'Contemporary vs Society in 1984\r'

'A. P. English 12 21 March 2011 Contemporary Society vs. 1984 In his dystopian novel 1984, Orwell transmites his vision of the nearing future by dint of a fictional plot. Within the plot, Winston Smith, the novels protagonist, harps a life control guide unaccompanied by a populaceipulative and exploitative politics. He, embodies the conventional personality of each citizen of Oceaniaâ€a person who abides by the laws of the view overlarge companion authorities. Through the evolution setting and characterization of our protagonist, the reader is able to find oneself the numerous aspects of control, manipulation and maturation exercised by the comp each and braggy Brother.\r\nAs his frustrations with the societys control of history and incli democracy desire to meet with a female co-worker increase, Winston begins to perplexity the society he once aimlessly con do worked to and the laws he once followed. Through Winston’s ordeal, Orwell expresses his concer ns with an exponenti every last(predicate)y expanding the Statesn regimen. such(prenominal)(prenominal) gross violations of personal liberties move over played a prominent role in Americas past as well as in its present. sequence writing the novel, Orwell recollected his childhood experiences in an laden India and began to draw comparisons to the then- received state of America.\r\nDuring the 1940s, America experienced increase military involvement, significant expansion of the federal bureaucracy and world dominance. In turn, Orwell’s writing of 1984 patently serves a cautionary and educational get. Honest government may expand into an oppressive one if its citizens do non vigilantly monitor its activeness. In contemporaneous society, Americans face similar circumstances to those subject to the milieu portrayed in 1984. The unfortunate happenings of the Terrorist Attacks on family line 11th, 2001 bland affect Americans presently.\r\nConsequently, Americans kn owingly placed greater trust in their government and sacrificed certain liberties for blue-ribbon(prenominal) security. Resulting legislation, such as the nationalist Act of 2001, allows the US government to bypass certain screen rights in ordinate to ensure safety at bottom the nation. During the spend of 1798, the transfer and Sedition Acts passed by congress brought the linked States closer to a â€Å" spectacular Brother” foundation than ever before. The Alien Act â€Å"authorized the professorship to arrest and deport aliens suspected of ‘ treasonous leanings” Davidson 219). With no pull in definition as to what actually constitutes a â€Å"treasonable leaning,” the president couldve forced close in additionne out of the united States the instant they engaged in a form of anti-American protest. Surveillance cameras in just about buildings and some public streets further demonstrates the eternal and grim reality of governmental supervisi on. US troops argon stationed doneout the gist East in addition to their already inhabited locations.\r\nSimilar to those subject to the omniscient Big Brother government in 1984, Americans atomic number 18 controlled by specific qualities and principles, social constraints, manipulated by a self-colored and monopolized society and exploited by the falsified allure of the â€Å"American Dream. ” â€Å"Freedom is the license to say that two summing up two make four. If that is granted, all else follows. ” (Orwell, p81). Such a simplistic definition of freedom misleads those striving for despotic freedom. In fact, American and Oceanian citizens share ultimate freedom if freedom was solely confined to its previously state definition.\r\nHowever, the reader knows that those inside Oceania are enslaved by their deliver totalitarian government. Therefore, freedoms true definition is much more(prenominal) complex and often contradictory. The contradictory nature of freedom and country testifys the similarities between America and Oceania. Although not as radical of their 1984 counterparts, Americans defer to an elitist society to maintain their â€Å"freedom. ” â€Å"In a paradox for democratic theory, the masses express the greatest confidence in the most elitist, nonelected severalize of the government” (Dye 309).\r\nWith greater confidence, comes blind trust. Since Americans allow a minority of elitists to dictate their society, true freedom and democracy cannot exist. Therefore, Americans are more like pawns that are governed by a select few, which was the reality of those subject to the society, rather than the assumed impression that the major(ip)ity controlled its own destiny. end-to-end Orwells novel, 1984, a fictional character named Big Brother exists. Throughout the town of Oceania are constant reminders of Big Brothers existence and his limitless oversight on the community.\r\nIn addition to the sense of survei llance by Big Brother, telescreens within every ho intentionhold and microphones scattered across the town, further accentuate the lack of privacy within Oceania. Ultimately, in 1984, engineering science’s sole purpose was to intrude into each citizens personal and private life. As technology further engulfs itself in current society, aspects of 1984 are scram more prominent. While telescreens are not exactly monitoring us every routine of the day, many community are probably insensible of how public most of their private life authentically is.\r\nBetween computers and security cameras, it really is not too hard for a member of some government agency to come about track of what someone does everyday. In contemporary society, human interaction and technology are becoming exceedingly intertwined. The rapid advancement of technology has allowed for the possibility of an inseparable combination of adult male and technology. Upon writing his novel, Orwell extrapolated much of the detail about the technology within 1984 because of its unavail aptitude or primitive features.