Rosie Yoo Mr. Macomber Honors English 12 June 2024 Manipulation and Loss of Freedom in 1984 and Lord of the Flies Human beings require basic survival instincts and basic rights that grant them freedom. In the real world, the freedom of individuals cannot be taken away, but when those necessities are absent, individuals will strive to obtain them. One might obey the rules and orders, although it is unfair, or one might support someone who holds unchecked authority to survive. Both George Orwell's 1984 and William Golding's Lord of the Flies describe violent governments that appeal to individuals’ emotions by manipulating fundamental human needs, like hunger, freedom, and hope, illustrating the negative consequences of unchecked powers. In the …show more content…
Thought crime is when one thinks about committing a crime or disobeying the rules, which can never be proved if one is guilty or not. Big Brother, by educating young children to be thought-provoking and catching adults thinking of committing thought crime, takes away their personal lives, and their ability to have opinions. In the same way that Jack’s violent control did not grant freedom to the boys on the island, Big Brother did not allow hope or freedom to citizens. The constant surveillance did not even let the citizens feel those emotions since “any sound that Winston made, above the level of a very low whisper, would be picked up by it; moreover, so long as he remained within the field of vision which the metal plaque commanded, he could be seen as well as heard” (Orwell 3). Due to the strict surveillance of the government, the citizens do not have freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, or freedom to love. The punishment that Big Brother gives when citizens disobey the rules is also harsh, which gives them no choice but to follow and obey those
Several conflicting frames of mind have played defining roles in shaping humanity throughout the twentieth century. Philosophical optimism of a bright future held by humanity in general was taken advantage of by the promise of a better life through sacrifice of individuality to the state. In the books Brave New World, 1984, and Fahrenheit 451 clear opposition to these subtle entrapments was voiced in similarly convincing ways. They first all established, to varying degrees of balance, the atmosphere and seductiveness of the “utopia” and the fear of the consequences of acting in the non-prescribed way through character development. A single character is alienated because of their inability to conform – often in protest to the forced conditions of happiness and well being. Their struggle is to hide this fact from the state’s relentless supervision of (supposedly) everything. This leads them to eventually come into conflict with some hand of the state which serves as the authors voice presenting the reader with the ‘absurdity’ of the principles on which the society is based. The similar fear of the state’s abuse of power and technology at the expense of human individuality present within these novels speaks to the relevance of these novels within their historical context and their usefulness for awakening people to the horrendous consequences of their ignorance.
Much can happen in a matter of minutes; a man can go from thinking he is happy to thinking his life is falling apart, or can change from hating someone to loving them. These experiences sound outlandish, but they happened to Guy Montag, the main character in Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451, and Winston Smith, the main character in George Orwell’s 1984. These two dystopian novels are about the characters discovering major problems in their societies, and then trying to fix them. Montag lives in a society where television controls people’s lives and books have become illegal. On the other hand Smith lives in Oceania, a territory led by a totalitarian regime. This regime is headed by Big Brother and is referred to as the Party. By examining Fahrenheit 451 and 1984, it is seen, not only through the dehumanized nature of society, but also through the theme of lies and manipulation that both Orwell and Bradbury wish to warn of a horrifying future society.
The movie and the book are different in many ways but at the same time they have a lot of things in common, the movie doesn't have as much details as the book does but it is a very good movie. In the movie you can very easily see and understand what's going on being you are watching the whole thing with your eyes. The movie also shows you how the students have to fight each and everyday just so that they protect themselves in the streets, the streets is all they know because well they were born and raised in the streets so they learned all about it & are about it. In the movie you can clearly see the struggle they go through, and how the streets are & when they're in school. School is supposed to be a safe place for all kids.
Works Cited for: Orwell, George. 1984. The 'Standard' of the ' London: Penguin Books, 2008. Print. The.
Orwell was a Socialist and believed in the ability for a rebellion to change society, but unfortunately too often he witnessed such rebellions go wrong and develop into totalitarian rule. 1984 warns us against the idea of absolute power through the analysis of the dangers of Big Brother and statist roots. 1984 remains an important work of literature because the ills of totalitarianism in all forms are still relevant in this day and age. Freedom and authoritarianism resonate with us, those of us who live beyond the 20th century and those who lived around that time. In 1984, Orwell uses irony and paradox to show the difference between the novel’s major conundrums: Emmanuel Goldstein, who is the enemy of the state but doesn’t pose any real threat, and Big Brother, the ultimate danger.
In 1984, George Orwell presents an overly controlled society that is run by Big Brother. The protagonist, Winston, attempts to “stay human” in the face of a dehumanizing, totalitarian regime. Big Brother possesses so much control over these people that even the most natural thoughts such as love and sex are considered taboo and are punishable. Big Brother has taken this society and turned each individual against one another. Parents distrust their own offspring, husband and wife turn on one another, and some people turn on their own selves entirely. The people of Oceania become brainwashed by Big Brother. Punishment for any uprising rebellions is punishable harshly.
