Question about the novel "1984."?

Question

The novel was futuristic when it was written. Are there any elements that Orwell was warning his readers about what you see present in our society today?

Answer 1

It was published in 1949.

There are several ideas found in 1984 that are present today:

1) The eternal war: a population can be controlled more effectively if the country is at war, because it gives the government excuses to limit freedom. Better yet if the war has no possible end. Remind you of anything?

2) Hate: the population will not threaten the government, if they have another group to hate, encouraged by the government. In 1984, they had "hate weeks". Remind you of anything?

3) Puritanism and the Junior Anti-Sex League. Remind you of anything?

4) Surveillance - not covert, but quite open. In 1984 this occurs through the televisions, but in our era it occurs through CCTV cameras on streets and in buildings, and through searches on the way into schools, offices, airports etc. And it's backed up with the old rhetoric: if you're not doing anything wrong, then you have nothing to fear.

There are others... I invite you to ponder those for yourself.

I also suggest you read Brave New World by Huxley, which is similarly dystopian, but based on the concept of a populace neutralised by pleasure instead of by threat; of a populace that has too much to eat, too many sensual and instantly gratifying pleasures, and constant barrages of mind-numbing entertainment. Of a populace, simply, that has its fundamental needs met in excess and hence becomes so placid that it cannot rebel. I bet that reminds you of something...!

Answer 2

I think the current administraton is using "1984" as its playbook. Orwellian double-speak has been use by the neo-cons for several years -- twisting the meanings of words to confuse the average citizen. Most "pro-lifers" are not against the death penalty or wars. This latest mock-u-drama on ABC has twisted the facts showing that the Lewinsky affair distracted Pres. Clinton, when in fact it was the congress who would not support his anti-terrorism efforts -- accusing him of "wagging the dog".

Making an enemy out the concept of terrorism is not unlike the enemy used in Orwells book. You cannot delineate who the enemy is so how do you know when it's defeated. And because we are fighting this secret enemy -- we need to reduce civil liberties of the citizens at large. Big Brother is watching. And if you speak out against these infringements you are labled as being a sympathizer.

Answer 3

Hell, yes! Every time we turn around, the current American government is using the "War on Terror" and "Homeland security" to further invade our right to privacy and our rights to individuality in a most effective rendition of Orwell's "Big Brother". I am not opposed to things like airport and train station searches, however annoying and ineffectual they might be. What really frightens me and is alarmingly reminiscent of "1984" is the way every aspect of our lives, our finances, our political inclinations, our recreational activities like travel, the purchases we make,etc., have been declared as fair game in ferreting out "the enemy in our midst". If you take into account elements like America's manufactured "war", who's only real purpose is masking the self serving agenda of our government, and the physical and psychological torture employed by our government to manipulate and punish (Guantanmo Bay) it's wartime captives, then the echoes of Orwell's prophetic "1984 are terrifyingly clear.

Answer 4

some stressful questions I even have been asked: a million) "How am i able to get this revealed" and the guy gave me a wreck that had a lot of blunders. My answer, "restore it so i will examine it, then worry approximately publishing!" Editors get stuff like this each and all of the time. Ghost writers won't have the ability to repair a wreck. If it has a lot of blunders, it relatively is going to in all probability pass precise into the editor's trashcan! 2) "Are you writing approximately your self once you write books?" NO!....i'm a ninety 8 lb woman and that i'm 5'a million, girly and positioned on crimson each and all of the time. I write frequently action memories approximately ninjas, warriors, revenge, extraterrestrial beings and an outstanding variety of 'masculine' subject concerns. My memories have no longer something to do with my existence in any respect. they generally do no longer even have many woman characters. i don't be attentive to what this individual substitute into thinking yet i substitute into like "Yeah, the ninja company wasn't paying sufficient in this monetary device so i all started writing!" and had a sturdy snort. I even have by no potential even been in a combat my entire existence! BQ- all human beings is familiar with I write novels. They in all probability assume i'll drink an outstanding variety of espresso and be on my computer a lot. people who be attentive to me already be attentive to what to assume. as much as now as strangers pass, one extremely stressful assumption somebody made substitute into some lady writing a evaluation of my e book. She mentioned, "the author would desire to be an indignant individual by using fact there's a lot gore and violence in her e book." I had to snort. i'm an extremely mellow individual. I merely happen to be a extensive action and horror fan. i presumed it substitute right into a dumb area of her to assume without understanding me. the conceal of the e book additionally of course mentioned it substitute into approximately war and revenge. i'm unsure what she substitute into looking forward to. besides, i desire this solutions your question!

Answer 5

Watch "V for Vendetta." I felt many of the same politics at play in the movie were similar to "1984." (Especially if you had a hard time understanding some of the themes)

Answer 6

24 hour observation by the government - this is beginning to occur (carnivore)
government propoganda everywhere - this is beginning to occur
government controlled industry - this is beginning to occur with heavy regulation
government controls what job you have - this has not occurred
media is extremely powerful and controls the government- this has occurred
newspeak - this is has occurred as political correctness

Answer 7

The danger of a government with too much control (Big Brother).

Answer 8

Sure. The politicians' and governments' use of spin language to keep people confused.

Answer 9

If you actually read it, you may just surprise yourself and find the answer yourself!

You may even enjoy it...give it a shot.

Answer 10

Read it and you may actually learn something.