\r\nThe technology of in advance(p) society far exceeds that of 1984. If government could utilize lesser quality technology and control an entire population, what could take in if the technology were superior? Cell phones, computers, cameras, global arrangement systems (GPSs) and other significant technological inventions in newfangled society have numerous benefits, but engender several drawbacks to ponder. Within each computer and mobile phone phone are locating devices which allow the value companies to observe the websites visited and the location of the each device.\r\nWiretapping, legalized by the Patriot Act of 2001, permits governmental monitoring of telephone and lucre conversations to ensure safety. Surveillance cameras survey the actions of pedestrians to prevent crime. Although most of these cameras are operated by private businesses, privacy is still invaded . Realistically, the government’s use of technology as a essence to intrude on American privacy is a definite possibility. In the past, and currently, the US government has used technology in order to ensure safety de kindle sacrificing certain liberties.\r\nWith humans bearing a greater dependence on technology, the exploitation of technology by the government would prove devastating and irreversible. â€Å"War was a sure sentry duty of sanity, and so far as the ruling classes were refer it was probably the most important of all safe-conducts. While struggles could be won or lost, no ruling class could be completely irresponsible” (Orwell 198). The central point of the Oceania’s economy was its overextending military. The constant contend, overshadowed by the developing plot involving Winston, provides justification and a safeguard against its citizens.\r\nThe purpose in participating in a perpetual war is to consume human comprehend and commodities. W ithout commodities, Oceania is able to justify their engagement in an unwinnable and â€Å" inevitable” war. In addition, constant warfare keeps the population fearful, and creates parking brake conditions whereby the government can expand its powers. People, manipulated into fear, will answer more favorably to regulations in clock of war. consequent the sacrifice of personal liberties, following the distressing events on September 11th, 2001, includes an extension of military activity.\r\nFirst low with Former death chair shrub, and current President Obama, the US Army is combative throughout the world, specifically the Middle East, in its attempt to curtail acts of terrorism. Seemingly, as in the case with Oceania, the unite States is continuously in a warring state. When serenity is made with one country, war is claimed or threatened on another nation to continue a military presence. The Department of Defense, analog to the Minister of Peace, allocates the large st level of budgetary resources and coordinates the activity of the joined States armed forces. Not counting the cost of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the Defense budget is expected to be $553 gazillion in 2012, up from $549 billion in 2011” (Factor 24). In addition, the Department of Defense posts useless statistics, unseasonable economical predictions, and slanted opinions polls. The most infamous pattern of incorrect statistics and bias speech was Former President Bush’s Mission Accomplished speech. In spite of the continuing warfare, Bush declared this was the end to major combat operations in Iraq. Certain aspects of the Oceania war machine further manipulate the actions of the Oceanian citizens.\r\nThe government of Oceania, score by the company, influences its citizens into believing that they have a common landalty enemy in the Brotherhood, specifically Goldstein. The Two transactions of Hate, a daily period in which companionship members of Oceania must watch a film portrayal The companionships enemies, entices mob action and a blind mental synthesis of hate. The picture of Goldstein comes up on the screen, while the people scream in anger and horror at the image. Goldstein, they are told, is everywhere and must be destroyed.\r\nThe similarities to youthful society are more real than unvarnished and speak to what has been happening in the United States since being War II. Each significant event in history has seen evil characters that have been determined on destroying â€Å"the American route of life. ” During World War 2, Adolph Hitler and Josef Stalin led the rise of fascism and against democratic principles. During the Red Scare, Mao Tse-Tung of china disturbed American peace with communists influence on the American public. During the Arms Race, Lenoid Brehznev of the USSR challenged the social integrity of America.\r\nDuring the 1980s, ibn Talal Hussein Hussein of Iraq and now Bin Laden promoted use of te rrorist attacks to harm Americans. Like Goldstein in Oceania, each man menaced society, striking fear and hatred into the peoples’ hearts. After their deaths, American society was not safer and soon after a replacement continued to terrorize America. Ultimately, the Party’s slogan â€Å"War is Peace” perfectly represents their exploitation of war and stronghold over their citizens. Through the view of the slogan, the Party contends that in times of war, Oceania is at peace.