
Ignorance is strength.”
― George Orwell, 1984
1984 is a novel written by George Orwell and published in 1949. Its about a society that is ruled by totalitarian government that uses constant surveillance to control its people. It was banned because a family in Jackson, County, Florida thought it had too much communism, and sexuality between Winston and Julia. Some people see this book as an attack against Soviet ruler Joseph Stalins “Midnight purges”. While others see it as a pro-communist book. It is currently 9th on the ALA’s list of banned classics.
The story is about Winston Smith a low-ranking member of the ruling Party in London, which is part of the nation Oceania. Everywhere Winston, or anybody else, goes they are being watched through telescreens. Everywhere you look is the face of the Party's leader Big Brother. The party controls everything and will rewrite history in order to fit what Big Brother wants to to think. Rebellious thoughts though, are thoughtcrimes and are the worst crime of all. In this story Winston becomes a rebel in his own way and gets caught by Big Brother. “You are a slow learner, Winston."
"How can I help it? How can I help but see what is in front of my eyes? Two and two are four."
"Sometimes, Winston. Sometimes they are five. Sometimes they are three. Sometimes they are all of them at once. You must try harder. It is not easy to become sane.”
― George Orwell, 1984
The government in 1984 is a Totalitarianism which is communist based except that the leader has total rule. Orwell witnessed the horrors of a totalitarian government is Spain and Russia, so he designed 1984 to tell people these horrors. The government does not seem to horrible in the beginning but as the novel continues you see the true extent of the Party’s power. You realize that they have the ability to control and enslave its people. The Party uses numerous techniques to control its citizens such as psychological manipulation seeing everything, physical control by arresting and killing many, and rewriting history in order to improve Big Brothers power. 1984 was also banned because of its