In the novel 1984, George Orwell elaborates on the idea of an autocratic government. This novel describes Orwell’s views on the dark, twisted form of government that he believes will develop in future years. The culture he created for this story was the most horrifying, troubling place a person could reside. The goals of the Party consisted of keeping the citizens squared away and oblivious to the unethical actions taking place around them. This unrealistic society gave Orwell the opportunity to create a vision of what a future communist nation might resemble. The purpose of this work is believed to be informative to citizens of how the government impacts our way of thinking, living, and believing. Fear from the citizens is used as manipulation by the government; this means the government shapes the citizens that will not conform to their society. Throughout this writing, the author remains in a dark, cold mood; thus, creating the feeling of negativity and opposition to the government. Ethical appeal is revealed in this
Throughout the evolution of man, power and control have been idealized. When power is attained by manipulative dictators, citizens may initially view them as a means to satisfy their need for structure and direction. An author’s grim prophecy of mankind in a totalitarian society is depicted in George Orwell’s, 1984. Citizens in Oceania are governed by the Party Big Brother, which succeeds in controlling their actions and minds. The concept of oppression is taken to a new level, until there is no sense of humanity within the society.
The novel 1984 by George Orwell presents the readers an image of a totalitarian society that explores a world of control, power, and corruption. The main idea of government control presents itself in the novel by protecting and listening to the people of Oceania. However, Orwell suggests giving too much power to the government is a mistake because eventually the decisions they make will not be about the people anymore but rather themselves. In 1984, the power and corruption the party has is overwhelming for the people. There are no ways around the beliefs of the Party, the party attempts to control and eventually destroy any mental or physical resistance against their beliefs. The agenda for the party is to obtain mind control over its people and force them to adore their leader. The methods the Party uses to achieve its goal are: the use of constant propaganda and surveillance, the rewriting of history, and Room 101.
“The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion.” These wise words once stated by Philosopher Albert Camus, effectively transpires and defends the idea of individual freedom. To be free is not to adjust or conform in certain circumstances, but to fully commit and identify one’s own views, opinions, and perspectives. In order to overcome hierarchies of power, the concept of rebellion and independence is crucial. George Orwell’s 1984, demonstrates the themes of power and rebellion a great length through its cunning tale of governmental influence and disobedience. In many ways, this definitive dystopian novel is comparable to James McTeigue’s film entitled, V For Vendetta.
In every society, there are constant tests of man and his morals. In accordance with this, there are always outsiders- those who change patterns, and make new paths and ideas to solve problems. Two great dystopian novels, Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, and Lord of the Flies by William Golding follow the same rule. Bernard, in Brave New World, is an outcast who revolutionizes societal values and thoughts for the better; Simon is similar in his calm ability to rationalize and assesses situations, and quietly lead in the right direction. Just like testing of human morals, human tradition and expectations can be altered and tested. Brave New World features testing of how far a society can be pushed past what is considered right and proper,
All throughout Oceania were posters of Big Brother and the fact that the people are always under surveillance, this forced them to be afraid. By constantly reminding the people that they are being watched Big Brother was sure he had them under control. Whenever people wanted to do something they had to think of the consequences they will have to face when Big Brother finds out. When Winston was getting ready to write in his diary he was so scared he couldn't think his mind was going blank and the notion that he was doing something wrong was eating at Winston “. . .his varicose ulcer had begun itching unbearably. He dared not scratch it. . .” (8). Winston knew he wasn't allowed to write, he knew that if he did he would be going against the government that's why he was so scared when he began to write. Not only did Big Brother control people's actions but also their thoughts through propaganda. Big Brother thought if he restrained their thoughts he could also restrict their actions. Therefore Big Brother assembled a group called the thoughtpolice, their job was to limit people thinking and arrest those who had unrighteous thoughts. Before Winston began to write he began to think about all the times people in the past had been arrested for just thinking suspicious thoughts “Thoughtcrime was not a thing that could be concealed forever” (19). We can tell
When written in 1949, George Orwell’s 1984 held immense importance for a variety of individuals and societies, and continues to do so today. At the time, it was considered a warning and a visionary novel for what the future might hold. Despite certain inconsistencies between the book and reality, a fair number of elements are apparent in today’s society.
He wrote: Thoughtcrime does not entail death: thoughtcrime IS death"(27). Thought crime made people not assemble and discuss things that they questioned, were not sure of, or anything that seemed to go against the Inner Party or Big Brother. Also, they have a stigma against sex, with evokes fear. In 1984, sex is viewed as a duty to Big Brother and only purpose is to have children. Alike, in North Korea, when conspiring against Kim Jong-Un, the consequences include public execution, being put in a prison camp, "collective punishment", or torture.
Throughout the eras, oppression and censorship has been fought by many revolutionaries to preserve the civil liberties of the masses. In order to do so, novels such as George Orwell’s 1984 sought to exaggerate the harms of such conditions to warn against parallel issues that affect the lives of many. 1984 depicts a post- War society called Oceania in which citizens are monitored by the ever-omniscient Big Brother Party. Although fictional, the political regime, and thus social structure, in Oceania resembles that of Communist (or previously Communist) nations such as China or North Korea; oppression and censorship run rampant throughout the social classes, as each movement, and sound is heard or seen by workers within the party. Further, charged