\r\nSuch a contradictory statement provides an example of the Party’s use of â€Å"double think” and manipulation of the people. Oceania †the Party †is able to continue at peace during times of war because of a war’s natural temperament. War acts as a means to ensure a stagnant social building and prevent true socialism. War, specifically in 1984, guarantees a final stage of produce (Orwell 191). With a scarcity of produce, economic disparity becomes apparent and overprotection of produce becomes unlikely. Thus, the Party is â€Å"at peace” because revolution or any social change is improbable.\r\nSimilarly, war has a parallel effect in modern society. In times of war, America is economically and socially stable. War creates an teemingness of jobs which distills any opposition from the lower class which has an subjective tendency to protest the actions of the highest class (Orwell 199). Industries rejoice as the government agrees to purchase any and all military related goods. The government expands its power by constricting several personal liberties which are voluntarily and volitionally bequeathed by the people. The nation rallies around a common enemy, fueled by propaganda, and confidence in its government reaches a pinnacle.\r\nWar establishes peace to authorities dictating the route of the nation: War is peace. Throughout 1984, the Party, in conformism with the Ministry of Truth manipulates its control of the past and rewrites history. In rewrite history, the Party ensures the completion of one of its slogan: â€Å"Ignorance is Strength. ” The constant change of the â€Å"truth: and destruction of supporting records, allows the Party to keep its citizens ignorant of its true actions. Thus, the Party avoids face-off with questioning and aware citizens. To address those unaffiliated with the Party, the Party ses a more indirect approach to keep the Proles ignorant. With guaranteed liberties, the Proles are content with their uncommon privileges and do not seek to interrupt their happiness and therefore do not challenge the Party. According to the Party, promoting ignorance prevents doubt and creates a powerful strength in the idea. The only way to keep an idea strong is to remove all suspicion of doubt. If one has no reason to question a belief, then that belief will remain despite its unreasonableness. And if this lack of questioning can become indefinite, then the belief is also indefin ite.\r\nIn American history, some events are understated, while others are hyperbolise to glorify patriotism or conform to modern belief. Most recently, President Bush’s indisposition through several reasons to invade Iraq provide an example of understatement and deceit in politics. Initially, President Bush stated that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction which would prove harmful to Americans in the near future. After no weapons of mass destruction were found, President Bush stated that then President Saddam Hussein had anthrax and other biological harmful weapons.\r\nAnthrax was found in Iraq; however, the United States did not mention that the same anthrax was interchange to Iraq by America. President Bush, then, justified the military activity in Iraq by claiming to fight terrorism and cattle ranch democracy. Congressmen, who supported the War of Terrorism, eventually reversed their opinions of the war and stated that the President and the Department of Defense provi ded wide of the mark accounts of the terrorist activity in Iraq. President Bush’s waving between his reasoning to invade Iraq demonstrates an ability to keep Americans ignorant of the true motives of US encroachment in Iraq.\r\nIn 1984, there was an obvious dissolution of wealth. The London that Winston Smith calls home is a dilapidated, summing up city in which buildings are crumbling, conveniences such as elevators never work, and necessities such as electricity and plumbing are extremely unreliable. The grimy urban decay offers insight into the Party’s priorities through its contrast to the immense technology the Party develops to descry on its citizens. The conditions O’Brien, an Inner Party member, lived with greatly differed from the livelihood of Winston.\r\nO’Brien’s home was ornately furnished and enjoyed the likeness of cigars, coffee and tea. In modern society, the trend continues. The wealthy can contribute to live lavishly, while the poor can barely afford to live. The concentration of wealth significantly favors the elitists. Those poor, in America and Oceania, ignorantly misuse their money on lotteries with the ill-considered hope of becoming wealthy. Despite being regarded as a fictional novel, 1984 and its portrayal of a compulsory and exploitative government are comparable to the current conditions of modern society.\r\nThrough Winston’s characterization, Orwell expresses his concerns with an exponentially expanding American government and a foreseeable future. Orwell, as told through 1984, envisioned a world of constant surveillance, where the privacy of the individual was virtually extinct. Although the technology he predicted seems unsophisticated, the imagination of surveillance is applicable. Naturally, as the government expands, intrusion on the personal lives of its citizens is becoming accessible and simple.\r\nThe use of technology, such as computers and cell phones, is becoming grea tly intertwined in human interaction and everyday life. These advances in technology can be interpreted both positively and negatively. Legislations, such as the Patriot Act (2001) and the Alien and Sedition Act, have given the government an to the highest degree limitless means to interrogate radical thinkers. With the initial reading of this polemic book, Orwell’s work was subjected to savage of all sorts; however as society has let time take its course it seems that those who criticized this work were the most jejune of all, about our Lugubrious society.\r\n'