1984 Dystopian Novel Analysis

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A dystopian novel has a few characteristics; controlling authority, pervasive technology, violence to control, and collectivism. For example, the novel 1984, by George Orwell is a dystopian novel because it clearly portrays all these characteristics. Winston Smith is the protagonist and he is the only one who thinks that what Big Brother is doing is wrong. He is the center of the story and through him we see all the characteristics of a dystopian novel. Violent and intimidating, the dystopian government of Oceania is one with complete control of its people. Oceanians have no freedom of speech, thought, or action and if they challenge the government of Big Brother, they will be vanished from society.
Throughout 1984, Orwell does many things …show more content…

Winston talks about the police patrol flying over houses and peaking in people’s windows. The violence comes into play when they discover someone is challenging the regime. In the beginning of the story we learn that Winston gets a journal and begins writing things that go against what Big Brother says. This is something the thought police would find out about and punish Winston to the fullest extent. Later on, he is sent to prison where he has some realizations, “With that first blow on the elbow the nightmare had started. Later he was to realize that all that then happened was merely a preliminary, a routine interrogation to which nearly all prisoners were subjected…everyone had to confess as a matter of course. The confession was a formality, though the torture was real” (Orwell, 120). Winston learns that violence and torture is normal in this regime and it’s used to get answers from prisoners. Edmond, author of The Message for Today in Orwell’s 1984, discusses the effects of violence and what it will do to a society. “World order and peace cannot be established if the nations of the world are not willing to solve their conflicts without the use of violence…” (Bossche). Trying to gain peace by using violence is contradictory and, realistically, cannot be attained. Corrupt and unjust, the government of Oceania portrays the messages that not even they

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