Telescreen In George Orwell's 1984

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Analysis of 1984 Imagine a world where everything you do is monitored by the government, and even a single thought against it could get you arrested. George Orwell’s 1984 follows Winston Smith during his rebellion against the Party, his interrogation, torture, and subsequent reconditioning. 1984 is a fascinating novel because of its use of symbols, themes, and use of filters. Orwell’s 1984 has many symbols strewn throughout the story. One of the symbols is the telescreen. The telescreen is used as an overseeing and entertainment device used by the government. The telescreen can see and hear anything you do or say, and can play music or play programs that instruct citizens to exercise. Winston is constantly distrustful of the telescreens and …show more content…

It is referenced periodically and presents the society in a very unflattering light. The society is shown to be a mob and the Two Minute Hate and Hate Week are the biggest examples of this. In Society: The Basics by John J. Macionis, a mob is described as “a highly emotional crowd that pursues a violent or destructive goal” (442). During the Two Minute Hate, the citizens of Oceania are subjected to images of enemies of the Party and other images that enrage them. The citizens are then shown to go into a frenzy but screaming insults and threats, and throwing nearby objects at the source of the images. During Hate Week, citizens are further subjected to speeches that further enrage …show more content…

One of these filters is the Marxist criticism that emphasizes the classes in societies. Classism is defined as the “differential treatment based on social class or perceived social class” (“What is Classism”). There are some classist undertones strewn throughout the story. The most obvious hints are the distinction between the proles and Party members. There is even a distinction between the Party members, the Party and the Inner Party. The Proles were not allowed certain things that Party members were allowed. One instance of this is when Winston bought an older prole a beer at a pub. “The proles were supposed not to drink gin, though in practice they could get hold of it easily enough” (Orwell

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