George Orwell’s 1984 is popular for it’s idea of a totalitarian leadership in which fear has consumed most of the citizens into subjecting to their government, Big Brother. Now, if George Orwell’s 1984 were to be banned, that would be as bad as living in such a dictatorship of a country. The book should not be banned for it has many opportunities for readers to grow in knowledge, and have their skills challenged to their potential. There are many factors as to what makes 1984 a great profit for all the readers such as developing knowledge for literature and expanding their imaginations. First of all, a huge point in Frye’s essay two, “The Singing School” is that literature comes from literature itself, like a paradox. Reading 1984, there has been many precedents that follow the same kind of storyline but perhaps in a more modern way that will suit the interests of the future generation, “The moral of all this is that every form in literature has a pedigree, and we can trace its descent back to the earliest …show more content…
times.” (Frye, 14). We see adaptations of 1984 in newer literature such as Brave New World or Fahrenheit 451 and as a result, reading 1984 would help readers understand where stories are coming from and how they compare and contrast one another.
Not only that, but 1984 should not be banned because it helps us explore our imaginations and maximizing the ability to do so. Although the story is fairly realistic, it is exaggerated to the extremes in terms of breaking down society and reshaping it to Big Brothers desires, “We convert him, we capture his inner mind, we reshape him. We burn all evil and all illusion out of him; we bring him over to our side, not in appearance, but genuinely, heart and soul.” (Orwell, 321). To add on, in the event that Big Brother is unable to brainwash their citizens such as Winston Smith they would then turn to the last resort, Room 101 where one’s worst fear can be found, “The thing that is in Room 101 is the worst thing in the world.” (Orwell,
357). This allows readers to imagine their worst fear and use that as a basis of how horrible Room 101 must be using their own interpretations. As Frye mentions, imagination is limited unless we keep practicing and exercising it and reading such book as 1984 allows us to relate and connect the story to reality, “But if we shut the vision of it completely out of our minds, or insist on its being limited in various ways, something goes dead inside us, perhaps the one thing that it’s really important to keep alive.” (Frye, 33). In conclusion, George Orwell’s 1984 should not be banned for its usefulness in helping benefit one’s knowledge and imagination that altogether will provide one for success in society as reading is valued and 1984 is the perfect book to express the value.
Out of the smoke and coal came fear as well, fear of the unknown. What was this bright thing called electricity and what could it do? Mary Shelley’s Gothic novel Frankenstein showed this fear. Through this single book many concerns were addressed. This made sense, people fear things they don’t know and this was a time of confusion just as it was a time of advancements. This deep rooted fear was the cause of Frankenstein. Another fear arose as individuals gained more power and monopolized more influence over people, dictatorship. George Orwell’s dystopian novel 1984, understood this fear well and went in depth on the idea of this suppression of the people. The book introduces what it might be like to live in a society that contains and suppresses its population. These two books were written during a time of great change, and when change is sudden it’s hard to handle. This is obviously shown in these books. The current dreams and imagination of the people at the time is reflected in these two works proving people continued to look to themselves as the source of their literature from Old English even to the
Many people argue whether George Orwell’s 1984 was written purely to criticize, or if it portrays society today. I believe that George Orwell wrote 1984 in order to express his feelings about how society is governed. There are many examples of irony that support my position. 1984 is a political satire, the Orwell used to criticize man’s use of power. The slogan of Oceania is War is Peace, Freedom is Slavery, and Ignorance is Strength. These three phrases reflect some of the disturbing factors of our society today, which is why I believe that 1984 resembles Orwell’s dystopian creation.
In George Orwell’s novel, 1984 the theme is a totalitarian government has the capability to physically and mentally break down individuals and then rebuild them the way they want by using torture and the destruction of emotions and personal thought.
The novel 1984 is one that has sparked much controversy over the last several decades. It harbors many key ideas that lie at the root of all skepticism towards the book. With the ideas of metaphysics, change, and control in mind, George Orwell wrote 1984 to provide an interesting story but also to express his ideas of where he believed the world was heading. His ideas were considered widely ahead of their time, and he was really able to drive home how bleak and colorless our society really is. Orwell wrote this piece as a futuristic, dystopian book which contained underlying tones of despair and deceit.
