George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four Essay

The novel Nineteen Eighty-Four, by George Orwell is regarded as one of the 100 best English-language novels. It portrays various themes that provide the readers a glimpse of the current society. The novel explores epidemic issues such as mass poverty, public mistrust, authoritarian state, manipulation of recorded history, and suspicion. The issues mentioned can be summarized into three topics to prove the statement the novel Nineteen Eighty-Four, is in fact a commentary on our society. In today’s day and age, there is a total surveillance society, terrorism is exploited by the state and there is mass influence by individuals.

Winston Smith, an individual whose job was to rewrite and distort history began a diary which was considered an act punishable by death. However, every move Winston makes is watched. With tele-screens everywhere – in his home, in his cubicle at work, in the cafeteria, in the bathroom stalls each move can be tracked. Similar to the current society, even though there aren’t tele-screens or surveillance in bathroom stalls, every single action taken

Goldstein was hated and despised by everybody, his theories were refuted, smashed and ridiculed through many different forms. Regardless of all this, his influence never seemed to grow any less on the others. Like mentioned in the excerpt of the novel Nineteen Eighty-Four, there were always fresh dupes waiting to be seduced by him. Sound familiar to what happens in today’s society? A vast majority of individuals are influenced by people who they may look up to even if they’re morals and ethics are incorrect. There are unlimited ways in which society influences behaviour, in some cases, individuals will follow their influences blindly. The novel Nineteen Eighty-Four, gives the viewers a glimpse of this reality and commentary on today’s