George Orwell’s haunting dystopian novel 1984 delves into the closely monitored lives of the citizens of Oceania as the Party tries to take control of society. In totalitarianism, propaganda and terrorism are ways of subjugation with a main goal: total obedience. He aimed to create a “what if” novel, what would happen if totalitarian regimes, such as the Nazis and Soviets, were to take over the world. If totalitarianism were to happen, the leader would be the brain of the whole system. Orwell emphasizes the theme of individualism versus collective identity through Winston, the protagonist, and his defiance to the Party and Big Brother, with a frightening tone, surreal imagery and a third person limited point of view.
The book The Catcher in the Rye was published in the year 1951 and has been the subject of constant debates and controversies. The novel has not only been the target of criticism, but has also sparked discussions on its effectiveness for use in high schools. The novel is about a period of three days in the life of Holden Caulfield. The novel’s most criticised points are its issues such as profanity, irrational behavior, and teenage sex, but it still gives very important lessons to young readers because it teaches tolerance, discipline, religion, and rational behavior. More specifically it teaches that desirable behavior will make them and society better, and as such, I do not think it should be banned from high school curriculum. This paper analyzes the reasons why The Catcher in the Rye should not be banned from English classes that are taught in high schools.
”The values, beliefs and attitudes of George Orwell’s can easily be seen in the novel 1984, as no text is neutral. These values attitudes and beliefs have shaped the novel to reflect socio-cultural context and by the use of certain discourses, ideologies, and historical influences support the idea that) “The explanation of a work is always sought in the man or women who produced it “Bathes Roland (1977).
In the novel 1984, Orwell produced a social critique on totalitarianism and a future dystopia that made the world pause and think about our past, present and future. When reading this novel we all must take the time to think of the possibility that Orwell's world could come to pass. Orwell presents the concepts of power, marginalization, and resistance through physical, psychological, sexual and political control of the people of Oceania. The reader experiences the emotional ride through the eyes of Winston Smith, who was born into the oppressive life under the rule of Ingsoc. Readers are encouraged through Winston to adopt a negative opinion on the idea of communist rule and the inherent dangers of totalitarianism. The psychological manipulation and physical control are explored through Winston's journey, and with Winston's resistance and ultimate downfall, the reader is able to fully appreciate O'Briens reasoning, "Power is not a means, it is an end."
This leads to the need to alter history. In 1984, everything from newspapers to books were changed to make it seem like Big Brother has always been in charge and doing what was right for the people of Oceania. On the other hand, in Fahrenheit 451 books and newspaper were not allowed in order to keep people desensitized to what really went on before their time and to keep them from thinking too much. Television screens were also used to control information by only allowing people to see what they approved and making people so hooked to them that they would fill the walls of an entire room with them and refer to them as the
In the Bill of Rights, the First Amendment provides the most significant liberties during only 45 words:
“WAR IS PEACE, FREEDOM IS SLAVERY, IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH.” Part 1,Chapter 1,pg. 6. These three principles were repeatedly emphasized throughout the book and helped lay the foundation of the dystopian society George Orwell imagined in his novel 1984. Fear, manipulation, and control were all encompassed throughout this dystopian society set in the distant future. The freedom to express ones thoughts was no longer acceptable and would not be tolerated under any circumstances. Humankind was rapidly transforming into a corrupt and evil state of mind.
An overview of the Orwellian world of 1984 will give some context for comparison between what is happening in our world today, how it mirrors the situation in the novel, and the implications that it carries regarding what is happening within our society...
George Orwell’s intent in the novel 1984 is to warn society about the results of a controlling and manipulative government by employing mood, conflict, and imagery.
George Orwell’s novel, 1984, has been challenged countless of times due to communism ideas and mature themes. Not only was this book banned by many public schools in the U.S., it was also banned in Russia during Stalin’s rule due to its anti-communist ideas. People who own or read this book in Russia would be arrested. Although many people want to ban this book due to its sexual references and political beliefs, I think 1984 should not be ban because this book reveals the truth on how the government can make people ignorant, revoke freedom to pursue happiness and basic human rights.
For more then 200 years, the right to choose what we read has been one of our most cherished freedoms. Permitting restraints on literature sets the stage for attacks on all expression that is artistically or politically controversial or that portrays unpleasant realities of life. The ideas and information absorbed from these banned books topple the walls of hate and fear and build bridges of cooperation and understanding far more effectively than weapons. George Orwell's classic 1984 painted a bleak picture of a mind-controlled, book burning society in which creative thinking was forbidden. If the censorship in school libraries